Authorities have reportedly identified James Andrew McGann as the main suspect in the brutal double homicide at Devil’s Den State Park, find out more below
The shocking incident took place in Arkansas, on July 26, 2025, where a man killed two people, Clinton and Cristen Brink, who were hiking with their two young daughters.
The victims, Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, had chosen Devil’s Den State Park for their hiking adventure with their two daughters, ages 7 and 9.
McGann who is currently booked in the Washington County Jail now faces two counts of capital murder, charges that carry the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty in Arkansas.
Who is ex-teacher James Andrew McGann who murdered hiker couple Clinton David and Cristen Amanda Brink in Devil’s Den State Park Arkansas
Imagine you're in the middle of fading the alleged Devil’s Den State Park killer's hair & cops come arrest #JamesAndrewMcGann. Adriana Ruiz Avalos VIDEO: "I was in the middle of cutting his hair when detectives came in and got him…He left fked up tho I barely started the fade." pic.twitter.com/Lmu6S4Ykdf
— Paula Neal Mooney (@PAULANEALMOONEY) July 31, 2025
Deeply disturbing: James Andrew McGann—the suspect in the Arkansas Devil’s Den double homicide—was previously a 4th grade teacher at Donald Elementary. It’s been reported that after concerns about inappropriate behavior were raised, he was allowed to quietly resign.
He later… pic.twitter.com/ZHnzTcKDta
— Chelar (@ChelarVale) July 31, 2025
Following the shocking incident, authorities launched an intense manhunt, ending with the arrest of the suspect, James Andrew McGann.
James Andrew McGann identified as main suspect in Devil’s Den State Park killings
Arkansas State Police have reportedly identified and arrested James Andrew McGann as the primary suspect in the recent killings at Devil’s Den State Park. Authorities reportedly captured him on July 30 at around 4:57 p.m. CDT at a business in Springdale following a four-day search. According to the investigators, McGann attacked Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, while the couple were out on a hike with their family in the 2,500-acre Devil’s Den State Park. Authorities initially released a composite sketch and a photo of the suspect following the incident. Notably, the two daughters of the victims, ages 7 and 9, managed to survive the attack unharmed.
So James Andrew McGann teaches math in Texas then takes a huge pay cut to teach in Oklahoma the next year and then comes to Arkansas? Three states in three or four years? This should be interesting. #devilsden pic.twitter.com/J1e6v9C93H
— Seth Tehan (@dopelessrmantic) July 31, 2025
Motive behind the attack
As of now, police have not yet confirmed a clear motive for the killings, as the Arkansas State Police and the FBI continue to investigate further. While officials believe that the attack was random, authorities are still exploring all angles including the possibility of mental illness or prior violent behavior.
Charges and allegations
James Andrew McGann currently faces two counts of Capital Murder, and authorities expect additional charges depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Official statements
Following the incident, Colonel Mike Hagar, Director of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, stated:
Because of their hard work and investigative skill, we were able to take a monster off the streets and bring relief to those two precious girls and the rest of our citizens.”
Meanwhile, governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also stated:
We do not tolerate violent crime in Arkansas. If you target innocent people, law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.”
The FBI also issued a statement saying:
We remain committed to assisting our partners at Arkansas State Police in every possible way to ensure justice is served swiftly and thoroughly.”
James Andrew McGann biography
James Andrew McGann is a 28-year-old resident of Springdale, Arkansas, who recently killed a couple out on a hike. As of now, there is little to nothing publicly known about his early life or personal background. His neighbors described him as reclusive, with no stable employment history.
He seemingly had ties to the Brink family, and investigators are still gathering more information on his mental health history, as well as prior run-ins with the law and potential motives behind the senseless killings. Moreover, McGann had no children and he was not affiliated with any known groups or organizations.
James Andrew McGann worked in Texas for Lewisville, ISD as an elementary school teacher in 2023 and a mother of one of his former 4th grade students said her son came home complaining that McGann was inappropriate with the girl students so she filed a complaint with the superintendent.
As a result, parents received a letter from the district that he was placed on administrative leave while the school investigated complaints of poor classroom management and poor professional judgement and while investigation found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with a student, but they did find classroom management and professional judgement to be below the districts expectations, according to the letter. Shortly after, McGann resigned and then worked as an elementary school teacher in Oklahoma until he resigned in May to move to Arkansas, where he was set to become a teacher in Springdale for the upcoming school year.
McGann recently moved from Oklahoma to Arkansas for a teaching job and Springdale Public Schools said in a statement that McGann was a teacher candidate hired for the upcoming school year. McGann was a teacher for Broken Arrow Public Schools during the 2023-2024 school year where he was a fifth grade teacher and left the district during the school year.
#NEW: I spoke to the mother of a former student of the suspected murderer, accused of killing a couple in Arkansas while on hiking trail with their two daughters.
James Andrew McGann worked in Texas for Lewisville, ISD as an elementary school teacher in 2023. A mother of one… pic.twitter.com/MCB6K55c6Y
— Brooke Taylor (@Brooketaylortv) July 31, 2025
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