Ex-NAU Fraternity Leader Gets Jail Time in Pledge's Alcohol Poisoning Death
A former fraternity leader at Northern Arizona University has been sentenced to two months in jail for his role in the hazing death of an 18-year-old pledge who died of alcohol poisoning earlier this year.
Carter Eslick, 20, pleaded guilty to a felony hazing charge in the death of Colin Daniel Martinez. A Coconino County Superior Court judge handed down the sentence Wednesday in Flagstaff.
The Sentence
Judge Stacy Krueger ordered Eslick to serve two months in jail followed by three years of supervised probation, according to CBS News.
As part of his probation, Eslick must give 305 anti-hazing presentations. He is barred from using alcohol or drugs unless they are prescribed and must keep the court updated on his progress. He could face more jail time if he violates the terms of his probation.
Under his plea agreement, Eslick avoided a state prison sentence in favor of probation, according to AZFamily. The two months will be served in jail.
Krueger said Eslick knew the conduct was dangerous and expressed concern that no one stepped in to stop it.
What Happened That Night
Martinez died on January 31 during a spring rush event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was found unresponsive at an off-campus fraternity house and was pronounced dead at the scene.
During an invite-only dinner, pledges wore pillowcases over their heads and took part in drinking games, according to AZFamily. Martinez and three other pledges shared two bottles of vodka, about 3.5 liters in total, in a ritual meant to make them vomit.
Witnesses said members monitored Martinez's pulse and breathing throughout the night.
An autopsy found his blood alcohol content was 0.425%, more than five times Arizona's legal limit for driving and a level generally considered deadly.
Eslick served as the chapter's pledge master, responsible for welcoming new members.
'I Take Full Responsibility'
Eslick apologized to Martinez's family in court.
"I am so incredibly deeply sorry for the events that happened on Jan. 31, and I take full responsibility for the hand I played in that ritual," he said.
Martinez's parents appeared remotely at the hearing. They told the court they want accountability and reform within Greek life.
Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said he hopes the case "helps people understand the serious dangers of hazing."
Charges Against Other Members
Police initially arrested three members of the fraternity's executive board on hazing charges days after Martinez's death: Eslick, Ryan Creech and Riley Cass. Only Eslick was indicted by the Coconino County Attorney's Office.
Northern Arizona University suspended the fraternity, and Delta Tau Delta's national leadership voted to close the NAU chapter about a month after Martinez died.
Fraternities Under Scrutiny
The case adds to growing concern about fraternity culture on college campuses. In August, prosecutors charged 14 people in a cocaine ring tied to a Penn State fraternity, where packaging drugs was reportedly part of pledge initiation. Last month, a district attorney reopened a rape investigation involving members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity.
At the same time, drinking habits among young adults are shifting. Many members of Gen Z are drinking less than earlier generations, with some trading blackout drinking for sober social events.
Hazing deaths involving alcohol continue to draw calls for reform. A federal law signed in December 2024, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, now requires colleges that receive federal aid to report hazing incidents publicly and offer prevention programs for students.
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