Ex-fraternity leader at Arizona university gets jail time after pledge died of alcohol poisoning

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A former Northern Arizona University fraternity leader was sentenced to two months in jail Wednesday for his role in a hazing that led to the death of a pledge.

Carter Eslick, 20, also received three years of supervised probation during a sentencing hearing in Coconino County Superior Court. Eslick had pleaded guilty to a felony hazing charge in the Jan. 31 death of Colin Daniel Martinez, 18, at an off-campus house.

An autopsy found Martinez died of alcohol poisoning with a blood-alcohol content of 0.425% — more than five times the state's legal limit for drivers 21 and over.

Martinez was among four Delta Tau Delta pledges who shared two bottles of vodka to ensure they vomited, according to court documents. Witnesses reported adjusting Martinez’s sleeping position and checking his pulse and breathing to look for signs of alcohol poisoning throughout the night, the documents said.

Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said no sentence can undo the harm to Martinez's family.

“My hope is that this case helps people understand the serious dangers of hazing and encourages them to speak up and intervene before another family experiences this kind of loss," Barker said in a statement.

The Associated Press left email and voice messages for Eslick’s attorney, Burges McCowan, seeking comment late Wednesday.

Eslick was the fraternity’s pledge master at the time and was responsible for welcoming new members. He’s no longer a student at NAU.

He could face additional jail time if he doesn't meet the conditions of probation, which include delivering 305 anti-hazing presentations and keeping the court updated on his progress.

Eslick can't use alcohol or drugs unless prescribed, and he must complete any treatment required after an assessment.

The university suspended the fraternity after Martinez’s death, and the national organization later closed the NAU chapter.

Carter Eslick is fingerprinted during his sentencing hearing in Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)

Carter Eslick, right, talks with his attorney, Burges McCowan, during his sentencing hearing in Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)

Carter Eslick during his sentencing hearing in Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)

FILE - A sign is displayed for the Northern Arizona University campus in Flagstaff, Ariz., Feb. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered Iran’s foreign minister and his delegation to the U.N. General Assembly to leave New York earlier than they had planned, two U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The Trump administration had granted visas, albeit with severe restrictions, to Iran’s president and foreign minister and their delegations to attend the annual meeting of world leaders despite the hostilities between the two countries.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian left New York a day after speaking at the United Nations last week, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had remained behind ostensibly to participate in indirect talks with the U.S. on opening the Strait of Hormuz, ending the conflict and resuming negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

According to some accounts, Araghchi had planned to stay in New York until Wednesday.

After little progress was made in weekend meetings between Iranian and Qatari mediators, Rubio lost patience and told the Iranians on Monday that Araghchi and his delegation had to leave New York immediately, according to the two officials, who were familiar with the decision and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal administration process.

Rubio, according to one official, determined that the Iranians had “overstayed their welcome” and that since the high-level meetings at the U.N. were over, they should leave.

Ararghchi and his team departed New York very early Tuesday.

The Iranian U.N. delegation on Wednesday denied that they were ordered to leave.

“The Iranian delegation left New York on Monday evening, in accordance with the schedule that had also been communicated to the U.S. Department of State in advance on September 17,” the delegation wrote on its official X account. “Having achieved nothing, the State Department has resorted to propagating baseless and worthless news.”

Rubio’s decision was first reported by Axios.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addresses members of the audience ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled remarks at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)