NEW details have emerged about the man accused of stabbing a couple to death in front of their daughters in an Arkansas state park.
Suspect Andrew James McGann, 28, is an elementary teacher who over the past few years has transitioned from school to school following unsettling allegations regarding his unsettling conduct.
McGann was due to begin teaching third grade in the next week; however, he currently finds himself detained after being accused of murdering Clinton Brink and his wife, Cristen Brink, an event during which their young daughters, aged 7 and 9, managed to escape to safety.
Following a five-day pursuit, McGann was apprehended mid-haircut at a salon on Thursday, where he confessed to the authorities that he committed the murders of the Brinks in Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas on Saturday, according to police statements.
Police reports from a Thursday press conference by Arkansas State Police indicated that Clinton was the initial victim of stabbing, after which Cristen aided her daughters in fleeing before returning to assist her husband but ultimately met the same fate.
Chilling audio revealed the moment that police found the parents’ bodies after the girls fled to a nearby visitor center for help.
DNA taken from McGann matched DNA from the horrific scene in the park, police said.
Cops believe McGann, who had no criminal history, acted alone and that it was a random attack because he didn’t know the Brinks.
Investigators are still trying to determine a motive.
TEACHING HISTORY
McGann had recently relocated to the region after being appointed as a “teacher candidate” for the forthcoming school year, as confirmed in a statement by Springdale Public Schools to The U.S. Sun.
“This individual has not at any time come into contact with Springdale students or the families we serve,” SPS said.
While he hadn’t yet met his potential Arkansas students, McGann previously got in trouble for inappropriate contact during his first year teaching.
Upon earning a degree in elementary education from Oklahoma State University in May 2022, he moved to northwestern Texas to take a role teaching fourth-grade math at Donald Elementary in Flower Mound.
“The individual was placed on administrative leave in the spring of 2023 following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,” the school district, Lewisville ISD, said in a statement shared with THe U.S. Sun.
“An internal investigation found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students. The teacher resigned from the district in May 2023.”
‘PRETTY DISINTERESTED’
Sierra Marcum, a mom of one of McGann’s former students at Donald Elementary, said the teacher was the “most standoffish teacher she had ever met,” according to the Associated Press.
“Pretty cold. You could ask him a question, and he would give you a one-word response,” Marcum told the outlet.
“Overall just pretty disinterested in his students.”
Statements from suspect’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.
Marcum claimed that her son noticed inappropriate behavior from him towards little girls in his class, but the school district didn’t comment on the allegation.
After leaving Texas, McGann went back to the state of Oklahoma, where he worked as a fifth-grade science and social studies teacher for Broken Arrow Public Schools during the 2023-2024 school year.
“As with all employees hired by the district, he was subjected to and passed the legally required background checks prior to being hired,” Broken Arrow Public Schools said in a statement to The U.S. Sun.
The district said he told them he left the position to work out of state, but instead took a job at a small nearby district in the Tulsa area.
However, he stayed in Oklahoma and taught at Sand Springs Public Schools, near Tulsa, from summer 2024 until May of this year.
He passed all background checks for the job, the district said in a statement. He resigned to take a job in another state.
McGann had not yet started his job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, the district confirmed.
Timeline of the 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 27 – 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.
On Wednesday evening, he was arrested while getting a haircut at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop, which is just about a 30-minute drive from where he allegedly slaughtered the Brinks.
Surveillance footage from the salon showed cops taking the barber cape off McGann before putting him in handcuffs.
FAMILY TRAGEDY
The Brinks had recently moved from South Dakota to Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas.
Prairie Grove Mayor David Faulk said the family’s water was connected just two weeks ago.
Clinton Brink, 43, was set to start working as a milk delivery driver on Monday, his employer said. Cristen Brink, 41, was a licensed nurse in South Dakota before the move.
The family said Clinton and Cristen, who had three daughters together, died as “heroes protecting their little girls.”
The two young daughters weren’t injured and are now safe with their family.
McGann faces charges of two counts of capital murder and could face the death penalty for the crime.
He’s expected to appear in court on Friday.
