The Night That Ended in Tragedy
A series of chilling text messages has revealed the chaos and confusion that unfolded on the night fashion designer Martha Nolan was mysteriously found dead aboard a luxury yacht in the exclusive Hamptons. The 33-year-old Irish entrepreneur had been meeting with insurance mogul Christopher Durnan, 60, to discuss her fledgling fashion label East x East before tragedy struck.
The evening of August 5 began as a business meeting at the prestigious Montauk Yacht Club, where Durnan reportedly told Nolan: "If you guys are looking for more money, let's sit down and talk about it," according to New York Magazine. What started as professional discussions soon turned into a casual evening as the pair set out on Durnan's fishing boat to drink champagne and watch the sunset.
Eerie Messages and Growing Concern
After the yacht left the dock, Nolan's friends grew increasingly worried when they couldn't reach her. Using the Find My app, they discovered her location somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, sparking alarm among her social circle.
In a message that would later seem eerily prescient, one friend joked: "lmao. I'm sure her phone died. Or maybe she's dead." About ten minutes later, Nolan responded reassuring her friends: "Lol I'm at the yacht club now, my phone is on."
Tragically, within an hour of her last text message, the situation turned from concern to catastrophe. Nolan was discovered slumped over and unresponsive on her friend's yacht, the Ripple. Meanwhile, Durnan was seen running down the dock completely nude, throwing sunscreen at a neighbouring boat and calling for help.
Conflicting Accounts and Ongoing Investigation
The mystery surrounding Nolan's death deepens with conflicting accounts of what transpired that evening. Durnan's lawyer, Robert Holdman, claimed his client was forced to remove his clothes after they became "soaked" in the designer's vomit.
According to Holdman, Durnan and Nolan had been sitting on the deck of the Ripple in the dark discussing business when Nolan suddenly went limp around 10:30 or 11pm. Durnan allegedly thought she might be suffering a heart attack and attempted CPR, but "she was gone almost immediately."
However, the timeline presents significant questions. Police received a call from a bystander around midnight, leaving at least an hour gap between when Nolan lost consciousness and when authorities were alerted. Holdman insisted "it all happened immediately" and that Durnan "doesn't remember how long he did CPR."
The lawyer suggested a potential clue when he revealed that Nolan had dismissed herself twice that evening to use the restroom. "It could be an indication of someone going to the bathroom, it could be an indication of someone doing drugs, or it could be both," Holdman told investigators.
Troubled Past and Promising Future Cut Short
Christopher Durnan's history includes a 2021 arrest at a September 11 anniversary benefit concert, where he allegedly punched and bit a Ground Zero first responder. Charging documents claimed he bit the man on the "face, back and thumb, causing lacerations," and police reported finding a plastic bag filled with cocaine in Durnan's wallet. He ultimately pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
Meanwhile, Martha Nolan was living what appeared to be an enviable life on Manhattan's Upper East Side. She had recently finalised her divorce from ex-husband Sam Ryan in April and was reportedly planning to marry her boyfriend, Nick DiRubio. Her social media showcased a glamorous lifestyle featuring champagne, private jets and helicopter trips.
Ambitious from her youth in Carlow, Ireland, Nolan studied commerce at University College Dublin before completing a master's in digital marketing. "I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven," she told the Irish Independent last year.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Implications
Suffolk County police continue to investigate Nolan's tragic death, with authorities reportedly searching for potential drug dealers. A law enforcement source revealed: "With higher profile cases like this poor girl in Montauk, you're going to see more and more of these dealers getting locked up."
An initial post-mortem examination showed no evidence of violence, and the final cause of death remains pending further investigation. Nolan's grief-stricken family travelled from Ireland to demand a second-opinion autopsy, with toxicological results expected to take at least three months.
If toxicology reports indicate drug usage, dealers could face manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide charges. The case has drawn attention to "Chelsey's Law," proposed legislation that would enable prosecutors to add drug-induced manslaughter and homicide charges onto dealers, though the bill remains in committee.
As the investigation continues, Durnan's lawyer maintains his client is "absolutely destroyed" and cooperating fully with authorities. The mystery of what truly happened aboard the Ripple that August night continues to unfold, leaving more questions than answers in its wake.
