Two teenagers have been arrested following the drowning of a high school swimmer at a Texas lake, after allegedly tossing his belongings and deleting evidence from his cell phone.
Daniel Erving, 18, a swim team member and honor roll student, died after he and two friends jumped off a railroad bridge into Lake Ray Hubbard in the eastern suburbs of Dallas.
His body was recovered from the lake four days later, and a medical examiner determined he died from an accidental drowning.
Lucas Roper, 19, and a juvenile suspect, 17, allegedly failed to report their friend’s death and later disposed of Erving’s clothing and cellphone, according to the Dallas Police Department.
The pair were arrested on charges of tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony, police told ABC News Monday.
After the teen drowned, Roper and the juvenile fled the scene, and Roper allegedly threw Erving’s clothing into a tree line near the bridge, according to an arrest affidavit seen by the outlet.
The juvenile also threw Erving’s cellphone from the vehicle on Roper’s orders, the affidavit alleges.
Roper allegedly deleted communications with 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,” the affidavit states.
Roper allegedly admitted he “panicked” after Erving drowned during a voluntary interview with detectives.
The case remains under investigation.
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