Former Fraternity Leader Sentenced for Hazing Incident
A former fraternity official from Northern Arizona University was sentenced to two months in jail on Wednesday related to a hazing incident that resulted in a student’s death.
Carter Eslick, who is 20 years old, accepted a plea deal for a felony hazing charge in Coconino County Superior Court following the death of Colin Daniel Martinez on January 31. At the time, Eslick was serving as the pledge master for Delta Tau Delta.
Colin Martinez tragically died due to alcohol poisoning at an off-campus house linked to Delta Tau Delta. An autopsy revealed that his blood-alcohol content was astonishingly high at 0.45% shortly after his passing.
Witnesses described a hazing ritual where Martinez and three other pledges consumed two bottles of vodka, which was intended to induce vomiting. They reportedly kept an eye on Martinez as he slept, adjusting his position several times in an effort to help him.
In court, where the parents of Martinez were present, Eslick expressed that he takes “full responsibility for the part he played in that ritual.”
This sentencing comes amidst reports of unsettling events at other universities, such as the unexplained deaths of two students at Ole Miss, one of whom was affiliated with a fraternity, and allegations of a cocaine distribution ring at Penn State.
The recent death of Ole Miss student Ryan Strang, a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, also raised concerns. He was found at an off-campus residence, and investigators discovered packages of kratom at the sites of both fatalities. The implications of kratom, often characterized as “gas station heroin,” in these deaths remain uncertain.
It’s worth noting that Phi Delta Theta has not been accused of any wrongdoing regarding Strang’s death.
The fraternity expressed its sorrow, acknowledging the profound tragedy of the loss of both Strang and another student, Aidan Hamilton. In a statement, they conveyed their condolences to all affected and emphasized the need for a collective commitment to health and safety on college campuses. The fraternity encouraged its members to keep the families and friends of those lost in their thoughts.
