WASHINGTON COUNTY, AR - On Wednesday, July 30th, Arkansas State Police (ASP) arrested 28-year-old Andrew McGann for allegedly murdering a couple in front of their two children at Devil's Den State Park.
At the time of his arrest, he was getting a haircut at a salon in Springdale, Fox News reported. In the days since McGann's arrest, more information about his background and life has emerged.
McGann was a teacher in a small Oklahoma school district until May. He reportedly resigned to take another job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools. They also said that McGann passed all background checks prior to his employment.
Authorities have since confirmed that McGann has no known adult criminal history and investigators have not uncovered any prior charges or convictions.
McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent, confirmed. He said that McGann "has not at any time" been in contact with students or their families. "Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family," he said. "Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers."
The mother of a former student provided an email from the teacher's previous school district to Fox News. She said that in 2023, she filed a complaint with the superintendent after her son witnessed McGann behaving inappropriately toward younger female students.
In response, parents received a letter from the district stating that McGann had been placed on administrative leave while officials investigated complaints of poor classroom management and professional judgment. The investigation did not find evidence of inappropriate behavior toward a student. However, it did conclude that McGann's classroom management and judgment fell below district standards. Shortly after the investigation concluded, McGann resigned.
He reportedly bounced around between four districts in three states prior to the alleged murders, according to Fox News. A parent whose son was in McGann's fifth grade class in Oklahoma last year said he remembers him being "reserved" and "not super friendly," and that McGann was "just off-putting" the first time they met.
"He wouldn't look at me really, wouldn't talk to me. He would only really talk to the kids and he would just walk away," Kyle Swanson said. "I don't know, it was a strange interaction."
McGann graduated in 2022 from Oklahoma State University-Tulsa with a Bachelor of science degree in elementary education. He has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. No infractions or suspensions are noted in his public state licensures in any of those states.
On Thursday, July 31st, during a news conference, ASP Director Col. Mike Hagar announced that McGann confessed to the crime and that DNA evidence has confirmed his involvement.
"Although everyone is innocent until proven guilty, we did confirm this morning that the suspect's DNA is a positive match to the DNA recovered at the crime scene," Hagar said. "During an interview with investigators, the suspect admitting to committing the murders. We also executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered items consistent with the crime."
Hagar said that both Clinton and Cristen Brink died from stab wounds. A knife was confirmed as the murder weapon. He also clarified that investigators found no indication the daughters were targeted. "It appears to be a completely random event," Hagar said. "We have no reason to believe there was any known association between our suspect and our victims."
He also noted that McGann sustained "injuries" during the attack. The blood found at the scene helped authorities find the suspect, he added. Praising the cooperation between law enforcement agencies, Hagar said, "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."
McGann has been charged with two counts of capital murder. He remains in jail with no bond. He is scheduled for court at the end of August.
At the time of his arrest, he was getting a haircut at a salon in Springdale, Fox News reported. In the days since McGann's arrest, more information about his background and life has emerged.
McGann was a teacher in a small Oklahoma school district until May. He reportedly resigned to take another job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools. They also said that McGann passed all background checks prior to his employment.
Authorities have since confirmed that McGann has no known adult criminal history and investigators have not uncovered any prior charges or convictions.
McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent, confirmed. He said that McGann "has not at any time" been in contact with students or their families. "Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family," he said. "Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers."
The mother of a former student provided an email from the teacher's previous school district to Fox News. She said that in 2023, she filed a complaint with the superintendent after her son witnessed McGann behaving inappropriately toward younger female students.
In response, parents received a letter from the district stating that McGann had been placed on administrative leave while officials investigated complaints of poor classroom management and professional judgment. The investigation did not find evidence of inappropriate behavior toward a student. However, it did conclude that McGann's classroom management and judgment fell below district standards. Shortly after the investigation concluded, McGann resigned.
He reportedly bounced around between four districts in three states prior to the alleged murders, according to Fox News. A parent whose son was in McGann's fifth grade class in Oklahoma last year said he remembers him being "reserved" and "not super friendly," and that McGann was "just off-putting" the first time they met.
"He wouldn't look at me really, wouldn't talk to me. He would only really talk to the kids and he would just walk away," Kyle Swanson said. "I don't know, it was a strange interaction."
McGann graduated in 2022 from Oklahoma State University-Tulsa with a Bachelor of science degree in elementary education. He has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. No infractions or suspensions are noted in his public state licensures in any of those states.
On Thursday, July 31st, during a news conference, ASP Director Col. Mike Hagar announced that McGann confessed to the crime and that DNA evidence has confirmed his involvement.
"Although everyone is innocent until proven guilty, we did confirm this morning that the suspect's DNA is a positive match to the DNA recovered at the crime scene," Hagar said. "During an interview with investigators, the suspect admitting to committing the murders. We also executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered items consistent with the crime."
Hagar said that both Clinton and Cristen Brink died from stab wounds. A knife was confirmed as the murder weapon. He also clarified that investigators found no indication the daughters were targeted. "It appears to be a completely random event," Hagar said. "We have no reason to believe there was any known association between our suspect and our victims."
He also noted that McGann sustained "injuries" during the attack. The blood found at the scene helped authorities find the suspect, he added. Praising the cooperation between law enforcement agencies, Hagar said, "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."
McGann has been charged with two counts of capital murder. He remains in jail with no bond. He is scheduled for court at the end of August.
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