Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the drowning of a high school swimmer at a Texas lake, after authorities said they allegedly discarded his belongings and erased evidence from a cellphone.
Daniel Erving, 18, an honor roll student and member of his school’s swim team, died after jumping from a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard, located in the eastern suburbs of Dallas, with two friends.
Erving’s body was recovered from the lake four days later. The medical examiner ruled his death an accidental drowning.
Lucas Roper, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile suspect are accused of failing to report what happened and later getting rid of Erving’s clothing and cellphone, according to the Dallas Police Department.
Police told ABC News on Monday that both suspects were arrested on charges of tampering with physical evidence, which is classified as a third-degree felony.
After Erving drowned, Roper and the juvenile allegedly left the area. An arrest affidavit reviewed by the outlet states that Roper threw Erving’s clothing into a tree line near the bridge.
The affidavit further alleges that the juvenile threw Erving’s cellphone from the vehicle at Roper’s direction.
Roper is also accused of deleting messages with Erving from his own phone 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.
Roper allegedly admitted he “panicked” after Erving drowned during a voluntary interview with detectives.
The case remains under investigation.
