A weekend rush event at Northern Arizona University turned tragic, leaving an 18-year-old student dead and three fraternity members facing criminal charges. The young man was found unresponsive Saturday morning, the aftermath of a Delta Tau Delta fraternity event intended to welcome new members.
First responders arrived to find individuals already attempting CPR, desperately trying to revive the student. Despite their efforts, and the subsequent arrival of paramedics, the young man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not yet been released as authorities continue their investigation.
Detectives quickly focused on the events of Friday night, learning the student was participating in the fraternity’s rush process. Witnesses reported widespread alcohol consumption among attendees, including the victim and other prospective pledges. The atmosphere, meant to be welcoming, quickly spiraled into something far more dangerous.
Charged with hazing are three members of the Delta Tau Delta executive board: Carter Eslick, the new member educator; Ryan Creech, the vice president; and Riley Cass, the treasurer. All three 20-year-olds are currently held at the Coconino County Detention Facility.
Their initial court appearance on Sunday resulted in the appointment of public defenders to represent them during bail hearings. No pleas were entered, and bail was granted under strict conditions – the three men are prohibited from communicating with each other or any potential victims connected to the case.
The investigation remains active, pending the medical examiner’s determination of the student’s official cause of death. Every detail is being scrutinized as authorities attempt to piece together the events leading to this devastating outcome.
Northern Arizona University swiftly suspended the Delta Tau Delta chapter, initiating its own internal review of the incident. University officials described the student’s death as a “devastating loss” and reaffirmed their commitment to student safety, stating that dangerous behaviors have no place on campus.
Delta Tau Delta International also released a statement, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy towards hazing. The fraternity characterized hazing as “the antithesis of brotherhood” and a direct violation of its core values, promising full cooperation with law enforcement.
This tragedy arrives in the wake of a 2022 Arizona law, enacted in memory of Jack Culolias, an Arizona State University freshman who died after a 2012 pledge event. Culolias drowned after consuming excessive alcohol at a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity event.
The law, born from immense grief, now classifies hazing resulting in death as a Class 4 felony in Arizona. It serves as a stark reminder of the potentially lethal consequences of dangerous fraternity practices and the urgent need for reform.
