MONTAUK, USA:
The mysterious death of American fashion designer Martha Nolan aboard a yacht several months ago has raised troubling questions, amplified by a chilling incident where a joking message among friends turned into a devastating reality just hours later.
According to US media reports, the 33-year-old designer traveled to Montauk on August 4 to meet with Christopher Drinan, an investor and the yacht’s owner, to discuss the expansion of her fashion brand. Following a delay, the two spent the evening on the yacht watching the sunset at sea.
As the night progressed, Nolan’s friends and boyfriend, Nicholas de Rubio, became concerned when she was unreachable by phone. They traced her location to the Atlantic Ocean and expressed immediate fears. In a group chat, one friend wrote in jest, yet with anxiety, ‘Her phone must be dead, or maybe she’s dead.’ Astonishingly, about 10 minutes later, Martha sent a message back: ‘I’m back at the yacht club, my phone is on.’ However, according to police, she was deceased approximately an hour after sending that message.
On the morning of August 5, Martha’s body was found on the yacht “Ripple.” This discovery was preceded by reports from nearby residents who claimed to have heard screams shortly before. Adding to the suspicion, the investor, Drinan, was reportedly seen running and disposing of sunscreen near the scene.
Police confirmed that there were no visible signs of external trauma on Martha’s body, but a white powdery substance was recovered from the scene. Authorities currently suspect that the designer may have died accidentally under the influence of drugs. The exact composition of the substance—whether it was heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, or a dangerous mixture—has not yet been clarified.
Martha Nolan, born in Ireland and having moved to the US at age 26, worked as a marketing consultant and ran her own fashion brand. Police investigations are ongoing, focusing on identifying and locating the alleged dealer who may have sold the fatal narcotic to Martha, in a determined effort to fully uncover the circumstances of her sudden and mysterious passing.
