A Rising Star in the Fashion World

Martha Nolan Slattera. 33 years old. Born in Ireland. Moved to NYC in 2015. A rising star in fashion. Founder of East by East, a swimsuit brand. Social media shows luxury, ambition, hard work. Pop-up shops in the Hamptons. A life that seemed perfect.

But behind the glitz… something dark was coming.

The Night That Changed Everything

August 4th. Montauk Yacht Club. Martha boards Ripple, the yacht owned by 60-year-old Christopher Durnan. Investor. Widower. Business partner. Or more? Champagne poured. Sunset watched. Luxury surrounds them.

The night started like a business meeting. But soon, it became a scene no one could forget.

The Last Messages

Martha texts her boyfriend: “I’ll be home late.”
Minutes later, a joke in a friend group chat: “Mao, maybe her phone died. Or maybe she’s dead?”
She replies ten minutes later: “Lol, I’m at the yacht club, my phone is on.”

One hour later, she’s gone.

The Man on the Dock

Christopher Durnan reportedly naked. Running across the dock. Yelling for help. Throwing sunscreen at boats. Police called. CPR attempted. Timeline unclear. Questions multiply.

Why naked? Why so chaotic? Explanation: clothes soaked in Martha’s vomit. But that doesn’t answer everything.

Family Orders a Second Autopsy

Official autopsy still pending. Martha’s family demands answers. They hire an independent pathologist. Findings? Trace amounts of cocaine.

Not enough to be lethal. Could have been days old. Family insists Martha was healthy. Young. No signs of trauma.

Could Cocaine Cause This?

Even trace cocaine can affect a body. Blood pressure spikes. Heart beats erratically. Stroke possible. Heart attack? Arrhythmia?

Martha was 33. Healthy. But even the young can die suddenly. A substance her body never tolerated? Enough to trigger disaster.

The Suspicious Gap in Time

911 call around midnight. But collapse reportedly around 10:30–11 p.m. Witnesses describe Durnan’s erratic behavior.

An hour unaccounted for. Where was help? What really happened on that yacht?

Business or Romance?

Durnan invested $250,000 in East by East. Family says: maybe he saw more than business. Lawyer says they dated. Family denies. Social media hints? Nothing concrete.

Luxury, wealth, power. But motives remain unclear.

The White Powder

After police cleared the yacht, a white powder found. Media speculates overdose. Lawyer: dust from fingerprint collection.

Trace cocaine in her system. But no confirmed lethal substance. Mystery thickens.

Inside the Second Autopsy

Independent pathologist examines every detail. Brain. Heart. Liver. Adrenal glands. Tiny crevices. Signs of injection? Immobilization? Drugs?
Trace cocaine may not kill—but it can interact with other substances. Heart conditions unknown?

Multiple Possibilities

Heart attack. Accidental overdose. Cocaine interaction. Unknown medications. Even a minor stimulant can trigger fatal arrhythmia.

Fentanyl? Even a tiny amount can depress respiration. Combine it with cocaine? Dangerous. Could that explain a sudden collapse?

Eyewitness Accounts

Witnesses: Durnan naked, throwing sunscreen, yelling. Erratic behavior. Was it panic? Or something else?

Family insists Martha was not a drug user. But a trace of cocaine in her system raises questions. How did it get there? When?

The Night Unfolds

Reports suggest Martha excused herself twice. Bathroom? Or drug use? Family attorney rejects idea she used drugs.

Durnan’s lawyer timeline: collapse like heart attack. CPR attempted. Clothing soaked in vomit. But gaps remain.

Why a Second Autopsy?

First autopsy inconclusive. Family wants clarity. Second autopsy checks organs again. Samples taken: brain, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, heart.

Trace cocaine analyzed. Could it be metabolite from earlier use? Could it have caused sudden collapse? Family demands answers.

The Mystery of Trace Cocaine

Trace levels may mean:

Minor past use
Metabolites from earlier ingestion
Not lethal alone

But combined with panic, stress, unknown medications? Even a tiny stimulant could trigger heart failure.

No Charges Yet

Christopher Durnan not charged. Police investigation ongoing. Official autopsy pending.

Questions remain:

How exactly did Martha die?
What happened during that missing hour?
Was anyone else involved?

The Age Gap

Martha: 33. Durnan: 60. Investors, partners—or more? Champagne, yachts, luxury. Misread intentions? Or nothing at all?

Family disputes romantic angle. Lawyer claims relationship. Public confused. Media speculates. Suspense builds.

The Final Moments

Witnesses: collapse at 10:30–11 p.m.
911 called midnight.
Durnan: CPR. Naked. Screaming. Throwing sunscreen.

Family autopsy: healthy, young, trace cocaine. No trauma. Cause of death uncertain.

What’s Next?

Official autopsy. Toxicology. Police report.

Until then:

Mystery remains
Questions dominate
Social media buzzes

Why This Case Captivates

Young, talented, ambitious woman. Luxury, wealth, fame. Sudden, mysterious death.
Eyewitness drama. Conflicting accounts. A second autopsy. Trace substances. Gaps in time. Suspicion.

Suspense is everywhere.
Everyone wants answers.

Martha Nolan Slattera’s death remains a mystery. Was it a sudden heart issue? Accidental overdose? Something else?

The Montauk Yacht Club incident is not just a news story—it’s a puzzle. A story of glamour, ambition, and tragedy. A case that keeps the world watching.

Even months later, the questions persist. And until the official autopsy is released, speculation—and suspense—remains.