Samuel H. Martinez Fraternity Hazing Death

Martinez, Estate of Samuel H. vs. Washington State University, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and Individual Defendants

Case Details

Who: Samuel H. Martinez was a freshman student whose death occurred in connection with alcohol-related fraternity conduct at Washington State University.

What Happened: Washington State University freshman, Samuel Martinez, 19, died from alcohol poisoning in November 2019 while attending an event at the Alpha Tau Omega. Martinez and another pledge were allegedly ordered to finish a half-gallon of rum between them, and his blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.372% after his death, nearly five times the legal limit. Pullman Police originally ruled out hazing, but later rescinded that statement following witness interviews. The coroner later ruled Martinez died accidentally from acute alcohol intoxication and said 911 was not called until four hours after he died.

Results

Washington State University was initially dismissed from the matter, but in January 2025, “in a landmark decision, the Washington State Court of Appeals ruled that Washington State University (WSU) bears responsibility for the 2019 alcohol-related death of a freshman student, marking the first time a university has been held accountable for a hazing-related fatality in the state.”

The Court of Appeals found WSU was aware of ATO’s problematic past but didn’t implement effective measures. University and law enforcement documents reveal that despite numerous reports about ATO’s conduct filed with campus authorities in the five years before Sam died, disciplinary actions were minimal.

Impact

The ruling marked the first time a university in Washington State has been held accountable for a hazing-related fatality, significantly expanding institutional responsibility for student safety and alcohol-related fraternity misconduct.