Daniel Erving was found dead near the Paddle Point area of Lake Ray Hubbard
Credit: Rowlett Police Department
NEED TO KNOW
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Daniel Erving, 18, was found dead near the Paddle Point area of Lake Ray Hubbard in April
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On July 9, two teenagers were arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence connected to the suspected drowning
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According to police, the two suspects discarded the victim’s belongings and failed to report the fatal incident to authorities
Two teenagers have been charged with concealing evidence linked to an 18-year-old man’s suspected drowning in Texas.
Daniel Erving was last seen at his residence on Woodlands Trail in Dallas at around 4:45 p.m. local time on April 13. He was found dead from a “possible drowning” three days later near the Paddle Point area of Lake Ray Hubbard, the Rowlett Police Department (RPD) said in a news release on Facebook.
Following the Dallas Police Department’s (DPD) investigation into Erving’s death, Lucas Roper, 19, and a 17-year-old suspect were arrested on July 9 for allegedly tampering with physical evidence in connection with the case, NBC 5 DFW, CBS News and ABC News reported.
According to the arrest affidavit obtained by the outlets, Erving visited Lake Ray Hubbard with Roper and the 17-year-old juvenile on the day he went missing. The three jumped into the water from a railroad bridge near Miller Road, where Erving is believed to have drowned.
Investigators allege that the suspects dumped Erving’s clothes and phone before fleeing the scene in his car. Roper also allegedly admitted to deleting text messages between him and Erving, according to the affidavit.
“During the investigation, detectives identified evidence that two individuals who were present at the lake failed to report the incident and later discarded items belonging to Daniel,” department spokesperson Erika M. Brown told CBS News. “As a result, investigators obtained arrest warrants for Lucas Roper, 19, and a juvenile suspect.”
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The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office (DCMEO) determined Erving’s cause and manner of death to be accidental drowning, Brown confirmed.
Credit: Rowlett Police Department
Erving’s family is seeking further transparency in the investigation and is also calling for murder charges.
“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?” Erving’s mother, Tameca Erving, told CBS News.
“Daniel Irving was an honor roll student. He was a member of his swim team. He was a strong, healthy young athlete. For these two suspects to say he drowned and they left. It doesn’t add up; something smells off to us,” said the family’s attorney Sean Daredia.
The investigation remains ongoing.
PEOPLE has reached out to the DPD and DCMEO for comment.
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