A Northern Arizona University student was found dead Saturday morning following a fraternity rush event the night before, police said. Three fraternity members have been charged with hazing.
The Flagstaff Police Department reported that officers discovered the 18-year-old unresponsive at a residence near campus around 8:45 a.m. Bystanders had already begun CPR, which officers continued until paramedics arrived. Despite efforts, the student was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary evidence suggests the student was a pledge candidate for Delta Tau Delta. Police said the rush event on Friday night involved heavy alcohol consumption, including by pledge candidates.
Three fraternity members holding leadership roles—Carter Eslick, 20, new member educator; Ryan Creech, 20, vice president; and Riley Cass, 20, treasurer—were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on hazing charges. Investigators are working with the Coconino County Medical Examiner to determine the student’s cause of death.
Northern Arizona University suspended Delta Tau Delta and stated it is mourning the student’s death while supporting the ongoing police investigation. The university emphasized that student safety and well-being remain top priorities, and that hazing or any dangerous behavior is not tolerated.
Delta Tau Delta International also issued a statement urging members to cooperate with law enforcement, affirming that hazing violates the fraternity’s values. The organization noted it has long maintained anti-hazing policies and supports anti-hazing legislation in Arizona and federally.