Authorities arrested 28-year-old James Andrew McGann on Wednesday in connection with the brutal slayings of Clinton and Cristen Brink at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. The couple was murdered in front of their two young daughters while on a family hike Saturday, according to Arkansas State Police.
McGann, a resident of Springdale, was taken into custody just before 5:00 p.m. at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop in Springdale. Officers from multiple agencies surrounded the business, entering from both the front and rear, before identifying McGann and arresting him mid-haircut. A black sedan outside the salon, marked with red tape reading “Evidence,” was also seized by law enforcement.
Police charged McGann with two counts of capital murder. Authorities said there is currently no known connection between McGann and the victims. The suspect is accused of stabbing the couple to death during the attack. Their daughters, ages seven and nine, were unharmed and are now with relatives.
The Brink family had recently relocated to the Prairie Grove area. The murders sent shockwaves through the small Arkansas community, particularly given the senseless violence and the young children who witnessed the tragedy.
McGann was reportedly employed during the 2023-2024 academic year at Spring Creek Elementary School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. His name was still listed on the Sand Springs Public Schools website until early Thursday, when it was removed following his arrest.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement praising law enforcement for the swift apprehension. “No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family,” she said. “But this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State.” She urged Arkansans to pray for both the Brink family and the officers involved in the case, emphasizing Arkansas’s zero tolerance for violent crime.
Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and have not ruled out additional charges.
