Authorities responded to a tragic incident at the Shou Sugi Ban House, a Japan-inspired wellness retreat located in Water Mill, where a woman was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances in a guest room on Monday. The retreat, situated about 95 miles from New York City, features 13 villas spread across a secluded 3-acre property.
Upon the initial discovery by a staff member, Southampton town police were called to the scene around 12:30 p.m. When foul play was suspected, the authorities requested assistance from the Suffolk County police, who dispatched a mobile crime lab to investigate further.
Details regarding the victim's identity and cause of death have not been released pending the results of an autopsy. Suffolk police confirmed that the victim met a violent end, but additional information remains scarce as of Tuesday morning.
The Shou Sugi Ban House, founded in 2019 by Amy Cherry-Abitbol, offers luxury accommodations with rooms priced at over $1,000 per night. The retreat, known for its high-end wellness services, has garnered top ratings from visitors over the past four years.
Inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which celebrates nature and imperfection, the retreat features culinary offerings by Noma co-founder and Michelin-starred chef Mads Refslund. The spa's website concludes with a poignant quote from Japanese samurai poet Mizuta Masahide about finding solace and beauty even in the face of tragedy.
Authorities have urged anyone with information related to the case to contact the Suffolk County Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 as the investigation into this unfortunate incident continues.
