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THE individual suspected of murdering a couple while they were hiking with their daughters has a past of troubling actions around young females in his role as an educator, according to a former colleague.
Andrew James McGann, aged 28, became the focus of an urgent manhunt in northwest Arkansas. Investigators believe he randomly targeted Clinton and Cristen Brink during their hike at Devil’s Den State Park on July 26, stabbing them fatally.
Arkansas State Police reported that McGann launched an attack on Clinton, 43, who struggled to fend him off, while his wife Cristen hurriedly led their daughters, ages 7 and 9, to safety, away from the threat.
Cristen, 41, returned to help her husband but was also fatally stabbed by McGann, who suffered injuries during the scuffle.
The intense search for McGann concluded four days later, on July 30, when he unexpectedly entered Lupita’s Beauty Salon in Springdale, roughly 35 miles north of Devil’s Den State Park, disheveled and seeking a haircut.
Moments after he sat in the barber’s chair, detectives descended on the salon, arresting McGann, who still had the barber’s cape draped around his neck.
TEACHER FROM HELL
Since his arrest, unsettling revelations about McGann’s history have emerged, including accusations regarding his conduct as a public school teacher in Texas and Oklahoma.
Between 2022 and 2023, McGann worked as a fourth-grade teacher at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, northwest of Dallas.
However, in spring 2023 he was placed on administrative leave over concerns related to classroom management, professional judgement, and favoritism, the Lewisville Independent School District, which includes Donald Elementary, said in a statement.
Parents of students at Donald Elementary School have come forward with allegations that McGann behaved inappropriately with young girls.
One dad, whose son was in the suspect’s fourth-grade class in Donald Elementary, told the New York Post that McGann would “usually be surrounded by kids, especially little girls,” would “tickle and ask girls to sit on his lap.”
Sierra Marcum, whose son was also one of McGann’s students, told CBS News that her child also expressed discomfort with how the teacher treated female students, including that he allegedly kept some in his classroom alone during recess.
The Lewisville Independent School District said an internal investigation into McGann found “no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students.”
McGann was allowed to resign in May 2023 and then moved to Oklahoma where he got a job as a fifth grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary School in Broken Arrow for the 2023-2024 school year.
I always thought he was weird and something was up.
A former co-worker of Andrew McGann
A former after-school assistant, who asked to remain anonymous, told The U.S. Sun that she worked with McGann at Spring Creek Elementary in August 2023, and also witnessed his alleged favoritism with girl students.
“Always noticed that he hung out with the female kids more than the male kids,” the former co-worker, who was 16 years old when she began working with McGann in after school child care programs, said.
“I was fully unaware while working with him what happened in Texas. I always thought he was weird and something was up. I didn’t really pay no mind to it.
Timeline of the Devil’s Den murders
Clinton Brink, 43, and Cristen Brink, 43, were killed while hiking at Devil’s Den State Park with their daughters. Below is a timeline of the case:
July 16 – The Brink family has their water service turned on after recently moving to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, according to Mayor David Falk.
July 26 – Clinton and Cristen are found dead on Devil’s Den trail at around 2:30 pm after their two daughters ran to the visitor’s center and said their parents were attacked.
July 27 – Police release the identities of the slain couple. Cops ask park visitors to check their pictures and footage from Saturday for possible images of the suspect.
July 28 – Arkansas State Police releases a sketch of a person of interest in the case.
July 29 – ASP releases a picture from a witness of the person of interest in the case.
July 30 – Andrew James McGann is arrested mid-haircut at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop just before 5 pm.
“Whenever he did speak, it was quiet and very short responses. I was only 16 when I worked with him, but he just had something up.
“Most of the time, when I tried to talk to him he wouldn’t answer.”
The woman added, “But he’d leave at the same time I did, so, we’d walk out the building together.
“He was always distant when parents came to pick up their kids. He never talked to the parents.”
LEFT IN THE DARK
Glora Blasdel told The U.S. Sun that her son, Jack, was in McGann’s fifth grade class at Spring Creek Elementary and described how parents were kept in the dark about the educator’s alleged improper behavior.
“It’s crazy. I’m hoping Broken Arrow was his first teaching job and it wasn’t for lack of vetting,” Blasdel said.
“We were both shocked at the news. Jack didn’t want to believe it and scoured the news stories and comments trying to find any holes in the stories.
“But when he saw that he’d covered his license plate, he knew it had to be true.”
Blasdel’s teenage son claimed McGann showed interest with some students but was also disengaged with others.
“He was nice to some students and to others he didn’t care. He always picked favorites in class,” Jack said.
“Overall though, he was kinda nice. I’m not sure how to feel about him.”
Blasdel admitted that she never had a strange interaction with McGann, but acknowledged that his arrest has left her family “feeling pretty weird about the situation.”
Broken Arrow Public Schools said in a statement that McGann “voluntarily resigned at the end of that year to pursue employment elsewhere.”
McGann took a job at Northwoods Fine Arts Academy in the Tulsa suburb of Sand Springs for the 2024-25 school year.
He again taught fifth grade and again resigned from his position at the end of the school year.
Before being arrested on capital murder charges, McGann was scheduled to start a new teaching position at the Springdale Public Schools system in Arkansas at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.
It’s unknown why McGann relocated to Arkansas.
Statements from Andrew McGann’s previous employers
Before he was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, Andrew James McGann worked as an elementary school teacher. Below are statements from some of the schools he was hired by:
Lewisville ISD
Lewisville ISD is aware of the recent arrest of a former teacher who was employed at Donald Elementary during the 2022-23 school year. The individual was placed on administrative leave in the spring of 2023 following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism. An internal investigation found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students. The teacher resigned from the district in May 2023.
Our hearts are with the victims and all those affected by this tragic situation. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority, and we are committed to supporting our school community during this time.
As this is an ongoing law enforcement matter, any additional questions should be directed to the investigating agency.
Broken Arrow Public Schools
The man who was arrested in Arkansas for the murders at Devil’s 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.
Sand Springs Public Schools
Sand Springs Public Schools is aware of the recent arrest of a former employee. Andrew McGann was employed at Sand Springs Public Schools from the summer of 2024 to May 2025. At the end of the 2024-25 school year, McGann resigned his position to move out of state.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Every employee undergoes a mandatory background check for the district when they are hired. Additionally, each teacher undergoes a background check for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. McGann passed all background checks.
While SSPS has not yet been contacted by authorities regarding this matter, the district has and will always comply with requests from law enforcement in any investigation.
Our hearts are with the family and loved ones who have suffered this tragic loss.
Springdale Public Schools
Springdale Public Schools can confirm that Andrew McGann was a teacher candidate hired for the upcoming school year, who has not yet begun employment with the district. This individual has not at any time come into contact with Springdale students or the families we serve. At this time, we cannot offer any additional information due to the ongoing investigation. At the appropriate time, additional information will be forthcoming. Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family. Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers
SENSELESS KILLINGS
Clinton and Cristen Brink had also recently settled in Arkansas after moving to the state from South Dakota at the start of July.
A former co-worker of the Brinks from South Dakota previously told The U.S. Sun the couple had decided to relocate to the south to be closer to their family.
“Clint’s oldest daughter recently married, and I know they wanted to be closer to family. They didn’t have family out here in Rapid,” the distraught ex-colleague, who worked with the Brinks at Monument Health in Rapid City, said.
McGann is scheduled to be arraigned on two charges of capital murder on August 14.
Arkansas investigators have claimed McGann confessed to the killing to detectives during their questioning.
As of Friday, it’s unclear if McGann has an attorney.
Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter said his office will seek the death penalty.
