Andrew James McGann, 28, admitted to murdering the couple that was found stabbed to death in Devil’s Den Park on Saturday.
McGann has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the killings of 41-year-old Cristen Amanda Brink and 43-year-old Clinton David Brink.
The married couple was killed while hiking with their young daughters at an Arkansas park on July 26. Police said the “horrific” attack happened approximately a half mile into the trail.
Thanks to the actions of their mother, their two daughters were not injured in the attack.
Maj. Stacie Rhoads said they believe the mother took them to safety before returning to the scene to help her husband.
On Wednesday afternoon, police arrested McGann at a Springdale barbershop, located approximately 30 miles from where the murders took place.
According to Police Director Col. Mike Hagar, McGann admitted to killing the married couple in a subsequent interview.
McGann’s blood also matched the DNA taken from the blood recovered from the crime scene. He had injured himself during a struggle with the victims, said officials involved with the investigation.
Police also recovered items “consistent with being involved in this case” from his home.
Officials stated that McGann had recently relocated to Arkansas from Oklahoma and had been hired as a teacher at a local school.
According to Jared Cleveland, the superintendent of the Springdale Public Schools district, McGann was hired to teach in the upcoming school year, starting in September.
In a statement, Cleveland reassured that McGann had not yet come into contact with any of the students or families that they serve.
No other details were disclosed due to the ongoing status of the investigation.
From 2023 to 2024, McGann taught fifth grade in Broken Arrows, Oklahoma. A spokesperson for Broken Arrow Public Schools stated that he had passed the necessary background checks.
The previous school year, he worked as a teacher at an elementary school in Flower Mount, Texas.
Following concerns related to student favoritism, professional judgment, and classroom management, he was placed on administrative leave.
He later resigned.
An internal investigation discovered no evidence that he engaged in inappropriate behaviors with students.
Officials do not believe there was any known association between McGann and the suspects.
On Thursday, Hagar confirmed that the couple had died from stab wounds that were inflicted by a knife. Police recovered several knives from McGann’s residence, however, it’s currently unclear whether or not the murder weapon is among them.
