Nearly three months after 18-year-old Daniel Erving was found dead in a Texas lake, investigators have arrested two teenagers accused of tampering with evidence instead of reporting what happened.
Daniel disappeared on April 13 after leaving his home in Rowlett, Texas. Authorities say he spent that day at Lake Ray Hubbard with 19-year-old Lucas Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile. According to investigators, the three climbed onto a railroad bridge near Miller Road and jumped into the water, where Daniel is believed to have drowned.
His body was discovered three days later near the Paddle Point area of the lake. The Dallas County Medical Examiner later ruled his death an accidental drowning.
However, investigators allege the two teens who were with Daniel never contacted emergency services. Instead, they allegedly discarded his clothing and cellphone before leaving the scene in Daniel’s vehicle. Police also claim Lucas Roper admitted to deleting text messages exchanged between himself and Daniel after the incident.
Following the investigation, authorities arrested Roper and the juvenile on July 9 on charges of tampering with physical evidence. Neither suspect has been charged in connection with Daniel’s death.
Daniel’s family says the official explanation still leaves too many unanswered questions. His mother questioned why anyone would throw away her son’s belongings and delete messages if the incident had truly been an accident. The family’s attorney also pointed to Daniel’s background as an honor-roll student and competitive high school swimmer, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his death do not seem to add up.
Although investigators have ruled Daniel’s death an accidental drowning, his family continues to push for greater transparency and believes the evidence uncovered so far warrants a deeper investigation into what happened during his final moments at Lake Ray Hubbard.
