Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the drowning death of a high school swimmer at a Texas lake, with authorities alleging they disposed of the victim's cellphone and clothing following the incident.
Daniel Erving, 18, a member of his high school swim team and an honor roll student, died after he and two friends jumped from a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard, located in the eastern suburbs of Dallas. His body was recovered from the lake four days later, and a medical examiner ruled his death an accidental drowning.
Lucas Roper, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile suspect, are accused of failing to report Erving's death and subsequently discarding his belongings. According to the Dallas Police Department, both individuals were arrested on charges of tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony.
Following Erving's drowning, Roper and the juvenile reportedly fled the scene. An arrest affidavit indicates that Roper allegedly threw Erving's clothing into a treeline near the bridge. The juvenile suspect is accused of throwing Erving's cellphone from a vehicle at Roper's direction.
The affidavit also states that Roper admitted to deleting communications with Erving from his own cellphone, asserting he did not want to face trouble when an investigation into Erving's death commenced. During a voluntary interview with detectives, Roper allegedly confessed that he "panicked" after Erving drowned.
The case remains under active investigation.