Carter Eslick reportedly said during his sentencing hearing that he takes “full responsibility for the hand I played in that [hazing] ritual”

NEED TO KNOW

• Carter Eslick, the former leader of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at Northern Arizona University, was sentenced on Sept. 30 after pleading guilty to felony hazing
• He was arrested and charged after police found pledge Colin Daniel Martinez dead, with an autopsy later determining that Martinez died of alcohol poisoning
• Martinez’s family said during the sentencing hearing that they hope the case prompts reform within Greek life

A former Northern Arizona University (NAU) fraternity leader has been sentenced for his role in the death of a fraternity pledge.

Carter Eslick, 20, was sentenced to 60 days in jail on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in connection with the death of 18-year-old Colin Daniel Martinez, who died of alcohol poisoning after taking part in a rush event for pledges at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at NAU, according to the Associated Press, AZ Family and Fox 10 Phoenix.

Eslick, who pleaded guilty in August to felony hazing in connection with Martinez’s death, was also sentenced to three years of supervised probation during a hearing at Coconino County Superior Court, per the outlets. 

Martinez was pronounced dead on Jan. 31 after Flagstaff police responded to a report of an unresponsive man inside a home, according to a news release issued at the time.

His death was ruled accidental, and the cause was determined to be “acute ethanol toxicity,” according to an autopsy report viewed by PEOPLE in March.

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The autopsy report said Martinez had a blood-alcohol level of 0.425% when he died. In Arizona, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% is the legal limit for drivers over the age of 21.

The Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) said in the release that Martinez had “attended a gathering at the residence the previous evening, identified as a ‘rush’ event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity,” where he and other pledges were drinking.

According to court documents obtained by AP at the time, the four pledge candidates, including Martinez, were encouraged to drink two bottles of vodka at the event. Witnesses said members of the fraternity watched over the 18-year-old before calling for outside help from authorities.

Eslick, who was the fraternity’s pledge master, was arrested alongside the fraternity’s vice president, Ryan Creech, and treasurer, Riley Cass. However, prosecutors decided not to pursue charges against Creech and Cass. 

During his sentencing hearing, Eslick said he was “deeply sorry” for what happened, per AZ Family, and told Martinez’s loved ones that he takes “full responsibility for the hand I played in that [hazing] ritual.”

“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,” he added.

Martinez’s father, Chris, attended the hearing and shared that “every morning” since Jan. 31 his family has “awakened to the reality that [Colin] is not coming home.” He said the family is seeking reform within Greek life, per AZ Family.

“No parent should ever have to bury their child,” he added.

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