The family of a Texas teen is demanding answers after an autopsy report ruled his death an accidental drowning—even though he was a star swimmer on his high school team. New details reveal what police say happened in his final moments, and it’s raising more questions than closure.
Daniel Erving, 17, was an honor roll student and a member of his high school swim team. On April 13, he was last seen at his home in Rowlett. Four days later, on April 17, his body was pulled from Lake Ray Hubbard.
Now, according to an autopsy report obtained by NBC DFW, the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled Erving’s death an accidental drowning. Police say he jumped into the lake with two other teens, surfaced once to call for help, then went under and never resurfaced.
But Erving’s mother, Tameca, isn’t convinced. “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 said, according to ABC News.
The two teens who were with Erving that day—19-year-old Lucas Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile—have been charged with evidence tampering. Court documents allege they threw away Erving’s phone and clothing, and that Roper deleted text messages between himself and the victim. They are not facing charges related to his death.
The family’s attorney, Sean Daredia, echoed the doubt. “Daniel Erving was an honor roll student. He was a member of his swim team.
He was a strong, healthy young athlete,” Daredia previously said. “For these two suspects to say he drowned and they left. It doesn’t add up; something smells off to us.”
It’s unclear whether either suspect has entered a plea or hired an attorney. For now, the Erving family is left with an official ruling—and a gut feeling that the full story has yet to surface.
What really happened on that lake that day?