Former NAU fraternity leader Carter Eslick pleaded guilty in the hazing death of pledge Colin Daniel Martinez, whose blood-alcohol level was life-threatening.
A former Northern Arizona University fraternity leader pleaded guilty Monday in the hazing death of a pledge after an off-campus rush event turned deadly. The NAU hazing case centers on Carter Eslick, 20, who admitted to a felony hazing charge tied to the death of Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, in Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff.
Under the agreement with prosecutors, Eslick will serve no more than four years of probation. A judge will decide the final length of that term and could also impose up to one year in jail at a sentencing hearing set for Sept. 30. Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said the plea does not lessen the “profound harm caused or the sorrow of Colin’s death.”
Martinez was pledging the now-defunct Delta Tau Delta fraternity chapter at Northern Arizona University when he was found unresponsive on Jan. 31. An autopsy later showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.425%, a level described as life-threatening. The case has drawn attention because it combines campus fraternity culture, alcohol abuse and the criminal consequences that can follow when initiation rituals cross the line.
Court documents say Martinez was one of four men pledging Delta Tau Delta who shared two bottles of vodka in an effort to make themselves vomit. Those same documents say witnesses checked on Martinez through the night, adjusted his sleeping position and looked for signs of alcohol poisoning by checking his pulse and breathing. The details have put a harsh spotlight on how fraternity events can spiral into danger when drinking is used as part of the pledging process.
“Former NAU fraternity leader Carter Eslick pleaded guilty in the hazing death of pledge Colin Daniel Martinez, whose blood-alcohol level was life-threatening.”
Eslick was serving as the fraternity’s pledge master at the time, a role that put him in charge of welcoming new members. He is no longer a student at NAU. The university suspended the Delta Tau Delta fraternity after Martinez’s death, and the national organization closed the NAU chapter.
Fraternity hazing has long been a recurring problem at American colleges, where schools and national organizations often promise reforms after a tragedy but still face pressure to enforce them. Cases like this one also raise questions for parents, students and campus leaders about how effectively universities monitor off-campus events tied to Greek life. For families sending children to college, the stakes are plain: when hazing turns violent or reckless, the damage can be permanent.
As the Sept. 30 sentencing approaches, the case will test how seriously the court weighs the conduct behind Martinez’s death and whether probation alone is enough punishment. For readers across the country, the lesson is simple: hazing is not harmless tradition, and on college campuses it can become a criminal act with fatal results.
Frequently asked questions
Who pleaded guilty in the NAU hazing case?
Carter Eslick, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to felony Hazing in Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff.
What happened to Colin Daniel Martinez?
Martinez, 18, was found unresponsive on Jan. 31 after pledging Delta Tau Delta at NAU. An autopsy found a blood-alcohol level of 0.425%.
What sentence could Eslick receive?
Under the plea agreement, he would serve no more than four years of probation. A judge could also impose up to one year in jail at sentencing.
What did the university and fraternity do after the death?
Northern Arizona University suspended the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and the national organization closed the NAU chapter.
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