A former leader of a Northern Arizona University fraternity has pleaded guilty to a felony hazing charge in the death of an 18‑year‑old pledge who was forced to drink excessive alcohol during an off‑campus rush event, court records show.
Guilty plea, probation agreement
Carter Eslick, 20, entered the plea Monday in Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff. Under the agreement reached with prosecutors, Eslick would be subject to a period of probation not to exceed four years. A judge will decide the exact length of probation and may impose up to a year behind bars at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 30.
The charge stems from the death of Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, who was pledging the now‑closed Delta Tau Delta chapter at NAU. Martinez was found unresponsive on Jan. 31 after consuming large amounts of alcohol, according to court records and an autopsy.
Medical findings and incident details
The autopsy placed Martinez’s blood‑alcohol concentration at 0.425%, a level considered life‑threatening and far above the legal driving limit. Court documents describe a ritual during which Martinez and three other pledges shared two bottles of vodka and drank until they were sick.
Witnesses, according to the documents, checked Martinez’s breathing and pulse through the night and adjusted his sleeping position as they sought signs of alcohol poisoning.
| Key facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim | Colin Daniel Martinez, 18 |
| Defendant | Carter Eslick, 20 |
| Charge | Felony hazing causing death |
| Autopsy BAC | 0.425% |
| Sentencing date | Sept. 30 (probation up to 4 years; judge may add up to 1 year jail) |
Reactions and institutional actions
Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said the plea does not lessen the magnitude of the loss suffered by Martinez’s family and friends.
“The plea doesn't diminish the profound harm caused or the sorrow of Colin's death.”
Following the death, Northern Arizona University suspended the Delta Tau Delta chapter, and the national fraternity organization subsequently closed the NAU chapter. Eslick is no longer enrolled as a student at NAU.
What the court documents show
Prosecutors allege Eslick, who served as the chapter’s pledge master and was responsible for leading new members through initiation activities, organized or oversaw the drinking activity that led to Martinez’s fatal intoxication. The documents state that Martinez and three other pledges consumed shared bottles of vodka with the stated aim of vomiting.
- Witnesses reported attempts to monitor Martinez’s condition through the night.
- The autopsy indicates a blood‑alcohol level far beyond what is survivable for most people.
- The fraternity’s national body closed the NAU chapter after the incident.
Broader context and campus safety
The case adds to ongoing concerns about hazing practices at colleges nationwide and the legal consequences facing students and organizations involved. Under Arizona law, individuals found guilty of hazing that results in serious injury or death can face felony charges. Prosecutors and university officials have increasingly pushed for accountability in cases where organized group activities put students at risk.
University and criminal proceedings now proceed separately: NAU took internal disciplinary action by suspending the chapter, while the criminal case moves through the Coconino County courts. The sentencing hearing in late September will determine whether Eslick receives probation only or also serves jail time within the limits of the plea deal.
Eslick’s attorney and representatives for Martinez’s family were contacted by The Associated Press for comment, according to the original reporting. The case remains subject to court rulings and the discretion of the sentencing judge.
As the community awaits the sentencing hearing, the plea brings some legal closure but leaves unanswered questions about hazing culture, oversight and prevention on college campuses.
