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Published: 2011-07-20 06:18:00
Updated: 2011-07-20 15:45:55

Two Roanoke Rapids teens drown while fishing


Trevlin Marquez Daniels
Trevlin Marquez Daniels
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Crews found the bodies of two high schoolers Wednesday morning who drowned while fishing at Roanoke Rapids Lake, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.

Tashun Lagerus Tillery, 17, left with Trevlin Marquez Daniels, 18, to go fishing around 8 a.m. Tuesday, said Tillery's father, Willy. When Tashun Tillery didn't return home as usual, his father called 911 around midnight.

"He wouldn't have been here at this time of night, sir," Willy Tillery said. "He'd never be out later than 9 or 10 (p.m.) He'd be at home."

Another family member spotted the teens' car parked near the Thelma Road bridge over the lake. Willy Tillery drove out to the lake to look for his son.

In a 911 call from the lake, Willy Tillery is heard yelling out his son's name. He then tells the operator, "Ma'am, I need to get someone out here at the lake, please. I believe my son has drowned."

Deputies found a fishing pole, a bucket and the teens' car keys near the bridge, Sheriff Jeff Frazier said. Volunteer rescue and fire department dive teams started searching around 1 a.m. Wednesday and found the teens' bodies about five hours later.

Authorities believe that one of the teens slipped into the lake while standing alongside it, and his friend tried to pull him out but also fell in, Frazier said. Foul play is not suspected.

Relatives said that Daniels and Tashun Tillery often went fishing together but weren't good swimmers. They went to Northwest Halifax High School together.

"They're real close friends. Most of the time, they're together. You see one, you see the other," said Herbert West, Tashun Tillery's uncle.

Daniels' relatives said their family is having a difficult time with his death.

"It's real hard on the family, especially his mama because he was the baby out of three," his cousin, Lakisha Daniels, said.

Tashun Tillery left behind a newborn baby and a fiancee, relatives said.

"I saw them every day. They're going to be truly missed," West said.


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All of the talk in the news about education. Why aren't all parents required to teach their young children how to swim. This is a simple lesson that could and would have saved the lives of these two young boys. I lost a 9mo old g/son in a near drowning death in a small childs pool with his brother. From then on I was sure each of my g/sons learned to swim at a very early age. Even infants can be taught to swim, and should be taught to swim.

so sad...may God be with their families, friends, and loved ones.

That's what true friends would do...stick together. They will do the same in Heaven, I'm sure.

A very sad story indeed. Prayers going out to the boys and families.

I tried to get my 6 year old swimming lessons at the YMCA in Henderson. He is petrified of the water. Unfortunately the "instructor" did more harm than good. He didn't even end up finishing the lessons. Instead of trying to encourage him to get into the water, she just told him that if he wasn't going to participate, he would have to sit out. She was rather annoyed with him being so scared. He isn't a behavior problem at all, but was just very, very scared to do the things that she would ask him to do. (He would actually shake he was so scared.) I am trying to teach him myself. I make sure I am within arms length when I have him in the water with me. Does anyone know of any good swim instructors? This is my fear for him. I don't want him to be able to swim in the Olympics, I just want him to be able to save his life if necessary.

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