Following the death of an 18-year-old student at a rush event in Flagstaff, Arizona, three leaders of a fraternity at Northern Arizona University have been arrested on charges of criminal hazing, according to police reports.
The student was found unresponsive at an off-campus residence associated with the Delta Tau Delta fraternity around 8:44 a.m. on Saturday, January 31. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, including CPR performed by bystanders, the student was declared dead at the scene, confirmed by the Flagstaff Police Department.
As the investigation is still ongoing, authorities have not yet released the student’s identity.
As part of the investigation, police conducted searches and interviewed witnesses at the residence on Pine Knoll Drive and Lone Tree Road, situated in Flagstaff, approximately 150 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona.
The cause and manner of death are still to be determined pending an autopsy by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The death occurred during a rush event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity on the evening of January 30. Police findings indicated that “numerous individuals in attendance, including pledge candidates, which includes the deceased male,” had consumed alcohol at the event.
Upon conclusion of the initial investigation, three executives of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity — Carter Eslick, Ryan Creech, and Riley Cass, all 20 years old — were arrested on January 31, 2026, on charges of criminal hazing. They were processed at the Coconino County Detention Facility.
Eslick serves as the fraternity’s New Member Educator, while Creech and Cass hold the positions of Vice President and Treasurer, respectively.
In response to this tragic incident, Northern Arizona University has suspended the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. The chapter has been placed on interim suspension, with all chapter activities and operations halted during the ongoing investigation.
The university provides hazing prevention training to fraternities and enforces conduct standards for all organizations and individual students associated with the campus.
Northern Arizona University, which boasts over 25,000 students and operates more than 20 locations statewide, underscored the severity of the incident and its commitment to student safety in its response.
The Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity has issued a statement about the incident, urging its members to cooperate fully with the police investigation. “Our position on hazing is clear: it is the antithesis of brotherhood and a violation of the values of Delta Tau Delta,” said Jack Kreman, CEO of the Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity, in the fraternity’s official response.
Rush events, organized to recruit and introduce potential members to existing fraternity members and the organization’s culture, typically take place at the start of academic semesters. They are regulated by both individual universities and national fraternity organizations.
Hazing, which includes any act or scenario intentionally created to cause physical or emotional distress, humiliation, harassment, or intimidation, is illegal in most states and is strictly prohibited by universities nationwide. Those charged with criminal hazing may face significant legal repercussions, possibly even felony charges, depending on the severity of the behavior and resulting harm.
Founded in 1858, the Delta Tau Delta fraternity operates chapters at universities across the United States and has a long history of prohibiting hazing activities. However, ensuring local chapters adhere to safety standards and organizational values remains an ongoing challenge for the fraternity, similar to other Greek organizations.
In recent years, universities have heightened their focus on preventing hazing, particularly in light of several high-profile fraternity-related deaths nationwide. These efforts include mandatory education programs, stricter enforcement of anti-hazing policies, and increased oversight of Greek life activities.
The Flagstaff Police Department’s investigation into the student’s death at the fraternity event remains active. Authorities are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The combination of alcohol consumption at recruitment events and the pressure on prospective members during the rush process has been identified as a contributing factor in numerous hazing-related incidents. Many universities have implemented dry rush policies that ban alcohol at recruitment events, but enforcement varies across institutions and individual chapters.
Northern Arizona University has reiterated its commitment to thoroughly investigating the incident and holding those responsible accountable. The university maintains that violence, hazing, or any behavior endangering students is unacceptable.
The three arrested students face criminal prosecution as the investigation continues. The legal process will determine the extent of their involvement and responsibility in the events leading to the student’s death.
As the case unfolds, the university community and the wider Greek life structure will likely review policies and practices intended to prevent similar incidents in the future.
