Martha Nolan Oslatala, a New York City designer, was discovered deceased on a Montauk boat just a few months after her divorce from husband Sam Ryan was finalized, as indicated by court documents.
The Irish-born 33-year-old was engaged in a divorce case this past April, which was reportedly uncontested and mutually agreed upon. According to filings from the New York County Supreme Court, the couple’s separation occurred shortly before Nolan was found lifeless on a vessel at the Montauk Yacht Club late Tuesday night.
Recent legal challenges had surfaced for Nolan and her business partner, Dylan Grace, who jointly owned East x East, a swimsuit label. In 2022, they faced a lawsuit from Out East Accessories, a luxury eyewear outlet in Manhattan.
The lawsuit claimed that their entire inventory of eyewear was taken, alongside accusations of stealing $34,000 from the company’s bank account. Additionally, it was alleged that the duo changed passwords, locking the business owners out of their bank and online accounts.
The legal dispute was ultimately resolved in July 2022 when both parties reached a settlement.
Authorities noted that Nolan Oslatala’s body showed no signs of violence, though the possibility of foul play has not been dismissed, and details related to the ongoing investigation have not been made public.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene around midnight, with two onlookers startled awake by screams. They reported seeing a man, presumed to be the boat’s owner, rushing down the dock in distress.
“We were asleep when we heard someone yelling and hitting the side of the boat,” one anonymous witness recounted. “He was running around, naked and screaming, ‘Do something!’ while throwing sunscreen at our boat.”
Emergency responders arrived too late; attempts by bystanders to revive the well-known designer were unsuccessful, leading to Nolan Oslatala being pronounced dead.
The 911 caller and other regulars at the Yacht Club had no inkling of who Nolan Oslatala was. Originally from Carlow, a small town about 50 miles from Dublin, she discussed her connections with friends from home in an interview last year.
Nolan pursued higher education vigorously, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in digital marketing, both from institutions in Dublin. She had expressed a desire for success, claiming her drive was largely influenced by the desire for financial stability in the challenging fashion industry.
At just 26, she held the position of vice president at a retail marketing agency in Ireland, mentioning feelings of boredom about her career during an interview.
In 2021, Nolan launched East X East, along with a fashion accessories company named Duper, which had been thriving enough to allow her to enjoy summers in the Hamptons.
No representation from Nolan-Oslatala’s lawyer was present in the records.
