Elementary school teacher charged for killing two hikers at Devil's Den State Park
July 12, 2025 - River Valley Democrat Gazette
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for Andrew James McGann, an elementary school teacher who was arrested for the stabbing death two people who were hiking with their children at Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday, according to a preliminary probable cause affidavit released Thursday.
“McGann, 28, of Pinecrest Street in Springdale was arrested by Arkansas State Police on Wednesday in connection with two counts of capital murder. McGann is being held at the Washington County Detention Center with no bond set.”
“Police say McGann killed Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, while they were hiking with their two daughters on a trail at the park near West Fork. The girls, who are 7 and 9, were not injured and are safe with family members.”
“Clinton Brink was attacked with a knife first as Cristen Brink moved their daughters to safety, Hagar said. After getting the girls away from the attack, Cristen Brink returned to her husband and was attacked with a knife, Hagar said.”
“McGann worked for a local school district and had recently moved to Northwest Arkansas from Oklahoma.
Springdale Public Schools released a statement late Wednesday night saying it could confirm McGann was a “teacher candidate” hired for the upcoming school year, but it said he had not yet begun employment with the district.
McGann has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to each respective government certification website.
He was a teacher at a small Oklahoma school district until May and then resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools near Tulsa in Oklahoma. It added that McGann had passed all background checks.”
“He was certified to teach elementary school in Oklahoma in 2022 and Texas in 2023. He approved to teach elementary and middle school children in Arkansas in the fall of 2024. The Associated Press reached out to all three state education agencies on Thursday. There are no infractions or suspensions noted on his public state licensure.
McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, “following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,” according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District.” - River Valley Democrat Gazette
“Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma confirmed in a statement to CBS affiliate KOTV that McGann was a teacher in the district during the 2023-24 school year:
‘The man who was arrested in Arkansas for the murders at Devils Den State Park was a teacher for Broken Arrow Public Schools during the 23/24 school year. He was a 5th grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary during the 23/24 school year and left of his own accord to work out of state. As with all employees hired by the district, he was subjected to and passed the legally required background checks prior to being hired. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family affected by this unimaginable act of violence.’” - 11 Alive
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