Former Arizona fraternity leader sent to jail over fatal hazing incident

A former student leader at Northern Arizona University must spend two months in jail for a hazing incident that caused the death of a new member. Carter Eslick, who was 20 years old, was sentenced in Coconino County Superior Court after pleading guilty to a felony charge of hazing. The case stems from the Jan. 31 death of 18-year-old Colin Daniel Martinez at a house located off campus.

The Incident

Medical examiners determined that Martinez died from alcohol poisoning. His blood-alcohol level reached 0.425 percent, which is more than five times the legal driving limit for adults in the state. Court files show that Martinez and three other pledges from the Delta Tau Delta fraternity were made to drink two bottles of vodka until they threw up. People at the house checked on Martinez throughout the night by adjusting how he slept and feeling for his pulse and breathing.

Punishment and Terms

Alongside the jail term, Eslick received three years of supervised probation. The judge ordered him to give 305 presentations against hazing and to provide regular updates to the court regarding his progress. Eslick is barred from consuming drugs or alcohol unless prescribed by a doctor, and he must undergo any treatment ordered following an evaluation. He faces extra jail time if he violates these probation rules. Eslick served as the pledge master for the fraternity, meaning he was in charge of welcoming new members, but he is no longer enrolled at the university.

Official Response

Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker stated that no legal punishment can fix the pain suffered by the victim's family. Barker expressed hope that the prosecution highlights the severe risks of hazing and pushes people to intervene before another tragedy occurs. Reporters attempted to reach defense lawyer Burges McCowan for comment without success. Meanwhile, the university suspended the student group, and the national headquarters shut down the local chapter permanently.

Context

Student hazing remains a major safety issue on college campuses across the country, often involving dangerous alcohol consumption during initiation rituals. Universities and national Greek organizations typically enforce strict zero-tolerance policies when dangerous practices result in student injuries or deaths. Legal systems increasingly hold individual student leaders criminally responsible for organizing these banned activities.