Devil’s Den State Park killings: What we know about Andrew James McGann
A SUSPECT IN THE DEVIL’S DEN DOUBLE HOMICIDE IS NOW BEHIND BARS. HE WAS BOOKED AS ANDREW MCGANN INTO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER. ARKANSAS STATE POLICE ANNOUNCED THEY ARRESTED MCGANN AT A BARBER SHOP IN SPRINGDALE WHILE HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING A HAIRCUT. MCGANN IS ACCUSED OF KILLING CLINTON AND CRISTEN BRINK WHILE THEY WERE HIKING AT THE STATE PARK. WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT MCGANN’S CONNECTION TO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. 40/29’S VALERIE ZHANG JOINS US LIVE FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY WITH WHAT WE KNOW. 28-YEAR-OLD JAMES ANDREW MCGANN RECENTLY MOVED TO SPRINGDALE FROM OKLAHOMA. WE KNOW NOW WAS A TEACHER FOR BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR. HE WAS A 5TH GRADE TEACHER AT AT SPRING CREEK ELEMENTARY. SPRINGDALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS MCGANN WAS HIRED AS A TEACHING CANDIDATE FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS OR THEIR FAMILIES. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS NOTIFY THE BRINK FAMILY AFTER MCGGANN’S CAPTURE… they were notified just after we made the arrest. They were actually one of the first people that we went to notify and as you can imagine, it opened up a whole different set of emotions. For the, for the family. I’m sure that it was with a sense of relief, but also with a whole new, emotion that that they’re going to have to deal with. OFFICIALS HAVE NOT SAID A MOTIVE FOR THE KILLINGS, BUT DID SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE HE KNEW THE COUPLE. “we were able to take a monster off the streets and bring relief to Clinton and Cristen’s precious girls… And to the rest of the citizens of Arkansas” MCGANN IS CURRENTLY FACING TWO CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE
Andrew James McGann, 28, of Springdale, was arrested and is accused of killing Clinton and Cristen Brink while they were hiking at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. Here is what we know about the suspect:Recently moved to ArkansasMcGann recently moved from Oklahoma to Arkansas for a teaching job, officials said in a news conference Wednesday night.Springdale Public Schools said in a statement that McGann was a teacher candidate hired for the upcoming school year. It said he has not come into contact with Springdale students or their families. ABC News confirmed McGann was a teacher for Broken Arrow Public Schools during the 2023-2024 school year. In a statement, the district said he was a fifth grade teacher and left the district during the school year, adding that “he was subjected to and passed the legally required background checks prior to being hired.” 40/29 News is working to confirm where else McGann may have worked.Booked in Washington County jailHe was booked into the Washington County Detention Center as Andrew McGann. He is facing two counts of capital murder. Online detention records say the 28-year-old is 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds.No bond has been set. Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter confirmed McGann’s first court appearance is scheduled for August 1st. Likely did not know his victimsLaw enforcement does not think McGann knew the people they say he stabbed to death on a hiking trail.He is accused of stabbing the couple in front of their daughters, ages 7 and 9.Was getting a haircutMcGann was at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop on Huntsville Avenue in Springdale when detectives walked in mid-haircut and made the arrest, according to posts shared by a woman who works at the shop.She took videos that show what appear to be investigators photographing hair on the floor, which was surrounded by evidence markers.Another clip showed a black four-door sedan, taped off and labeled as evidence, being loaded onto a tow truck.The sedan matches the description law enforcement gave of one that drove away from Devil’s Den just after the killings.Could face the death penaltyMcGann is facing two capital murder charges in connection with Clinton and Cristen Brink’s deaths. Conviction on either charge could put him on death row.The Washington County prosecutor told 40/29 News that decisions regarding McGann’s potential sentence will be made later on as the case progresses through the judicial system.Arkansas currently has 23 people on death row.CORRECTION: This article originally stated the suspect’s name as James Andrew McGann, relying on information from Arkansas State Police. The correct name is Andrew James McGann, according to the Washington County prosecutor.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. —Andrew James McGann, 28, of Springdale, was arrested and is accused of killing Clinton and Cristen Brink while they were hiking at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas.
Here is what we know about the suspect:
Recently moved to Arkansas
McGann recently moved from Oklahoma to Arkansas for a teaching job, officials said in a news conference Wednesday night.
Springdale Public Schools said in a statement that McGann was a teacher candidate hired for the upcoming school year. It said he has not come into contact with Springdale students or their families.
ABC News confirmed McGann was a teacher for Broken Arrow Public Schools during the 2023-2024 school year. In a statement, the district said he was a fifth grade teacher and left the district during the school year, adding that “he was subjected to and passed the legally required background checks prior to being hired.”
40/29 News is working to confirm where else McGann may have worked.
Booked in Washington County jail
He was booked into the Washington County Detention Center as Andrew McGann. He is facing two counts of capital murder. Online detention records say the 28-year-old is 6 feet tall and weighs 180 pounds.
No bond has been set. Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter confirmed McGann’s first court appearance is scheduled for August 1st.
Likely did not know his victims
Law enforcement does not think McGann knew the people they say he stabbed to death on a hiking trail.
He is accused of stabbing the couple in front of their daughters, ages 7 and 9.
Was getting a haircut
McGann was at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop on Huntsville Avenue in Springdale when detectives walked in mid-haircut and made the arrest, according to posts shared by a woman who works at the shop.
She took videos that show what appear to be investigators photographing hair on the floor, which was surrounded by evidence markers.
Another clip showed a black four-door sedan, taped off and labeled as evidence, being loaded onto a tow truck.
The sedan matches the description law enforcement gave of one that drove away from Devil’s Den just after the killings.
Could face the death penalty
McGann is facing two capital murder charges in connection with Clinton and Cristen Brink’s deaths. Conviction on either charge could put him on death row.
The Washington County prosecutor told 40/29 News that decisions regarding McGann’s potential sentence will be made later on as the case progresses through the judicial system.
Arkansas currently has 23 people on death row.
CORRECTION: This article originally stated the suspect’s name as James Andrew McGann, relying on information from Arkansas State Police. The correct name is Andrew James McGann, according to the Washington County prosecutor.
