NAU student found dead after fraternity rush event, 3 arrested: police

3 fraternity brothers arrested after NAU student dies at rush event

The fraternity brothers were arrested following the death of an 18-year-old student who attended a Delta Tau Delta rush party over the weekend. FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz reports.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - An 18-year-old Northern Arizona University student was found dead after attending a fraternity rush party, leading to the arrest of three individuals.

What we know:

Flagstaff police said the student was found unresponsive at 8:44 a.m. on Jan. 31 in a home on South Pinegrove Road, approximately a mile from campus. 

"Bystanders inside the home initiated CPR prior to police arrival. Upon arrival, officers found the individual not breathing and continued life‑saving measures on scene until paramedics arrived," the Flagstaff Police Department said. 

According to investigators, the student had attended a rush event for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity on Friday night, where several people, including the victim, were reportedly consuming alcohol.

Police arrested 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. All three face charges of hazing and were booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility.

"I didn't really think that it was real," one student said. "It feels like it was preventable, shouldn’t have happened."

Detectives found the student, who has not yet been identified, in a home near Lone Tree Road. 

"That's a trauma that all of those all of those kids that were in that house that night are now going to have to deal with for the rest of their lives," a neighbor, Don P. said. 

Local perspective:

He lives across the street from the home where the student was found, said fraternity parties are common at the residence.

"I looked out my front window and there was, you know, just a two ambulances, five cop cars, one battalion cruiser and a fire truck. So so I knew something was very, very wrong as far as what had occurred. I mean, I had my suspicions," he said. "There had been ambulances here before because, you know, we were all young and so then the kind of the day dragged on, I just watched them interview people, the police interview people. And then I kind of knew it was bad when they came in with a stretcher, the gurney, and they didn't come out with a person on it."

While neighbors say parties are common at the residence, they expressed shock that the situation turned fatal.

"This is the first time anything that bad has happened," he said.

What they're saying:

In a statement, Northern Arizona University said it is mourning the student's death, calling the loss devastating. The university emphasized that the safety and well-being of students are its highest priorities and condemned hazing. NAU has since placed the Delta Tau Delta fraternity on interim suspension while the investigation proceeds.

"I just think that it’s kind of crazy that people who go here could haze someone to such an extent that a kid is gone. It’s so daunting," a student said. "He was literally in his second semester, hadn't even finished the whole year. I'm sad. It's not fair."

What we don't know:

The student's identity and the official cause and manner of death has not been released.

What's next:

Delta Tau Delta International also issued a statement, prohibiting the NAU chapter from all activities during the investigation. The organization said it "strongly rejects" hazing, stating that brotherhood requires trust and that hazing betrays that bond.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Flagstaff Police at 928-774-1414 or Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.