Martha Nolan Cause of Death: NYC Designer Met Insurance Moghul Christopher Durnan Before She Was Found Dead on Boat in Montauk Yacht Club
The 33-year-old traveled to the upscale Montauk Yacht Club on the evening of August 4 to meet with insurance executive Christopher Durnan, 60, according to sources, who spoke to the outlet. Durnan — a widower and guitarist linked with several boats named after Grateful Dead songs—is believed to have invested over $200,000 in the Irish designer's swimwear business.
Shocking Things Before Death
Martha Nolan Instagram
The meeting took a tragic turn when, around midnight, Durnan ran down the dock naked, screaming for help and saying that Martha had lost consciousness. Witnesses called 911 and boarded a boat named Ripple in an attempt to revive the blonde, blue-eyed designer.
However, she was pronounced dead at the scene on August 5, with sources telling the Daily Mail that Martha likely died from a suspected drug overdose involving cocaine or other narcotics.
Martha Nolan TikTok
Photos taken the following morning showed a light scattering of a dusting of a mysterious white powder on a seat aboard the 50-foot cabin cruiser, which bore the Grateful Dead's "Steal Your Face" logo — a skull with a lightning bolt — on its stern.
The outlet also identified Martha's boyfriend as 34-year-old sales executive Nicholas DiRubio, who was reportedly out of town when the incident occurred.
Police said that no signs of violence or physical harm were found on Nolan-O'Slatarra's body but are waiting for toxicology results before they release a formal cause of death.
Martha Nolan X
Her family has been told the process could take up to three months, according to Irish media reports. Durnan founded the Durnan Group in 1981 specializing in workers' compensation insurance.
A Lot Still in Mystery
As of Monday, the Ripple was no longer docked at the Montauk Yacht Club, a 16-acre Star Island resort offering slips for 200 boats along with upscale amenities such as a tennis court and two swimming pools.
Martha Nolan X
Local sources said a crew arrived at dawn last Friday to sail the yacht away.
Another boat believed to be owned by Durnan — a five-engine powerboat called Hell In a Bucket, also referencing the Grateful Dead — reportedly left the club the previous night, the source added.
The father of two is believed to divide his time between a five-bedroom, $6 million mansion in Long Beach, New York, and an equally luxurious home in Lantana, near Palm Beach, Florida.
Durnan suffered a heartbreaking personal tragedy in 2018 when his wife, Marie, died unexpectedly at the age of 49. Her obituary described her as a devoted wife, loving mother, and "adored aunt to 23 nieces and nephews." The cause of death was not made public.
Martha, a self-made entrepreneur, was raised in Carlow, a picturesque village in southeast Ireland surrounded by rolling green countryside.
Martha Nolan X
She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the prestigious University College Dublin and later obtained a master's degree in digital marketing from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business.
At just 26, she became vice president of client experiences at an Ireland-based retail marketing firm — but admitted to the outlet that she felt unfulfilled in her career.
In 2021, she went on to launch the swimwear brand East x East along with a fashion accessories label, Duper.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
International Business Times
8 hours ago
- International Business Times
Martha Nolan Was Battling Brain Cancer? Shock Twist for Family of Glamorous NYC Designer Found Dead on Yacht as Family Demands Second Autopsy
Detectives are now looking into claims that the glamorous bikini designer who was found dead on a yacht in New York was battling brain cancer, in a shocking twist to the family. This comes after the body of Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, was found on board a yacht in the Hamptons last week, after she met with an American insurance magnate on August 4. After the initial autopsy failed to determine a cause of death, her devastated family traveled from Ireland to the U.S. to request a second-opinion autopsy. However, in a phone call days after Martha's death, detectives reportedly asked her mother about claims that her daughter had brain cancer. Twist in the Tale Martha Nolan Instagram Martha's mother, Elma — who spoke with her daughter almost every day — was shocked by the claims and told investigators that her daughter was "perfectly healthy," according to the Irish Independent. "She told them there was nothing of the sort [affecting her]," a source said. Martha Nolan TikTok It remains unclear who provided detectives with the information. The night before her death, the swimwear brand's founder reportedly went to the upscale Montauk Yacht Club to meet insurance magnate Christopher Durnan, 60. The evening took a tragic turn when, around midnight, the American businessman was seen running naked down the dock, screaming for help and signaling that Martha had passed out. Bystanders called 911 and rushed aboard the yacht, named Ripple, trying to give CPR to the self-made businesswoman, but first responders pronounced her dead at the scene. U.S. investigators said that the initial autopsy "showed no signs of violence," and her official cause of death remains under investigation. Martha Nolan X Sources told the Daily Mail that Martha likely died from a suspected drug overdose involving cocaine or other narcotics. This comes after photos taken the next morning on the luxury yacht showed a sprinkling of unidentified white powder on a seat of the 50-foot cabin cruiser. Martha's heartbroken family has traveled from Ireland to the U.S., seeking a second-opinion autopsy to determine her cause of death. Mystery Deepens They have retained a high-profile American lawyer — whose clients have included Harvey Weinstein and former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon — to uncover the truth about what happened to the blonde, blue-eyed designer. Martha Nolan X The final autopsy report, which will include toxicology, histology, and other tests, is expected to take at least three months to complete. The family's attorney, criminal defense lawyer Arthur Aidala, said they have met with Suffolk County homicide detectives, who are conducting a thorough investigation, and that questioning of witnesses is still ongoing. "There is still a very intense investigation focused on why a young woman is dead," he said, reported the Irish Independent. "The autopsy report did show that there was no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds on her hands, no obvious signs of trauma. The medical examiner is really focusing now on her blood and the other fluids that are being sent to toxicology to see what's going on. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra X "There were rumours that she possibly had some form of brain cancer and that is being investigated as well." Martha's body is currently being held the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office. After the second-opinion autopsy is completed, her body is expected to be embalmed and returned to Ireland.
International Business Times
14 hours ago
- International Business Times
Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra Cause of Death: What Happened to Irish Bikini Designer?
The mystery surrounding the unexpected death of Irish bikini designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra has deepened as new details have emerged about Christopher Durnan, the owner of the Montauk-docked boat named Ripple, where the designer died. Durnan, 60, an insurance mogul, was previously involved in a lawsuit after a concert incident in Manhattan on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Michael Balfe, a retired FDNY firefighter, claimed Durnan attacked him during a program at Webster Hall on September 11, 2021. According to a civil suit filed the next year, Durnan was sued for biting Balfe. In his lawsuit, Balfe claimed that the guitar-playing widower bit and assaulted him in an unprovoked attack. The retired FDNY firefighter stated that he "sustained serious and permanent injuries, suffered, does suffer and will continue to suffer agony to body and mind". Though Durnan was charged with assault for recklessly causing physical injury, attempted assault in the third degree, possession of a controlled substance, harassment, and intent to cause physical injury, he denied all the allegations against him. The court papers stated that the insurance mogul argued that Balfe initiated the fight. He said that the use of force by the retired FDNY firefighter was reasonable under the circumstances. Martha Nolan Instagram The civil suit was settled in December 2023, despite Durnan pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. Balfe's lawyer, Darren Moore, said his party did not pay any party during the time of the settlement. He also stated that his client does not wish to make any comments on the civil suit, out of respect for Martha Nolan-O'Slaterra's family. "Out of respect for the family of the woman who tragically passed away and Mr. Balfe's own family, Michael will not be making a comment on the prior case involving Christopher Durnan", the lawyer told The New York Post. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra's Cause of Death The Irish bikini designer died Tuesday (August 5) while she was on board a yacht owned by the insurance tycoon. She headed to the luxury Montauk Yacht Club for a meeting with the American businessman on Monday (August 4). Durnan screamed for help from the dock after the self-made entrepreneur passed out. Although bystanders dialed 911 and performed CPR on the designer, she was declared dead on the scene by the first responders. Martha Nolan X The family members of Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra have demanded a second post-mortem and requested more details. Her family said they are not convinced by the speculations that she died due to a drug overdose. The family's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said her family did not know her to be someone who used drugs. "They want more details. The circumstances surrounding this are far from typical. They would like to know anyone who was with Martha that evening. Earlier that evening, at the time of the actual incident, we know one person who was there. Was anyone else around? The family has had a sit-down with the Suffolk County homicide detectives. They are doing a deep, deep dive, a deep investigation. People are still being questioned. If there was any kind of drug or drug use, they want to know. Who's doing the drugs?", the lawyer said. Meanwhile, sources said Durnan, who owns more than two boats named after Grateful Dead songs, apparently invested over $200,000 in the boutique owned by the Irish bikini designer. According to local sources, both Ripple and Hell In a Bucket, another boat owned by Durnan, were sailed away by a crew last weekend. Suffolk County police are currently investigating the case and have not identified any suspects or filed charges against anyone in Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra's death.
International Business Times
3 days ago
- International Business Times
Martha Nolan Cause of Death: NYC Designer Met Insurance Moghul Christopher Durnan Before She Was Found Dead on Boat in Montauk Yacht Club
The circumstances under which New York City swimwear designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra died in the Hamptons last week and the cause of her death has been revealed. Nolan-O'Slatarra possibly died of drug overdose, according to The Daily Mail. Police have launched an investigation and have not found anything suspicious in the designer's death. The 33-year-old traveled to the upscale Montauk Yacht Club on the evening of August 4 to meet with insurance executive Christopher Durnan, 60, according to sources, who spoke to the outlet. Durnan — a widower and guitarist linked with several boats named after Grateful Dead songs—is believed to have invested over $200,000 in the Irish designer's swimwear business. Shocking Things Before Death Martha Nolan Instagram The meeting took a tragic turn when, around midnight, Durnan ran down the dock naked, screaming for help and saying that Martha had lost consciousness. Witnesses called 911 and boarded a boat named Ripple in an attempt to revive the blonde, blue-eyed designer. However, she was pronounced dead at the scene on August 5, with sources telling the Daily Mail that Martha likely died from a suspected drug overdose involving cocaine or other narcotics. Martha Nolan TikTok Photos taken the following morning showed a light scattering of a dusting of a mysterious white powder on a seat aboard the 50-foot cabin cruiser, which bore the Grateful Dead's "Steal Your Face" logo — a skull with a lightning bolt — on its stern. The outlet also identified Martha's boyfriend as 34-year-old sales executive Nicholas DiRubio, who was reportedly out of town when the incident occurred. Police said that no signs of violence or physical harm were found on Nolan-O'Slatarra's body but are waiting for toxicology results before they release a formal cause of death. Martha Nolan X Her family has been told the process could take up to three months, according to Irish media reports. Durnan founded the Durnan Group in 1981 specializing in workers' compensation insurance. A Lot Still in Mystery As of Monday, the Ripple was no longer docked at the Montauk Yacht Club, a 16-acre Star Island resort offering slips for 200 boats along with upscale amenities such as a tennis court and two swimming pools. Martha Nolan X Local sources said a crew arrived at dawn last Friday to sail the yacht away. Another boat believed to be owned by Durnan — a five-engine powerboat called Hell In a Bucket, also referencing the Grateful Dead — reportedly left the club the previous night, the source added. The father of two is believed to divide his time between a five-bedroom, $6 million mansion in Long Beach, New York, and an equally luxurious home in Lantana, near Palm Beach, Florida. Durnan suffered a heartbreaking personal tragedy in 2018 when his wife, Marie, died unexpectedly at the age of 49. Her obituary described her as a devoted wife, loving mother, and "adored aunt to 23 nieces and nephews." The cause of death was not made public. Martha, a self-made entrepreneur, was raised in Carlow, a picturesque village in southeast Ireland surrounded by rolling green countryside. Martha Nolan X She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the prestigious University College Dublin and later obtained a master's degree in digital marketing from the Smurfit Graduate School of Business. At just 26, she became vice president of client experiences at an Ireland-based retail marketing firm — but admitted to the outlet that she felt unfulfilled in her career. In 2021, she went on to launch the swimwear brand East x East along with a fashion accessories label, Duper.
