Hazing with alcohol consumption of minors, resulting in death from alcohol poisoning. (Jan 31, 2026)
- University
- Northern Arizona University
- Fraternity
- Delta Tau Delta
- Crime categories
- Hazing (degrading treatment)Alcohol to a minor¹Death (due to alcohol intoxication)¹ For drinking age, a minor is considered 21 years and below.
- Victims
- Colin Daniel Martinez, 18
Members involved
Chapter roster
Roster unavailable
Alleged crimes
Summary of incident
Carter Eslick, 20, identified in court records as Carter Thomas Eslick, was Delta Tau Delta's pledge master (new member educator) at Northern Arizona University. During a hazing ritual at the off-campus Delta Tau Delta house (12 S. Pinegrove Road, Flagstaff) on the evening of January 30 into January 31, 2026, Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, and three other pledge candidates were made to drink two bottles of vodka in a drinking game. Martinez died of alcohol poisoning on January 31, 2026; his blood-alcohol level measured 0.425%, more than five times the legal limit for adult drivers, per autopsy reporting. Eslick and two other chapter officers (Ryan Creech, vice president, and Riley Cass, treasurer) were arrested January 31 on suspicion of hazing; only Eslick was indicted — one count of hazing, a Class 4 felony, per the Coconino County Attorney (grand jury dates reported as March 26 or March 27, 2026). He pleaded guilty on August 10, 2026, and on September 30, 2026 was sentenced to 60 days of jail time (detailed reporting describes a one-year term with 305 days deferred) and three years of supervised probation. NAU temporarily suspended the chapter, and the national fraternity permanently closed the Theta Omega chapter. Carter Eslick is expelled from university.
Sources
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/northern-arizona-university-student-dies-fraternity-hazing-arrests/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/northern-arizona-university-student-hazing-death-blood-alcohol-level-autopsy/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/northern-arizona-university-student-hazing-death-former-fraternity-leader-sentencing/
- https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2026-01-31/three-arrested-in-alleged-hazing-death-of-nau-student
- https://www.knau.org/knau-and-arizona-news/2026-10-01/former-nau-fraternity-leader-sentenced-in-deadly-hazing-case
- https://azdailysun.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/fraternity-member-pleads-guilty-in-flagstaff-hazing-death/article_8bb292bd-9b74-46c3-a8b9-209e91cdec43.html
- https://azdailysun.com/news/local/former-nau-fraternity-member-receives-jail-sentence-three-years-probation-for-january-hazing-death/article_5da9b26d-9cbe-4853-b0ec-53befd75ffba.html
- https://www.coconino.az.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/3362