What happened: Carter Eslick pleaded guilty Aug. 10 to a hazing charge tied to the death of 18-year-old Colin Martinez, who was found unresponsive after a fraternity recruitment drinking game.
Key facts: An autopsy found Martinez died from acute ethanol toxicity with a blood-alcohol level of 0.425%; the manner of death was ruled an accident. Under the plea deal Eslick could receive probation if approved by a judge; sentencing is set for Sept. 30.
Carter Eslick, 20, a former executive leader of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at Northern Arizona University, pleaded guilty Aug. 10 in Coconino County Superior Court to a hazing charge related to the death of 18-year-old Colin Daniel Martinez.
Prosecutors say the case stems from a Jan. 30 recruitment event held off campus near NAU's Flagstaff campus. According to court documents and police reports, Martinez and three other pledge candidates were given a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka and instructed to finish it among themselves as part of a drinking game. Martinez consumed a large portion of the alcohol, participated in a second round and was later found unresponsive the next morning at the house. He was pronounced dead at the scene on Jan. 31.
An autopsy concluded Martinez died of acute ethanol toxicity, recording a blood alcohol concentration of 0.425%—more than five times the legal driving limit. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death an accident and also reported pulmonary and mild cerebral edema, conditions caused by excess fluid in the lungs and brain. Toxicology detected caffeine and naloxone (Narcan); naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses but does not treat alcohol poisoning.
Under the plea agreement announced Aug. 10, Eslick admitted to a hazing count alleging consumption of a substance that caused harm. If a judge approves the deal, Eslick would avoid a prison term and instead be placed on probation. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30 in Coconino County Superior Court. Court records show he was released on bond after his initial arrest and was allowed to live with his parents in Scottsdale.
The Delta Tau Delta chapter at Northern Arizona University closed after Martinez's death. School officials confirmed Eslick was not registered as a student for the fall 2026 semester or thereafter. Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker, who announced the indictment nearly two months after Martinez's death, said:
"The loss of a young person is always a tragedy. Our hearts are with Colin Martinez's family, and we will diligently pursue this case toward a just resolution."
Eslick and two other 20-year-old executive board members were initially arrested on suspicion of hazing but were released shortly afterward while formal charges were being reviewed. Investigators reported fraternity members attempted to monitor Martinez overnight—repositioning him and checking his breathing and pulse after searching online for signs of alcohol poisoning—before he was found unresponsive the next morning.
This article summarizes public court records, law enforcement statements and the autopsy report concerning the case. Additional charges or legal developments may follow as prosecutors and investigators continue their review.
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