Designer claims investor harassment days before being found dead on his yacht
Swimwear creator Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra said investor Chris Durnan was harassing her and alleging fraud shortly before she was discovered dead on his Montauk boat.
In early August 2025, swimwear designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra reported that investor Chris Durnan was repeatedly messaging her with aggressive accusations of fraud after he purchased a 13 % stake in their company East x East. She blocked his number but later unblocked it to arrange a meeting, which occurred on Aug. 4 at the Montauk Yacht Club aboard Durnan’s vessel “Hell in a Bucket,” before moving to his second boat “Ripple.”
Emergency crews later found Nolan-O’Slatarra dead, clothed and covered in blood, while Durnan was discovered naked on the dock. Authorities have not charged Durnan, who maintains his innocence, and his lawyer disputes details in the EMT report. Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family has sued Durnan for $50 million in Manhattan Supreme Court and has opened a tip line for investigators.
Why it matters
The story ties a high-profile business dispute to a suspicious death, highlighting potential risks in elite investment relationships.
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