Former Fraternity Leader Sentenced in Hazing Death

A former fraternity leader at Northern Arizona University has been sentenced to two months in jail and three years of supervised probation for his role in a hazing that led to the death of an 18-year-old pledge.

Carter Eslick, 20, received the sentence Wednesday in Coconino County Superior Court after pleading guilty to a felony hazing charge. The charge stemmed from the Jan. 31 death of Colin Daniel Martinez at an off-campus house.

An autopsy determined Martinez died of alcohol poisoning, with a blood-alcohol content of 0.425%, which is more than five times the state's legal limit for drivers.

Martinez was one of four pledges who shared two bottles of vodka as part of a ritual intended to induce vomiting, according to court documents. Witnesses reported monitoring Martinez's condition throughout the night, checking his pulse and breathing.

Eslick, who was the fraternity's pledge master, apologized to Martinez's family, stating he takes "full responsibility for the hand I played in that ritual." Martinez's parents appeared in court remotely, expressing their grief and a desire for accountability and reform within Greek life.

Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said that while no sentence can undo the harm, he hopes the case highlights the dangers of hazing and encourages intervention.

Judge Stacy Krueger noted Eslick's awareness of the dangerous nature of his actions and expressed concern that no one intervened. Eslick could face additional jail time if he fails to meet the terms of his probation, which include developing and delivering 305 anti-hazing presentations. He is also prohibited from using alcohol or drugs unless prescribed.

The university suspended the fraternity following Martinez's death, and the national organization subsequently closed the chapter at NAU.