Arrest made months after Sachse High senior was found dead in Lake Ray Hubbard
The arrest comes nearly three months after Daniel Erving's body was found. The boy was last seen leaving home with friends to go fishing.
by Jala Washington · 5 NBCDFWThe push for answers in the death of a North Texas teen continues three months after his body was found in Lake Ray Hubbard.
Last week, police arrested 19-year-old Lucas Roper in connection with the case. He's charged with tampering with evidence with the intent to impair.
Daniel Erving, 18, was picked up by friends to go fishing on the lake. His family said that after he left home, he never returned.
Erving's family said he was a senior at Sachse High School, he was on the swim team and was an honor-roll student.
Timeline leading up to Daniel's body being recovered
- April 14: Daniel's mother filed a missing persons report with the Rowlett Police Department after she couldn't get in contact with her son, who had left with friends to go fishing.
- April 16: Rowlett Police issued a community alert online detailing Daniel's disappearance. Police said Daniel was without several personal belongings, including his driver's license and cash. Officials added that this was suspicious and uncommon behavior for Daniel, per his family.
- April 17: Daniel's body was recovered from the lake, four days after he went missing.
- July 9: Police arrested Lucas Roper in connection with the case.
Civil rights activist groups criticize the handling of the case
Since Daniel's death, North Texas groups Next Generation Action Network and Justice Seekers have worked with the Erving family, pushing for transparency into the investigation.
"The family believes the urgency they requested was not met during the critical early stages of the investigation," Dominique Alexander, founder of Next Generation Action Network, said in an open letter to the Dallas Police Department that has now taken over the investigation. "In the time since, the silence and lack of communication have only deepened their worry that this case is not receiving the attention and diligence it demands."
Daniel's mother said Rowlett police said they were unable to ping her son's phone until after his body was recovered, due to privacy laws. She and other family members questioned what they call a delay in notifying the public that he was missing. After Daniel's death, advocacy groups said one of the people Daniel was with before he died came forward and told police that what happened was an accident.
"Daniel left home with somebody, went out there to Ray Hubbard Lake with somebody, but nobody called his mother ... nor called 911," Alexander said. "They have been met with delays, instead of accountability.”
Rowlett PD told NBC 5 that it cannot discuss the details of the case while the investigation is ongoing. Dallas Police also did not comment on the pending investigation.
Family attorneys announce independent investigation
As Daniel's family mourns his loss, they now have a legal team working to get more answers on their behalf. Daredia Law on Sunday said its law firm will facilitate an independent investigation into Daniel's death.
"Nearly three months later, the only charge arising from his death is tampering with evidence," the firm said. "The family and its attorneys are calling for accountability and a complete investigation that follows the evidence wherever it leads."
Daredia Law will provide an update on the case on Monday.
There is no attorney listed for Roper. As of Sunday afternoon, he is not listed as still being in jail.