FLAGSTAFF, AZ – Three members of a fraternity at Northern Arizona University have been arrested and charged with hazing after an 18-year-old student was found dead following a rush event over the weekend.
The student, whose name has not been publicly released, was discovered Saturday morning at approximately 9 a.m. at a residence near the NAU campus. Bystanders had begun performing CPR before police arrived, but the student could not be revived.
Carter Eslick, 20, the chapter’s new member educator; Ryan Creech, 20, vice president; and Riley Cass, 20, treasurer, were all arrested and charged with hazing. All three serve on the executive board of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity’s NAU chapter.
Flagstaff police said the cause and manner of death are pending a report from the medical examiner’s office. Authorities indicated additional charges could follow depending on autopsy results and the ongoing investigation.
NAU officials immediately placed the fraternity on interim suspension and launched their own review of the incident. The university also made counseling services available to students affected by the death.
“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities,” the university said in a statement. “Violence, hazing or any other behavior that endangers others has no place at NAU.”
Delta Tau Delta’s national organization also responded, with CEO Jack Kreman issuing a statement expressing sadness over the student’s death. “Our position on hazing is clear: It is the antithesis of brotherhood and a violation of the values of Delta Tau Delta,” Kreman said.
The arrests come amid heightened national scrutiny of Greek life hazing practices at universities across the country. Arizona law classifies hazing as a criminal offense, and recent legislative efforts in several states have increased penalties for hazing-related deaths.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Flagstaff Police Department.
