Educator Accused of Deadly Stabbings in Arkansas Previously Shuffled Among Schools in Three Different States
In a shocking turn of events, a 28-year-old teacher named Andrew James McGann has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the killing of Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink, hikers who did not know McGann.
The tragic incident occurred at Devil's Den, an Arkansas state park. The victims and their three daughters had recently moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas.
Police narrowed down the suspect's vehicle using surveillance footage from homes and businesses near Devil's Den. Within an hour of identifying McGann as a suspect, police captured him at a barber shop. McGann was cooperative during his arrest and admitted to killing the couple soon after.
Before the capital murder charges in Arkansas, McGann was a teacher with a varied history in multiple states. He taught fourth grade at Donald Elementary in Lewisville ISD, Texas, during the 2022–23 school year, but was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 and later resigned after an investigation regarding concerns about classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism, though no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students was found.
Following his departure from Texas, McGann worked at a small school district in Oklahoma until May 2025, resigning to accept a new position in Arkansas. He was hired by Springdale Public Schools in Arkansas as a teacher candidate for the upcoming year but had not yet interacted with any students or families at the time of his arrest.
McGann also held a Texas Educator Certificate valid from July 2023 through August 2028 and had a previous Dallas address. Additionally, he briefly worked in Plano ISD, Texas, for just four days in August 2024 before resigning voluntarily and never having direct contact with students.
The Brink family has said the couple died "heroes protecting their little girls." The couple's two daughters, ages 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members.
In a separate incident, Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. Clinton Brink was supposed to start working as a milk delivery driver on Monday, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer.
Police collected photos and videos from other hikers who had been on the trails but didn't witness the attack. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to be released as the case progresses.
General-news outlets have reported the arrest of Andrew James McGann, a former teacher, on charges of capital murder for the killings of Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink. The crime-and-justice investigation is ongoing at Devil's Den, an Arkansas state park, where the couple, who recently moved from South Dakota, were hikers along with their three daughters.
