FLAGSTAFF, AZ — Three Delta Tau Delta fraternity members at Northern Arizona University are in custody after another NAU student died Saturday morning in Flagstaff.
Flagstaff police were called to a home at about 8:45 a.m. for a report of an unresponsive man.
When they arrived, they found an 18-year-old not breathing. He later died of his injuries.
Police later determined that the 18-year-old, only identified as an NAU student, was at a “rush event” for the Delta Tau Delta at the home on Friday evening.
It is believed many people at the party were consuming alcohol, including pledge candidates. The 18-year-old that died was reportedly a pledge candidate.
Three members of the fraternity, Carter Eslick, Ryan Creech, and Riley Cass, were all taken into custody and face a criminal charge of hazing.
The 18-year-old’s cause and manner of death is still being investigated by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office.
The investigation into the man’s death remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Flagstaff Police at 928-774-1414, or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.
Northern Arizona University released the following statement regarding the incident:
“Northern Arizona University is mourning the tragic death of a student on Saturday. This is a devastating loss, and our hearts are with his family, friends and all members of our community who are grieving.
We are aware that the Flagstaff Police Department has announced criminal charges against three individuals in connection with an incident that occurred at an off-campus residence associated with the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. We appreciate the diligence of the Flagstaff Police Department as they work to establish the facts and pursue accountability, and NAU stands ready to support the investigation as it unfolds.
We want to be clear: The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. Violence, hazing or any other behavior that endangers others has no place at NAU. The university has robust hazing prevention [cisionone-email.nau.edu] training and requirements, and has high standards for the conduct [cisionone-email.nau.edu] of all NAU-associated organizations and individual students. The university is reviewing this matter under applicable university policies and student conduct processes, which are separate from the criminal justice system. In accordance with standard university processes, NAU has interim suspended Delta Tau Delta to allow a full investigation to take place and prioritize student safety. Consistent with privacy laws, we are limited in what we can share regarding individual students.
We recognize that this loss has deeply affected our campus. Counseling and support resources are available to students, faculty and staff.”
