FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — An 18-year-old Northern Arizona University student was found dead Saturday morning, January 31, 2026, at an off-campus residence near South Pinegrove Road after attending a Delta Tau Delta fraternity rush party the previous night.
Flagstaff police say bystanders began CPR before officers arrived at 8:44 a.m., but the student was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol consumption was reported at the event. The student’s name has not been released.
Three members of the Delta Tau Delta executive board—new member educator Carter Eslick, 20; vice president Ryan Creech, 20; and treasurer Riley Cass, 20—have been arrested and charged with hazing. They were booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility. Police executed search warrants at the residence and interviewed witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Northern Arizona University said it is reviewing the incident, has suspended the Delta Tau Delta chapter, and is supporting the investigation. The university expressed condolences to the student’s family, friends, and the campus community. Delta Tau Delta International also released a statement expressing sorrow and emphasized its strict anti-hazing policy.
Authorities continue investigating the incident.
