A shocking and tragic incident unfolded in an Arkansas state park when a teacher admitted to fatally stabbing an unknown couple who were hiking with two of their children. After a five-day manhunt and hundreds of tips, authorities arrested Andrew James McGann, aged 28, at a barbershop in Springdale, located about 30 miles north of Devil’s Den State Park. McGann faces charges of two counts of capital murder for allegedly killing Clinton David Brink, 43, and his 41-year-old wife Cristen Amanda Brink, and is currently held without bond.
According to Maj. Stacie Rhoads of the State Police criminal investigation division, McGann acknowledged his involvement in the murders. The authorities are still working to determine the motive behind the attack, as McGann did not seem to have any prior connection to the Brinks or their children. Clinton Brink was stabbed first during the hike about half a mile into the park. Cristen Brink attempted to usher their children to safety before returning to aid her husband, only to meet the same tragic fate. It remains unclear if the couple’s children witnessed the horrific event.
During his arrest, McGann was reportedly cooperative and confessed to the crimes soon after being taken into custody. Investigators linked his DNA to the blood found at the crime scene. Despite the brutality and randomness of the attack, officials stressed that McGann, who has no prior criminal record, is innocent until proven guilty. Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter noted uncertainty about McGann having a legal representative or needing a public defender.
Two of the Brinks’ daughters, aged 7 and 9, were with them during the hike but were unharmed and are now in the care of family members. Authorities began their investigation after another hiker reported the killings on the trail. They gathered photographs and video footage from hikers who were present in the area at the time of the attack but did not witness it directly. A composite sketch and a photo of a person of interest were circulated by police, and video surveillance from nearby homes and businesses helped narrow down a description of the suspect’s vehicle, eventually leading to McGann’s arrest.
Despite attempts to cover his identity, authorities noted McGann was “sloppy” in his effort. Brandon Carter expressed that the state might present the option of the death penalty to a jury. McGann’s teaching licenses are active in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, with no infractions on record in any of these states. Previously, he worked at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, placed on administrative leave due to classroom management concerns. He resigned in May 2023 and then worked briefly at a school district in Oklahoma before accepting a new position in Arkansas, although he had not yet started.
Tragically, Clinton and Cristen Brink had only recently moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, from South Dakota. Clinton was set to begin working as a milk delivery driver in Fayetteville, while Cristen was a licensed nurse in Montana and South Dakota prior to their move. Their sudden arrival had marked a new chapter in their lives, abruptly and tragically cut short. Despite these horrific events, officials assured the public that there is no pattern of violence in state parks, indicating plans to eventually reopen the trails in Devil’s Den State Park.