Former university fraternity leader sentenced over fatal hazing incident

A former fraternity leader at Northern Arizona University has been sentenced to two months in jail for his role in a hazing incident that led to the death of a pledge. Carter Eslick, 20, also received three years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to a felony hazing charge in Coconino County Superior Court. The charge related to the January 31 death of Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, at an off-campus house.

An autopsy found that Martinez died of alcohol poisoning. His blood-alcohol concentration was 0.425 per cent, more than five times the legal driving limit for people aged 21 and over in Arizona. Court documents said Martinez was among four Delta Tau Delta pledges who shared two bottles of vodka to make themselves vomit.

Witnesses reportedly adjusted Martinez’s sleeping position and checked his pulse and breathing during the night for signs of alcohol poisoning. Eslick was the fraternity’s pledge master and was responsible for welcoming new members. During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, he apologised to Martinez’s family and said he accepted full responsibility for his role in the ritual.

Martinez’s parents appeared remotely and said they wanted accountability and reform in Greek life, according to reporting cited by the source. Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said no sentence could undo the harm suffered by the family. Judge Stacy Krueger said Eslick knew his conduct was dangerous and expressed concern that no one intervened.

His probation conditions include creating and delivering 305 anti-hazing presentations, reporting his progress to the court and avoiding alcohol and drugs unless prescribed. Northern Arizona University suspended the fraternity after Martinez’s death. The organisation that oversees Delta Tau Delta later closed the university chapter.