Full Breakdown
Former Northern Arizona University Fraternity Leader Sentenced for Hazing-Related Death
By Drooid · · How we work
Sentencing of Carter Eslick
Carter Eslick, a 20-year-old former pledge master for the Delta Tau Delta chapter at Northern Arizona University, received a 60-day jail term and three years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to a class-four felony hazing charge. The conviction stems from the January death of 18-year-old Colin Martinez, who died of acute alcohol poisoning during a fraternity rush event.
Background and Context
During the rush night, four pledges were instructed to consume two bottles of vodka in a “vomit-inducing” drinking game. An autopsy determined Martinez’s blood-alcohol content was 0.425 %, more than five times the legal limit for drivers over 21. Police found him unresponsive at approximately 8:44 a.m. in an off-campus house about a mile from campus. Following the fatality, the university and the fraternity closed the Delta Tau Delta chapter.
Official Statements & Responses
Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said the case should illustrate the severe dangers of hazing and encourage bystanders to intervene. As part of his probation, Eslick must create and deliver 305 anti-hazing presentations and refrain from using alcohol or non-prescribed drugs. Other fraternity officers—vice president Ryan Creech and treasurer Riley Cass—were arrested but faced no felony charges after further investigation.
Data & Statistics
- Jail sentence: 60 days
- Probation: three years, with 305 mandated anti-hazing talks
- Blood-alcohol level: 0.425 % (? 5 × legal limit)
- Alcohol consumed: two bottles of vodka shared by four pledges
- Time of discovery: ~8:44 a.m. on the day of the incident
Verbatim Quotes
- “My hope is that this case helps people understand the serious dangers of hazing and encourages them to speak up and intervene before another family experiences this kind of loss,” — Ammon Barker, coconino county attorney
