# Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Joins Push for Grand Jury Review in Lake Ray Hubbard Teen Drowning Case
**Family of Daniel Erving demands homicide charges after evidence tampering arrests in Rowlett drowning death**
High-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump has stepped into a case that has gripped North Texas for months, adding his voice to a grieving family’s demand that Dallas County prosecutors convene a grand jury to examine whether the April drowning death of 18-year-old Daniel Erving should be treated as a homicide rather than an accident.
Crump, known nationally for representing families in high-profile civil rights and wrongful death cases, has now formally aligned himself with the Erving family’s legal team. ,Crump will represent the family of Daniel Erving, who drowned after police say he jumped into Lake Ray Hubbard., His involvement comes at a pivotal moment, as scrutiny of the case has intensified following the recent arrests of two teenagers connected to the incident.
## A Death Ruled Accidental, But Questions Persist
Erving, described by loved ones as an honor-roll student and a disciplined athlete, vanished on April 13 after an outing with two friends at Lake Ray Hubbard in Rowlett. According to investigators, ,Erving was last seen alive with 19-year-old Lucas Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile after the three went swimming and fishing near a railroad bridge, and Roper had communicated with Erving by cellphone before picking him up and driving him and the juvenile to the lake, where the three jumped into the water from the bridge and Erving drowned.,
Rather than seeking help, authorities allege the two surviving teens fled. ,Investigators say Roper and the 17-year-old fled the scene instead of calling for help, and that the pair threw Erving’s clothing into a nearby tree line before leaving., Additionally, ,investigators allege the juvenile threw Erving’s cellphone from Roper’s vehicle after Roper instructed him to do so.,
Erving’s body was not recovered until days later. ,The investigation began on April 17, when Dallas Fire-Rescue and Dallas police responded to a report of a body floating in Lake Ray Hubbard near Marina Vista in Rowlett, and a water rescue team recovered the remains, which were later identified as Erving through an autopsy conducted by the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office, which ruled his death a drowning.,
When questioned by detectives, Roper reportedly acknowledged destroying evidence out of fear. ,During a voluntary interview on April 20, Roper admitted he panicked after Erving drowned and left the scene, and admitted deleting all text messages and phone calls between himself and Erving because he knew there would be an investigation and did not want to get into trouble., Forensic examination later corroborated his account. ,Detectives later examined Roper’s cellphone and confirmed the communications had been deleted, according to the affidavit.,
## Arrests Come Nearly Three Months Later
It wasn’t until July 9 — nearly three months after Erving’s death — that Dallas police made an arrest. ,Dallas police arrested 19-year-old Lucas Roper and a 17-year-old juvenile on charges of tampering with physical evidence, intensifying public scrutiny of a case that has continued to raise difficult questions since Erving disappeared beneath the waters of Lake Ray Hubbard in April., The lengthy gap between Erving’s death and any criminal charges has drawn sharp criticism from the family and its legal representatives, who argue the delay reflects a lack of urgency by investigators.
## Family Calls the Accidental Ruling Into Question
For Erving’s mother, Tameca Erving, and sister, Mckenzie Erving, the wait for accountability has been agonizing. ,”Our family has gone through so much the past three months waiting for the justice system to provide justice,” Tameca Erving said, describing “complete agony, day and night, from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep,” while her daughter added, “We’re so equally yoked and connected that we feel this deeply.”,
Family attorney Sean Daredia has been particularly vocal in rejecting the notion that Erving’s death was a simple accident, given his background as a strong swimmer. ,”Daniel Erving was an honor roll student. He was a member of his swim team. He was a strong, healthy young athlete,” Daredia said, adding, “For these two suspects to say he drowned and they left, it doesn’t add up; something smells off to us,” and has urged the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office to present the evidence to a grand jury for possible homicide charges.,
The family’s frustration extends beyond the suspects to the Dallas Police Department itself. ,Daredia said the family has lost confidence in the system meant to protect them, expressing distrust of the Dallas Police Department for not treating Erving’s death with the urgency it deserved., He confirmed the family intends to pursue its own independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the teen’s death.
## Police Maintain Death Was Accidental
Despite the family’s objections, Dallas police have stood by their original determination. ,Dallas police have said detectives conducted a thorough investigation and concluded Erving’s death was accidental, and both the department and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office have declined additional comment because the case remains an active investigation., Currently, tampering with physical evidence — a third-degree felony — remains the only charge filed in connection with the case.
## What Comes Next
With Crump now part of the legal team, the case is likely to draw even greater national attention. ,His involvement significantly raises the case’s national profile, as Crump has represented families in numerous high-profile civil rights and wrongful death cases, often drawing increased public scrutiny to investigations where relatives believe critical questions remain unanswered.,
The family says it will not relent until prosecutors take the matter before a grand jury. ,Erving’s family says it will continue pressing prosecutors to present the evidence to a grand jury and pursue murder charges if warranted., To help offset the cost of burial and related expenses, ,the family has also set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral services, burial costs, and related expenses.,
As the investigation continues, Daniel Erving’s family, now backed by one of the nation’s most recognized civil rights attorneys, remains steadfast in its pursuit of what they describe as long-overdue justice — determined to see the case reach a grand jury and, they hope, deliver the accountability they believe has been missing since April.