Alleged hazing death tied to secretive rush night ignites arrests and frat reckoning

A fraternity hazing ritual allegedly turned fatal successful January erstwhile a assemblage freshman was pushed to devour a lethal magnitude of intoxicant — prompting arrests, a transgression reappraisal and the imperishable shutdown of the chapter.

Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, died Jan. 31 aft attending a Delta Tau Delta "rush" lawsuit adjacent Northern Arizona University, according to an autopsy study reviewed and obtained by Fox News Digital.

The study determined Martinez’s origin of decease was intoxicant poisoning and that his blood-alcohol attraction was 0.425% — much than 5 times the ineligible driving bounds and a level wide considered perchance fatal.

Police accidental Martinez had been participating successful a fraternity initiation lawsuit the nighttime earlier helium was recovered unresponsive.

‘EXTREME’ HAZING ALLEGATIONS FORCE FRATERNITY SUSPENSION, INVESTIGATION AT MAJOR US UNIVERSITY

A residence linked to the Delta Tau Delta section adjacent Northern Arizona University wherever a freshman died successful January pursuing an alleged hazing event. (Fox 10 Phoenix)

Students astatine the location reportedly heard him snoring loudly astir 3 a.m., hours earlier 911 was called. According to tribunal documents, others adjusted his position, checked his pulse and searched online for symptoms of intoxicant poisoning earlier exigency crews were contacted. Bystanders were performing CPR erstwhile archetypal responders arrived, but Martinez was pronounced dormant astatine the scene.

Investigators allege Martinez and 3 different prospective members were instructed to devour ample amounts of vodka arsenic portion of a rite to articulation the fraternity, with the anticipation they would portion until they vomited.

COLLEGE STUDENT’S DEATH SPARKS HAZING PROBE AS 3 FRATERNITY MEMBERS ARE ARRESTED

Booking photos of Ryan Creech, Carter Eslick and Riley Cass look implicit an representation of a Delta Tau Delta fraternity location adjacent Northern Arizona University successful Flagstaff, Arizona. The 3 were arrested connected suspicion of hazing aft freshman Colin Daniel Martinez died of intoxicant poisoning pursuing a fraternity unreserved event. (Fox 10 Phoenix)

Police aboriginal arrested 3 fraternity leaders, Carter Eslick, Ryan Creech and Riley Cass, connected suspicion of hazing. 

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office confirmed the lawsuit has been submitted for charging reappraisal and said prosecutors are conducting an autarkic valuation of the grounds to find whether charges are due nether Arizona law.

"This is simply a precise superior case, and we are reviewing it with large care," Chief Deputy County Attorney Michael Tunink said successful a statement, adding that the bureau is continuing to enactment with the Flagstaff Police Department to guarantee each disposable accusation has been gathered.

Tunink said nary tribunal day has been acceptable and declined further comment, citing ethical rules that bounds what prosecutors tin accidental astir a pending investigation.

Investigators examined a residence adjacent NAU aft a freshman died pursuing a fraternity unreserved lawsuit successful January. (Fox 10 Phoenix)

Hazing was criminalized successful Arizona successful 2022 nether "Jack’s Law," which allows offenders to look situation sentences of up to 3.75 years, according to Fraternal Law.

At the clip of Martinez’s death, Northern Arizona University said it was "mourning the tragic decease of a student" and called the nonaccomplishment devastating for the field community.

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Students locomotion on a sun-dappled pedestrian pathway connected the Northern Arizona University (NAU) field successful Flagstaff, Arizona connected Sept. 10, 2025.  (iStock)

"We privation to beryllium clear: The information and well-being of our students stay our highest priorities. Violence, hazing oregon immoderate different behaviour that endangers others has nary spot astatine NAU," the assemblage said successful a statement. The schoolhouse suspended the Delta Tau Delta section portion it conducted its ain review.

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Last month, Delta Tau Delta’s nationalist enactment announced it had permanently closed the NAU chapter, citing what CEO Jack Kreman described arsenic a usurpation of the fraternity’s "unwavering" zero-tolerance argumentation connected hazing.

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Northern Arizona University successful Flagstaff, wherever an 18-year-old freshman died aft attending a fraternity unreserved event. (Fox 10 Phoenix)

"Our zero-tolerance argumentation connected hazing is an unwavering commitment, and erstwhile that committedness is violated, we volition enactment with resolve," Kreman said.

"Hazing and reckless behaviour are antithetical to everything our fraternity stands for and an egregious usurpation of the spot indispensable for existent brotherhood," helium added.

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Kreman said the Indianapolis-based fraternity is cooperating afloat with instrumentality enforcement and assemblage officials and volition reenforce information protocols nationwide — including bystander involution efforts, subordinate acquisition and partnerships with big institutions.

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"The nonaccomplishment of a young man's beingness is simply a calamity without measure," Kreman said. "On behalf of Delta Tau Delta, I widen our deepest condolences to the victim’s household and to each who loved him."

Fox News Digital's Julia Bonavita contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].