Two Teens Arrested for Hiding Evidence After Friend's Fatal Plunge Into Texas Lake

A Young Life Lost, A Cover-Up Alleged

Daniel Erving, an honor roll student and member of his school's swim team, disappeared in April after he and two friends jumped from a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard in the eastern suburbs of Dallas. He never made it out of the water. What happened next — according to investigators — has turned a tragic accident into a criminal case that is now tearing a grieving family apart.

Erving, 18, was found dead near Lake Ray Hubbard in Dallas, Texas, from a "possible drowning" three days after he and the other two teenagers visited the lake together, according to the Rowlett Police Department. His body was recovered from the lake on April 17, four days after he vanished. A medical examiner later ruled that Erving died from an accidental drowning.

What Investigators Say the Friends Did Next

Lucas Roper, 19, and a 17-year-old suspect were arrested on July 9 for allegedly tampering with physical evidence. According to the Dallas Police Department, Roper and the juvenile did not report the incident to authorities and instead allegedly disposed of some of Erving's personal belongings after leaving the scene.

Investigators allege that Roper threw Erving's clothing into a tree line near the railroad bridge. The affidavit further alleges that the juvenile threw Erving's cellphone from the vehicle into a roadside ditch after Roper instructed him to do so. Investigators also allege that Roper deleted communications between himself and 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," according to the affidavit. During a voluntary interview with detectives on April 20, Roper allegedly admitted that he "panicked" after Erving drowned.

Tampering with physical evidence is a third-degree felony in Texas. Family members noted that police interviewed both suspects within days of Erving's disappearance, yet arrests were not made until nearly three months later.

A Family Demanding More Than Evidence Charges

Erving's family is seeking greater transparency in the investigation and demanding that murder charges be filed. His mother, Tameca Erving, has been vocal about her disbelief. "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?" she said.

The family's attorney, Sean Daredia, is urging the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to present the case to a grand jury and pursue homicide charges. The attorney has pointed to the profile of the victim himself as a reason for skepticism. "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 Daredia. Erving's sister also said her brother had been preparing to join the military and serve his country before his death.

Investigation Ongoing as Pressure Mounts

The Dallas Police Department extended condolences to Erving's family while declining to discuss additional details, stating: "Because this matter remains an active criminal investigation and pending prosecution, the department cannot provide additional details at this time." The Rowlett Police Department confirmed that Dallas police are serving as the lead investigative agency and will continue to provide support throughout the investigation.

The case raises hard questions that go beyond the legal charges. When a friend witnesses a tragedy and chooses silence over a phone call — discarding clothes, ditching a phone, driving away — the moral and legal weight of that choice is enormous. Whether a grand jury ultimately agrees that the conduct rises to homicide will depend on evidence that investigators have not yet made fully public. For the Erving family, the evidence charges are only a starting point. They want answers that a tampering conviction alone cannot provide.