The family of 18-year-old Daniel Erving, who drowned in Lake Ray Hubbard in April, is calling for murder charges after Dallas police arrested 19-year-old Lucas Roper on a charge of tampering with physical evidence.
The family made the demand during a Monday news conference, days after police arrested Roper on July 9. He faces a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. He has not been charged with murder or another homicide offense.
Erving’s family, attorneys and community advocates urged the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to present the evidence to a grand jury for possible homicide charges.
Erving’s mother, Tamiko Erving, said during the news conference, “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 added, “I want justice for my son.”
Affidavit alleges evidence was hidden
Erving, Roper and a juvenile went fishing and swimming at Lake Ray Hubbard on April 13 before jumping from a bridge near Miller Road in Rowlett, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas.
Erving drowned after entering the water, and emergency crews recovered his body April 17, four days after he disappeared.
Roper and the juvenile allegedly threw Erving’s clothing into a tree line near the bridge and later tossed Erving’s cellphone from a moving vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News Texas. The affidavit also states that a search of Roper’s phone showed he had deleted communications with Erving and that Roper told investigators he feared getting into trouble.
Attorney Sean Dorado, who is conducting an independent investigation for the family, said during the news conference, “Those two suspects let Daniel Erving … sit on the bottom of Lake Ray Hubbard 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?”
Family questions drowning account
Erving’s family said he was an honor roll student and a member of the Sachse High School swim team. The family’s attorneys said his swimming background and the alleged effort to conceal evidence warrant further investigation.
Dorado said, “We won’t accept tampering charges. Take this case. Take the facts. Take the evidence to a grand jury and bring the appropriate charges.”
The family also criticized the nearly three-month period between Erving’s death and Roper’s arrest. The affidavit states that Dallas police interviewed Roper on April 20, three days after crews recovered Erving’s body.
Rowlett police handled the initial missing-person report, while Dallas police took over the death investigation. Rowlett police said they could not discuss the case while the investigation remained open, and Dallas police declined to comment on the pending investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing. Erving’s family said it plans to continue pressing authorities for additional charges and answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Provided by Dallas Express
