HEARTBREAKING DETAILS COME TO LIGHT..! – TWO TEENS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER DROWNED, AS DISTURBING ALLEGATIONS EMERGE ABOUT HIS BELONGINGS.
Two teenagers have been arrested following the drowning of a high school swimmer at a Texas lake, after allegedly tossing his belongings and deleting evidence from his cellphone.
Daniel Erving, 18, a swim team member and honor roll student, died after he and two friends jumped off a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard in the eastern suburbs of Dallas back in April.
His body was recovered from the lake on April 17 — four days after his disappearance — and a medical examiner determined he died from an accidental drowning.
18-year-old Daniel Erving died after he and two friends jumped off a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard near Dallas, Texas.Family Handout
Lucas Roper, 19, and a juvenile suspect, 17, allegedly failed to report the incident and later disposed of some of Erving’s belongings, the Dallas Police Department told ABC News.
The pair were arrested July 9 on charges of tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony.
After the teen drowned, Roper and the juvenile fled the scene, and Roper allegedly threw Erving’s clothing into a tree line near the bridge, according to an arrest affidavit seen by the outlet.
The juvenile threw Erving’s cellphone from the vehicle into a ditch on Roper’s orders, the affidavit alleges.
Roper allegedly deleted communications with Erving from his cellphone because he “was aware that there would be an investigation into Daniel Erving’s death and he did not want to get into trouble,” the affidavit states.
Roper allegedly admitted he “panicked” after Erving drowned during a voluntary interview on April 20 with detectives, KCENTV reported.
Lucas Roper and an underage suspect are accused of disposing of Erving’s belongings and deleting evidence from his cellphone.Dallas County Jail
Erving’s family has called for murder charges and slammed police for taking three months to make an arrest — despite having interviewed the two suspects within days of his disappearance.
“A reasonable-minded person would know if you are not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his clothes and delete messages and not even call his mother?” his grieving mom, Tameca Erving, told FOX 4.
“I want justice for my son,” she added, while Erving’s sister noted that her brother had been preparing to join the military and serve his country.
The family’s attorney, Sean Daredia, also urged the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to take the case to a grand jury for homicide charges.
“Those two suspects let Daniel Erving… sit on the bottom of Lake Ray Hubbard for four days. They went to school. They lived their lives,” Daredia told a press conference Monday.
“If it’s an accident, why hide the clothes? Why flee the scene? Why toss Daniel Erving’s cellphone off the car?” he added.
“We won’t accept tampering charges. Take this case. Take the facts. Take the evidence to a grand jury and bring the appropriate charges,” Daredia said.
The case remains under investigation, with the Dallas Police Department currently leading operations after jurisdictional crossover with the Rowlett Police Department in the initial days of the search.
Erving’s body was recovered from the lake, and a medical examiner determined he died from an accidental drowning.ABC 11
Dallas Police Department extended their condolences to Erving’s family in a statement to The Post, adding: “Because this matter remains an active criminal investigation and pending prosecution, the department cannot provide additional details at this time.”
Rowlett Police Department told The Post that Dallas Police Department is “the lead agency investigating this case, as Daniel’s death occurred within the City of Dallas.
What do you think? Post a comment.
“The Rowlett Police Department is assisting the Dallas Police Department as requested and will continue to provide support throughout the investigation.”
