He attended Morris County College in Randolph Township, New Jersey, then studied journalism at William Paterson University in Wayne, where he received his bachelor's degree.

In October 2005, he was reassigned to the Northampton County Courthouse, where he covered trials, sentencing, hearings, civil litigation and the district attorney's office.

[3] After more than a month, an autopsy concluded the death was due to an unknown cardiac condition which led to a hardening of the arteries and a build-up of plaque that caused decreased blood flow.

[4] Funeral services were held February 11 at the St. Clement Pope & Martyr Church in Rockaway Township, New Jersey.

[5] In an Express-Times article about Flanagan, Owens recalled: "He was the kind of guy -- rock-solid reliable -- that if he was working a shift, you knew anything that came along would be handled.