Northern Arizona University student dies after Delta Tau Delta fraternity rush event

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — A Northern Arizona University student is dead after police say he attended a fraternity rush event off-campus Friday night.

Police say they responded just before 9 a.m. Saturday, for reports of an unresponsive person at a home near Pine Knoll Drive and Lone Tree Road.

Bystanders at the home started CPR before police arrived. When first responders got there, they say the 18-year-old was not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, the student died at the scene.

“A place that felt like home, is now just a little bit eerie,” said next-door neighbor Aaliyah Bonds.

After searching the home and speaking to witnesses at the scene, police say they learned the student had attended a rush event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity the night before.

Officers said multiple people at the home were drinking, including the victim and other prospective new members. Officials with Northern Arizona University said the incident happened at the fraternity’s off-campus housing.

“I was actually very distraught knowing that I was literally less than six feet away from the event that happened,” said Bonds.

Three NAU students and Delta Tau Delta fraternity members were arrested and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility.

The chapter’s New Member Educator, 20-year-old Carter Eslick, Vice President, 20-year-old Ryan Creech and Treasurer, 20-year-old Riley Cass, are all facing hazing-related charges. All three are executive board members of the fraternity, according to police.

Authorities confirmed all three were later released from jail.

Police said the family has been notified, but the student’s name will not be released at this time.

NAU shared a lengthy statement, calling the student’s death a devastating loss and said the fraternity chapter has been placed on an interim suspension as the investigation unfolds. The school also condemned hazing, saying, “violence, hazing or any other behavior that endangers others has no place at NAU.”

Detectives are still reviewing evidence and waiting for the student’s official cause of death from the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Counseling services and support resources are available to NAU students, faculty and staff members.

“We strongly encourage anyone who is struggling to seek support during this difficult time,” university officials said in a statement. “We ask our community to keep the student’s loved ones in their thoughts and to respect the family’s privacy as they navigate an unimaginable loss.”

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

“If you can believe this, over 100 fraternity pledges have died as a result of hazing in the United States, just since the year 2000. If you do the math, that’s about one every four months,” said David Bianchi, a lawyer who’s worked on hazing cases across the country.

Despite state laws and university rules against hazing, Bianchi said the problem persists.

“I can tell you that in these hazing cases that I’ve worked on, too often, the universities are not tough enough. They give them a slap on the wrist,” he said.

NAU student, Lola Pierce, said she hopes that’s not the case this time.

“Honestly, I kind of hope they ban that frat at least, or something because I know they sometimes suspend frats for hazing but this is someone’s life that was lost. I feel there needs to be more action involved and more intervention with other frats so it won’t happen again,” said Pierce.

Read the university’s full statement below:

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 NAU students 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 training and requirements, and has high standards for the conduct 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, and we strongly encourage anyone who is struggling to seek support during this difficult time.

We ask our community to keep the student’s loved ones in their thoughts and to respect the family’s privacy as they navigate an unimaginable loss.

Read the full statement from Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity below:

Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity is aware and deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Northern Arizona University involving members of the local chapter. The International Fraternity joins the campus community in mourning today and extends our deepest sympathies to the young man’s family and all those affected.

The Fraternity is aware of an ongoing investigation into the incident and encourages its members’ cooperation with local law enforcement. Delta Tau Delta is committed to partnering with local officials and the administration at Northern Arizona University to understand what led to this tragedy.

Pending the outcome of both the professional investigation and the subsequent internal investigation by Fraternity officials, the chapter remains on interim suspension. During this time, the chapter is prohibited from any activities, and all associated operations have ceased.

Our position on hazing is clear: it is the antithesis of brotherhood and a violation of the values of Delta Tau Delta. Since our founding, the Fraternity has maintained strong policies barring hazing, and our organization vigorously supports the implementation of anti-hazing legislation, such as ‘Jack’s Law’ in Arizona and federal laws, such as the 2024 Stop Campus Hazing Act.

Fraternities like Delta Tau Delta strive to create an environment where men can grow and thrive. Research consistently shows better personal, academic and professional outcomes for young men who join fraternities compared to their non-affiliated peers. It is for this reason that our organization so strongly rejects hazing. We know that brotherhood requires trust, and hazing betrays that sacred bond. We will continue to educate our members on upholding the principles of respect, integrity, and safety that define true fraternity membership.

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