(NewsNation) — A 28-year-old schoolteacher allegedly admitted to killing a married couple who were hiking with their two young children at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas.
Andrew James McGann was arrested Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, Arkansas — roughly 30 miles north of the state park.
At a news conference Thursday, police said the couple died of stab wounds and that they believe the attack was random.
“We have no reason to believe that there was any known association between our suspect and the victims,” said Mike Hagar with the Arkansas State Police.
Clinton Brink is believed to have been stabbed first. Cristen Brink rushed her young daughters to safety and was killed as she returned to help her husband, Hagar said.
DNA evidence links suspect to crime scene
Police believe McGann acted alone, and they matched his DNA to that found at the crime scene, according to investigators.
He “was completely cooperative” during the arrest, and when investigators spoke to him, he “made statements indicating that he committed these heinous acts,” Major Stacie Rhoads said.
Officers got a search warrant for his home and vehicle and found additional evidence tying him to the killings, police said. They found multiple knives at his residence.
Investigators are still trying to determine McGann’s motive.
“I’m extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our agents put forward in bringing justice to this family,” Hagar said.
“The collaboration between state police, other state and local law enforcement agencies and our federal partners has been second to none.”
McGann is charged with two counts of capital murder and is being held without bond Thursday in the Washington County jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
Andrew James McGann taught in Oklahoma, was set to start in Arkansas
McGann was a teacher at a small Oklahoma school district until May of this year, when he resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools obtained by NewsNation local affiliate KFOR.
The district, located near Tulsa, said McGann “passed all background checks.”
Before working at Sand Springs Public Schools, McGann taught at Broken Arrow Schools from 2023 to 2024, according to the district.
McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, according to Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent. He said the district could not provide more information, citing the investigation.
“Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family. Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers,” Cleveland said.
He was certified to teach elementary school in Oklahoma in 2022 and Texas in 2023. He was approved to teach elementary and middle school children in Arkansas in the fall of 2024.
McGann had no adult criminal history, police said.
Couple killed at Devil’s Den State Park were hiking with daughters
Andrew James McGann was arrested and charged for the double homicide of a couple who were on a hiking trail at Devil’s Den state park in Arkansas. (Source: Washington County Sheriff’s Office) 
Andrew James McGann was arrested and charged for the double homicide of a couple who were on a hiking trail at Devil’s Den state park in Arkansas. (Source: Washington County Sheriff’s Office) 
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. (Source: GoFundMe) 
Special agents with the Arkansas State Police have arrested Andrew James McGann, 28, of Springdale, in connection to a double homicide at Devil’s Den State Park on July 26, 2025. (Courtesy) 
Sketch of the suspect in Devil’s Den State Park killings. (COURTESY) 
Picture of suspect’s back in Devil’s Den State Park killings. (COURTESY) 
The trail head to the lower section of the Devil’s Den trail at Devil’s Den State Park remains closed July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark., as police search for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who were attacked while on a wooded walking trail. (AP Photo/Michael Woods) 
The visitors center at Devil’s Den State Park was open July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark., though all hiking trails remained closed after a couple was attacked while on a wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Police in Arkansas and the FBI had been searching for days after Clinton, 43, and Cristen Brink, 41, were found dead Saturday on a walking trail with their daughters at Devil’s Den.
Their daughters, aged 7 and 9, were not injured and are safe with family members. The Brinks also have another daughter who wasn’t on the trail on Saturday.
The Brink family said the couple died “heroes” as they protected their little girls.
“They absolutely protected those girls to the fullest extent, to the point where it cost them their lives,” Hagar said at the Thursday news conference.
“We’re in awe of this mom and dad, and we’re also in awe of these girls, the information they were able to provide.”
The family had recently moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas, Mayor David Faulk said.
Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer.
“No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State. I am so proud of the Arkansas State Police, Park Rangers, local law enforcement, and others who have worked nonstop since last weekend to capture this suspect,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.