**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**DATELINE: SOUTHAMPTON, NY – July 15, 2024**
**HEADLINE: Authorities Investigate Structural Failure at High-Profile Summer Estate; No Casualties Reported**
**SOUTHAMPTON, NY –** The Suffolk County Police Department and the Town of Southampton Building Department have launched a joint investigation following a significant structural failure at a waterfront summer residence located at 1247 Dune Road. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time yesterday.
**WHO:**
The primary parties involved include the building’s owners, identified as financier Marcus Thorne and his wife, socialite Elena Thorne; the private construction firm contracted for renovations, Horizon Structures LLC; and first responders from the Southampton Village Volunteer Fire Department.
**WHAT:**
A partial collapse of the home’s rear deck and the exterior wall of the main living area. Preliminary reports from the building inspector indicate that the collapse involved a newly constructed 40-foot wraparound deck and a section of the adjacent facade. Witnesses report a sustained cracking sound followed by a loud crash. No significant fire or hazardous material leak was detected.
**WHERE:**
The incident occurred at the Thorne family’s summer compound, an estate situated on the Shinnecock Bay. The property is located within a designated coastal overlay zone, which carries specific building code requirements for wind and flood resistance. The affected structure is the primary residence, a multi-million dollar property purchased in 2022.
**WHEN:**
The collapse occurred yesterday afternoon at 2:34 p.m. Emergency services were dispatched immediately and arrived on scene by 2:41 p.m. The investigation is currently in its early stages, with a timeline for completion expected within the next 72 hours.
**WHY:**
The cause of the structural failure is under active investigation. Sources confirm that the deck was part of a $1.2 million renovation project