A former leader of a Northern Arizona University fraternity pleaded guilty to hazing in connection with the death of an 18-year-old student who consumed an enormous amount of alcohol at an off-campus “rush” event earlier this year.

Carter Eslick, 20, pleaded guilty on Aug. 10 to hazing involving consumption of a substance causing harm in Coconino County Superior Court. Under the plea agreement, Eslick would avoid prison and be placed on probation if a judge approves the deal.

The case stems from the death of Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, who was found unresponsive at an off-campus house near the Flagstaff, Arizona, campus on Jan. 31 and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Investigators learned Martinez participated in a drinking game during a Delta Tau Delta fraternity recruitment event the night before and consumed a large amount of alcohol.

An autopsy determined Martinez died from acute ethanol toxicity and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.425%, more than five times the legal driving limit. His manner of death was ruled an accident, according to the autopsy report.

Eslick is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30 in Coconino County Superior Court. Court records show he was allowed to live with his parents in Scottsdale, a Phoenix suburb, after posting bond following his initial arrest.

Case led to indictment, fraternity chapter shutdown

Eslick and two other 20-year-old executive board members of the Northern Arizona University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity chapter were initially arrested on suspicion of hazing. They were released shortly afterward because the Flagstaff Police Department had not yet formally submitted charges to prosecutors for review.

The fraternity later closed its Northern Arizona University chapter following Martinez’s death. Eslick was not registered as a student at the school for the fall 2026 semester or beyond, according to university spokesperson Kimberly Ott.

Nearly two months after Martinez’s death, Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker announced Eslick’s indictment but declined to say at the time whether additional charges would be pursued against Eslick or others.

“The loss of a young person is always a tragedy,” Barker said in a previous statement. “Our hearts are with Colin Martinez’s family, and we will diligently pursue this case toward a just resolution.”

Court records: 18-year-old died after playing dangerous drinking game

Martinez was one of four pledge candidates who took part in a dangerous drinking game during the Jan. 30 recruitment event, according to courts documents obtained by The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The pledges were given a 1.75-liter bottle, or “handle,” of vodka and were told to finish it among themselves, court documents state.

Martinez reportedly drank about one-third of the bottle before passing it to others and later finished what remained, according to court documents. After a 30-minute break during which all four pledges vomited, participants began a second round with another bottle of vodka. Martinez was last in the rotation and later drank the rest of the bottle before passing out.

Court documents state that fraternity members told investigators they checked on Martinez throughout the night and adjusted his sleeping position while monitoring his breathing and pulse after searching online for symptoms of alcohol poisoning. He was found unresponsive the following morning. 

The autopsy also found Martinez suffered pulmonary and mild cerebral edema, a potentially deadly condition where excess fluid accumulates in the lungs and brain. He tested positive for caffeine and naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, which can reverse opioid overdoses but does not treat alcohol poisoning.