Topline: The suspect, a former elementary school teacher, was captured at a barbershop just miles from the crime scene.
Published: August 1, 2025 6:30 am ET
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From left: Arkansas couple Clinton & Cristen Brink; James Andrew McGann. (Cristen Brink via Facebook; Arkansas State Police)
SPRINGDALE, AK – A 28-year-old man, Andrew James McGann of Springdale, Arkansas, has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41.
The married couple was killed while hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas.
State Police apprehended McGann at a barbershop in Springdale after a five-day search, as reported by the Associated Press. The motive for the killings is not yet known, according to authorities.
According to FOX23 News, McGann worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma during the 2023-2024 school year. As stated by Broken Arrow Public Schools, he left that position “of his own accord to work out of state.” He passed required background checks before his employment, the district added.
McGann recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma and secured a job at a local school, Major Stacie Rhoads of the Arkansas State Police stated during a news conference.
As stated in The Guardian, the bodies of Clinton and Cristen Brink were discovered on a trail in the Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Their daughters, ages 7 and 9, were unharmed and are now safe with family members. The family had recently moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, a small town near the Oklahoma border.
CNN reported that Arkansas State Police, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, led the investigation. Officials released a composite sketch and a photo of a person of interest earlier in the week, asking the public for assistance. Tips from as far away as Washington state, along with video footage, were key in identifying and apprehending McGann.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the arrest in a Wednesday statement. She said, “If you commit a violent, senseless act here in our state, our law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.” She added, “No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State.”
Colonel Mike Hagar, head of the State Police, praised the cooperative efforts of law enforcement. According to KNWA, he said their “hard work and investigative skill” helped “take a monster off the streets” and brought “relief to those two precious girls.”
The Brinks’ family released a statement on Monday asking for privacy and calling the couple “heroes protecting their little girls.”
The slain couple’s bodies have been sent to the state crime lab to determine how they died.
The area of Devil’s Den State Park where the incident occurred is known for its rugged terrain and limited cell phone service. Law enforcement has increased patrols in state parks across Arkansas following the murders.
The investigation remains active.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Video, Tips From Across Country Lead to Arrest of Suspect in Devil’s Den State Park Killings
The suspect, a former elementary school teacher, was captured at a barbershop just miles from the crime scene.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 1, 2025 6:30 am ET
From left: Arkansas couple Clinton & Cristen Brink; James Andrew McGann. (Cristen Brink via Facebook; Arkansas State Police)
SPRINGDALE, AK – A 28-year-old man, Andrew James McGann of Springdale, Arkansas, has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41.
The married couple was killed while hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas.
State Police apprehended McGann at a barbershop in Springdale after a five-day search, as reported by the Associated Press. The motive for the killings is not yet known, according to authorities.
According to FOX23 News, McGann worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma during the 2023-2024 school year. As stated by Broken Arrow Public Schools, he left that position “of his own accord to work out of state.” He passed required background checks before his employment, the district added.
McGann recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma and secured a job at a local school, Major Stacie Rhoads of the Arkansas State Police stated during a news conference.
As stated in The Guardian, the bodies of Clinton and Cristen Brink were discovered on a trail in the Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Their daughters, ages 7 and 9, were unharmed and are now safe with family members. The family had recently moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, a small town near the Oklahoma border.
CNN reported that Arkansas State Police, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, led the investigation. Officials released a composite sketch and a photo of a person of interest earlier in the week, asking the public for assistance. Tips from as far away as Washington state, along with video footage, were key in identifying and apprehending McGann.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the arrest in a Wednesday statement. She said, “If you commit a violent, senseless act here in our state, our law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.” She added, “No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State.”
Colonel Mike Hagar, head of the State Police, praised the cooperative efforts of law enforcement. According to KNWA, he said their “hard work and investigative skill” helped “take a monster off the streets” and brought “relief to those two precious girls.”
The Brinks’ family released a statement on Monday asking for privacy and calling the couple “heroes protecting their little girls.”
The slain couple’s bodies have been sent to the state crime lab to determine how they died.
The area of Devil’s Den State Park where the incident occurred is known for its rugged terrain and limited cell phone service. Law enforcement has increased patrols in state parks across Arkansas following the murders.
The investigation remains active.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Video, Tips From Across Country Lead to Arrest of Suspect in Devil’s Den State Park Killings
The suspect, a former elementary school teacher, was captured at a barbershop just miles from the crime scene.
By Kate Byrd
Published: August 1, 2025 6:30 am ET
From left: Arkansas couple Clinton & Cristen Brink; James Andrew McGann. (Cristen Brink via Facebook; Arkansas State Police)
SPRINGDALE, AK – A 28-year-old man, Andrew James McGann of Springdale, Arkansas, has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41.
The married couple was killed while hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas.
State Police apprehended McGann at a barbershop in Springdale after a five-day search, as reported by the Associated Press. The motive for the killings is not yet known, according to authorities.
According to FOX23 News, McGann worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma during the 2023-2024 school year. As stated by Broken Arrow Public Schools, he left that position “of his own accord to work out of state.” He passed required background checks before his employment, the district added.
McGann recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma and secured a job at a local school, Major Stacie Rhoads of the Arkansas State Police stated during a news conference.
As stated in The Guardian, the bodies of Clinton and Cristen Brink were discovered on a trail in the Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Their daughters, ages 7 and 9, were unharmed and are now safe with family members. The family had recently moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, a small town near the Oklahoma border.
CNN reported that Arkansas State Police, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, led the investigation. Officials released a composite sketch and a photo of a person of interest earlier in the week, asking the public for assistance. Tips from as far away as Washington state, along with video footage, were key in identifying and apprehending McGann.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the arrest in a Wednesday statement. She said, “If you commit a violent, senseless act here in our state, our law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.” She added, “No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State.”
Colonel Mike Hagar, head of the State Police, praised the cooperative efforts of law enforcement. According to KNWA, he said their “hard work and investigative skill” helped “take a monster off the streets” and brought “relief to those two precious girls.”
The Brinks’ family released a statement on Monday asking for privacy and calling the couple “heroes protecting their little girls.”
The slain couple’s bodies have been sent to the state crime lab to determine how they died.
The area of Devil’s Den State Park where the incident occurred is known for its rugged terrain and limited cell phone service. Law enforcement has increased patrols in state parks across Arkansas following the murders.
The investigation remains active.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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