Authorities believe the Flanagans died two days before Cooper was due to appear in court in Seward County on misdemeanor citations related to speeding, possession of a weapon and being a minor with alcohol.

Had Cooper, who graduated from Millard North in May, shown up at court, he likely would have walked away with little more than a slap on the wrist, according to Seward County Attorney Patrick Calkins.

Cooper was driving when he and a friend were pulled over for going too fast.

During the traffic stop, the officer noticed a vodka bottle in the vehicle, Calkins said. That led to a sobriety test and the discovery of a butterfly knife in Cooper’s pocket.

The amount of alcohol in Cooper’s bloodstream was less than what a typical beer would cause, Calkins said, but because he was a minor, it was enough to earn him legal trouble.

Because Cooper had a clean record, Calkins said he probably would have dropped the weapons charge in exchange for a guilty plea on the other counts.

He said the teen would have likely been given a fine or a few months’ probation, which wouldn’t have affected his college plans or created long-term legal problems.