Irish bikini designer found dead on yacht months after divorce and prior legal dispute
According to documents processed by the New York County Supreme Court, viewed by Fox News Digital, the 33-year-old designer was in the midst of an uncontested divorce from her husband, Sam Ryan, as recently as April 8, 2025.
The filings include a separation agreement, affidavits from both parties, and a certificate of dissolution, signaling that the couple's marriage had officially ended just months prior to her untimely death on Aug. 5.
Nolan-O'Slatarra was found dead aboard a docked yacht in the early hours of Tuesday. Despite efforts by good Samaritans to perform CPR, she was pronounced dead on the yacht.
The fashion entrepreneur, originally from Ireland, known for her high-end bikini brand and infectious social media presence, was in a new romantic relationship, according to Extra.ie. She was reportedly engaged to marry her boyfriend.
Her boyfriend, as reported by the Irish Independent, was not on board the 54-foot SeaRay named Ripple on the night of her death and she had texted him that she would "Uber home" following what was described as a business outing.
The boat's owner, described by Extra.ie as being in his 60s, was reportedly found alone and naked with Nolan-O'Slatarra when authorities responded.
People who were aboard other boats at the Montauk Yacht Club late Monday night told 27East that a man who owns two boats docked next to each other at the marina came crying for help from others on the dock at about midnight, throwing items at neighboring boats to wake up their crews.
One witness, who declined to give his name, told the local outlet the man was naked and was shouting, "Do something, do something," as he ran along the dock trying to awaken others. In his haste, the outlet reported, he threw a tube of sunscreen at a neighboring vessel.
In addition to her personal issues, Nolan-O'Slatarra also had legal conflicts stemming from her business dealings.
According to a 2022 civil lawsuit filed by Out East Accessories Inc., viewed by Fox News Digital, she was accused of being terminated for cause in late 2021 and then stealing $34,000 from the company's bank account and its entire inventory of luxury eyewear.
According to the court filing, she and another individual "ransacked Out East," sold or gifted the products without authorization, and caused irreparable financial harm to the business. Nolan-O'Slatarra denied the allegations through counsel.
The case was dismissed with prejudice in July 2022 after both parties reached a confidential settlement, effectively closing the matter permanently.
The Irish entrepreneur's swimwear label, East X East, in New York was taking off in the highly competitive market.
Earlier in the summer, she secured a pop-up shop position at Gurney's, regarded as one of the most exclusive shops in the Hamptons.
On her social media account, Nolan-O'Slatarra captured behind-the-scenes compilations of her brand, including photoshoots and pop-up events.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Gurney's Resort said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic news regarding Martha Nolan and extend our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones."
"While Martha was not an employee of Gurney's, we were proud to host her East x East pop-up and admired her entrepreneurial spirit and creative vision," they said. "The safety and well-being of our guests, staff, and community remain our top priority. Gurney's remains a safe and welcoming environment, and our team is available to support guests with any questions or concerns."
As Fox News Digital previously reported, the picturesque harbor town has seen its share of tragedy in recent years, including violent incidents that have shaken its peaceful image.
Officials have not yet determined an official cause of death, but authorities said Wednesday an initial autopsy "did not show evidence of violence."
Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden told Fox News Digital that authorities in Suffolk County should know the cause of death "within a week," pending toxicology results.
The Suffolk County Police Department told Fox News Digital Monday morning that they did not have an update.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, according to Extra.ie, is assisting the family with bringing Nolan-O'Slatarra's remains home. Fox News Digital has reached out to the trust.
Nolan's relatives in Ireland say they are devastated and in disbelief.
"I don't know what happened to my daughter," her mother, Elma Nolan, told The Irish Independent, describing herself as "numb with shock."
She recalled how her youngest daughter, Jacqui, arrived at their home in Carlow, Ireland, Tuesday night "crying and shaking" to deliver the news no parent wants to hear.
Elma said she later spoke with a detective in Montauk but was told no further information could be released due to the early stage of the investigation.
"We weren't told anything about the circumstances," she said, adding that Martha had planned to return to Ireland this week, and had called just days earlier to ask about a ride from the airport. "That was the last time we spoke."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
a few seconds ago
- New York Times
New Orleans Mayor Joins Long Line of Louisiana Politicians Accused of Corruption
Hundred-dollar bills stashed in a freezer. Riverboat casino licenses sold to the highest bidder. Truckloads of granite traded in a quid pro quo. Louisiana has a long and colorful history of political corruption allegations, which for decades have ensnared lawmakers at many levels of government. The most recent was Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans, who was indicted on Friday after a lengthy federal investigation. According to the charges laid out in the indictment, Ms. Cantrell abused public funds to facilitate a romantic relationship with her bodyguard, a city police officer, and then sought to cover up the personal time they spent together in New Orleans and on out-of-state trips while he claimed to be on duty. Ms. Cantrell's lawyer said on Friday that he needed to review the indictment before commenting; he declined to comment again on Saturday. Here's a look back at some of the most significant corruption scandals in Louisiana history: Richard Leche After the assassination of Huey Long, a popular Louisiana governor turned United States senator, in 1935, Richard Leche emerged as his successor. But Mr. Leche's single term as governor came to an early end when he resigned in 1939 amid corruption allegations. His resignation failed to stave off charges, and in 1940, he was convicted of mail fraud in a plot that prosecutors said involved a dealer selling trucks to the state's Highway Department at excessively high prices, and then giving Mr. Leche a kickback. He served five years in prison before President Harry S. Truman pardoned him in 1953. Huey and Earl Long Earl Long, the lieutenant governor under Leche in 1939, was swept into the state's highest office when his predecessor resigned. Mr. Leche's scandals loomed over Mr. Long's first term, and in 1940, Long was himself charged with embezzlement. The charges didn't stick, however, and Mr. Long would go on to win the governorship in two elections, holding office from 1948 to 1952 and from 1956 to 1960, in a career defined by personal excess and eccentric behavior. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
a few seconds ago
- Fox News
This is the 'brilliance' of what Trump has done in DC: Byron York
Fox News contributor Byron York breaks down the 'brilliance' of President Donald Trump's crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C., on 'Fox News Live.'
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A grandmother's request to spend a few more minutes at a NYC beach ends in tragedy
As the lifeguards prepared to end their shift, a 77-year-old Russian grandmother visiting her family in Brooklyn was having such a good time at Manhattan Beach Park she called her daughter and told her to hold off on picking her up. 'It's breezy. It's good weather,' Liudmila Marchenko told her daughter. ''Give me an hour.' Minutes later, tragedy befell the beloved grandmother. Swimmers discovered her floating face down in the surf just as the lifeguards' shifts ended for the day on Monday, her daughter told the Daily News. 'Between our conversation with my mom, the call and the accident, probably 15 minutes,' said Natalia Sapunkova. 'People who were swimming around found my mom floating face down and called to lifeguards, but it happened at 6 o'clock, maybe 6:01 p.m., and, of course, lifeguards are finishing at this time.' Park Enforcement Patrol officers alerted lifeguards to Marchenko's danger in the waters off the park near Oriental Boulevard around 6:15 p.m., a spokesman for the Parks Department said. Lifeguards administered CPR to the victim while awaiting paramedics, who rushed the victim to Coney Island Hospital, where she was declared dead around 7 p.m., the Park spokeswoman said. Because the incident occurred after the beach was closed to swimmers, lifeguards were not on duty, the parks spokeswoman said. Marchenko, a resident of the southwest Siberian city of Kemerovo and a former accountant for the Russian state road and rail service, had flown into the country on July 15 to celebrate her daughter's birthday and spend time with her family living in Sheepshead Bay. A family friend recalled the festivities for Sapunkova's Aug. 1 birthday bash, where Marchenko spoke to the crowd, recited a poem and sang beautifully for her daughter. 'She made this speech, a beautiful speech, and she was singing a song dedicated to her daughter,' said Sofia Kozel. 'She gave me such an impression. She was very beautiful. Loved to live.' During her stay in the U.S., Marchenko decided she wanted to see the White House and her family took made a day trip to D.C. where they visited the National Gallery and posed for pictures outside the Washington Monument. But, for the woman hailing from a landlocked region of Siberia, her favorite destination was Brooklyn's southern coast, where she could spend hours bobbing in the surf, her granddaughter said. 'She was at the beach every single day. She would just stay in the water almost the whole entire day. In Russia, you don't really have a beach like that,' said 20-year-old Yana Sapunkova. 'Even though Coney Island and Manhattan Beach are a little dirty, it's still something compared to nothing. She really enjoyed it.' The victim's daughter said her mother had been at Manhattan Beach for hours when she rang around 5:45 p.m. on Monday and said she wasn't ready to depart the coast. 'She called me around 5:45 p.m. and I said, 'Okay, I'm home. Are you ready for pickup?' She said, 'No, give me more time.'' Natalia Sapunkova only wanted to give her mother another half hour, but that Marchenko haggled with her until she agreed to a 7 p.m. pickup. When she arrived, however, her mother wasn't answering her phone. Marchenko's daughter said she went searching for her mother near a flat rock on the beach that had become her usual spot. She found her bag, clothes, shoes and phone, but her mother was nowhere to be seen, Natalia Sapunkova said. After searching for an hour, Natalia Sapunkova contacted police who directed her to the 61st Precinct in Coney Island to fill out a missing person's report. It was there she learned of her mothers tragic fate after meeting two police officers who responded to the drowning. 'I can't accept it,' Natalia Sapunkova said. 'In my brain, in my mind, it's not acceptable. She's still with me.' The victim's granddaughter was attending a music festival in Pennsylvania when her mother called with the tragic news of her beloved grandmother's death. 'She was part of the reason why my childhood was as good as it was,' said Yana Sapunkova. 'I had such an amazing grandmother who always showed love to us.' Marchenko's daughter said she hopes other beachgoers take a lesson from her mother's death and stay on land when lifeguards are off duty. 'I hope this story will help someone be safe in the water,' said Natalia Sapunkova. 'If you want to swim so late after lifeguards, only you are responsible.' __________
