Carter Eslick, 20, a former Northern Arizona University fraternity pledge master, pleaded guilty to felony hazing on Oct. 1, 2026, in connection with the January death of Colin Daniel Martinez, who died of alcohol poisoning at an off-campus house after consuming multiple bottles of vodka.
An autopsy found Martinez died of alcohol poisoning with a blood-alcohol content of 0.425%, which is more than 5 times the legal limit for driving as an adult over the age of 21. He was among four Delta Tau Delta pledges who shared two bottles of vodka to ensure they vomited, according to the court documents.
After Eslick fully understood the degree of this situation, he apologized to Martinez’s family, saying, “I am so incredibly deeply sorry for the events that happened on Jan. 31, and I take full responsibility for the hand I played in that ritual,” Eslick said. “And if I had known that one day somebody’s life could be in my hands, there is no way in hell I would have ever looked that way.” Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker denied his apology, because it is not enough to cover the destruction of Martinez’s family that was created by his own hands and decisions.
Eslick apologized to Martinez’s family and said he took responsibility for his role in the hazing ritual. Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said that no sentence could undo the harm caused to the family. The case is another example of the serious dangers of hazing and drinking too much alcohol.
Featured image credit: Coconino County Detention Facility