The family of Daniel Erving, an 18-year-old who drowned at Lake Ray Hubbard in north Texas in April, is calling for justice after two teenagers were charged with tampering with physical evidence related to his death.

According to an arrest affidavit, Erving was reported missing by the Rowlett Police Department on April 13 after he was last seen with 19-year-old Lucas Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile at the lake. Roper and the juvenile were arrested on July 9 for allegedly concealing evidence following Erving’s drowning.

The Dallas Police Department announced the charges on Monday, stating both suspects face third-degree felony counts of tampering with physical evidence. Roper admitted to deleting all communications with Erving from his cellphone because he was aware of an impending investigation and wanted to avoid trouble.

At a press conference on July 14, Erving’s mother, Tameka Erving, joined by family attorney Ben Crump, described the arrests as “partial justice” and emphasized the family’s pursuit of “whole justice” for her son. “He liked to go by Mike, so this is a fight for Mike,” she said.

Crump urged law enforcement to show the same dedication to the case as they would if the roles were reversed, stating, “But thank God, we serve a God that sits high and looks low, and the truth could not be hidden forever.”

Tameka Erving also questioned the actions of those involved, saying, “A reasonably minded person would know that if you were not guilty of a crime, why would you throw away his phone, throw away his clothes and not call his mother.”

The Dallas Police Department extended its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Daniel Erving, calling the incident a tragic loss of a young life.

Sources

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