Two Texas teenagers have been charged with evidence tampering following the drowning of their 18-year-old friend in Lake Ray Hubbard earlier this year. Daniel Erving drowned in April after jumping from a bridge into the lake with two friends, identified as 19-year-old Lucas Roper and an unidentified 17-year-old.

Dallas Police initially ruled Erving's death as accidental. However, on July 9, Roper and the 17-year-old were charged with tampering with physical evidence. According to an affidavit, Roper admitted to investigators that he panicked after Erving drowned. He stated that he texted Erving before picking him up on April 13, and the three then drove to the lake. After Erving, who was a member of his high school swim team, drowned, Roper and the 17-year-old allegedly threw Erving's clothing into a nearby wooded area.

Roper also admitted to deleting text messages and call logs between himself and Erving, fearing he would get into trouble. He reportedly instructed the other teen to discard Erving's phone from the car.

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The 17-year-old suspect has also been charged, though specific details are not publicly available due to his age. The specific nature of the evidence tampering charges for both teens relates to discarding Erving's clothing and deleting cellphone communications.

At a press conference held on Monday, Erving's family publicly demanded that murder charges be filed against the two friends. "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?" said Tameca Erving, Daniel's mother. "I want justice for my son."

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The family's attorney, Sean Daredia, stated that they would be conducting their own investigation into the incident. He questioned the actions of the two teens following Erving's death, noting that they allegedly allowed Erving's body to remain submerged for four days. "They went to school. They lived their lives. If it's an accident, why hide the clothes? Why flee the scene? Why toss Daniel Erving's cell phone off the car?" Daredia asked. He urged authorities to "follow the facts where they may lead, and bring the appropriate charges, including but not limited to murder."

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