Arizona frat leader apologized to an 18-year-old pledge’s parents on Zoom as he got 60 days in jail over the drinking game that killed their son

A former Northern Arizona University fraternity leader was sentenced to 60 days in jail on Wednesday, September 30, following the death of 18-year-old pledge Colin Daniel Martinez, who succumbed to alcohol poisoning during a house party. Carter Eslick, 21, appeared in Coconino County Superior Court for the sentencing hearing regarding the tragic events of January 31.

According to PEOPLE, in addition to the jail time, Judge Stacy Krueger ordered Eslick to serve three years of supervised probation. The court documents indicate that Eslick could face an additional 305 days behind bars if he fails to meet the specific conditions of his probation. These requirements include the creation and delivery of anti-hazing presentations and the submission of regular court updates every six months. He pleaded guilty to a felony hazing charge in August.

Per the Associated Press, Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker noted that no sentence could make up for the harm the Martinez family has faced. Barker stated, “My hope is that this case helps people understand the serious dangers of hazing and encourages them to speak up and intervene before another family experiences this kind of loss.”

The hazing ritual came in the form of an extreme drinking game

The incident reportedly occurred during an invite-only dinner held as part of spring 2026 rush events. Investigators discovered that four pledges, including Colin Martinez, were encouraged to participate in drinking games that involved consuming large amounts of vodka. Court records cited by the AZ Family reveal that the pledges consumed around 3.5 liters of vodka during these games. 

According to PEOPLE, an autopsy later confirmed that Martinez had a blood alcohol level of 0.425%, which is more than five times the legal limit for drivers over the age of 21 and is generally considered to be a deadly concentration. Per the outlet, the medical examiner ruled the death accidental, caused by acute ethanol toxicity. Last year, a Rutgers hazing ritual put a student in the hospital. 

During the sentencing hearing, Eslick addressed the court and the victim’s family directly. According to the AZ Family, he expressed deep remorse for his role as the fraternity’s pledge master, the individual responsible for welcoming new members. “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. 

He reportedly added, “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.” Fox 10 further quoted Eslick as saying, “I know nothing that I say here can replace or give any type of closure to the Martinez family. I want to express to them how incredibly sorry I am, and I pray every single day for their family.”

The victim’s parents, Chris Martinez and his wife, attended the hearing via Zoom. Per AZFamily, Chris Martinez stated that his family wanted accountability and reform within Greek life. “Every morning since Jan. 31, our families have awakened to the reality that he is not coming home,” he said. “No parent should ever have to bury their child.”

Per Fox 10, Chris added, “He was only 18 years old, and he had an enormous drive for life. He had people he loved, people who loved him, plans he wanted to pursue, and an entire future he expected to live, and that matters to us because we never wanted our son’s life to become a collection of death reports, evidence, charges in court proceedings. The fullness of Colin’s level of life could never be defined by any of those things for us.”

According to AZFamily, defense attorneys argued that Eslick had served as a designated driver and left the house party around 11 p.m. However, prosecutors maintained that he was responsible for providing the alcohol and setting the rules for the fatal drinking game. Per court documents, witnesses recalled Martinez snoring unusually and gagging. Multiple attendees shifted his position and checked his pulse but only called emergency services six hours later.

Per the AZ Family, Krueger noted that she considered Eslick’s character and efforts to make the game safer. “Not one person speaking out,” Krueger said. “No one caring more about the well-being of others over their desire to fit in. You know, Mr. Eslick, I look at those steps, and those steps that you took, they do go both ways, because it does tell me you were well aware this was [dangerous].”

Following the tragedy, the university reportedly suspended the fraternity, and the national leadership team for Delta Tau Delta ultimately voted to close the Flagstaff chapter.