Update July 31:
The Arkansas State Police held a press briefing on Thursday at 2 p.m., providing more details about the double homicide case in Devil’s Den State Park, as well as the arrest of suspect Andrew McGann.
Director of ASP Col. Mike Hagar said investigators received over 500 tips and the suspect’s DNA collected at the time of his arrest matched suspect DNA at the scene. He said investigators believe McGann acted alone, and in interviews, he’d indicated he was responsible for the couple’s deaths.
Hagar added that investigators had executed search warrants on McGann’s residence and vehicle and were awaiting results from the State Crime Lab.
Maj. Stacie Rhoads, who oversees ASP’s criminal investigation division, did not reveal a potential movie, but said there was no known association between McGann and the victims. She added that McGann attacked the victims with a knife and that the victims died from stab wounds.
“We have no reason to believe that there was any known association between our suspects and our victims. There’s nothing to indicate that at all. It appears to be a completely random event,” she said.
Rhoads said investigators did not believe McGann was targeting the victims’ two daughters, who were hiking with them the day of the crime. The daughters, aged 7 and 9, are with family.
Brandon Carter, prosecuting attorney for Washington County, said he was confident the right person was in custody.
“The defendant in this case is innocent until he’s proven guilty, but I’m confident that we have the right defendant in this case and the public need not worry going forward,” Carter said. “It is my intention to use the full weight of my office to bring this defendant to justice for the Brink family.”
He added that the state will not be waiving the death penalty in this case. McGann is being held in the Washington County Jail on two counts of capital murder. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 1.
Watch the full briefing here.
Update July 30, 9:30 p.m.:
A person believed to be Andrew McGann was the subject of a Donald Elementary School Facebook post in August, 2022. In the post, McGann suggested it was his first year of teaching. Donald Elementary is located in Flower Mound, TX located just northwest of Dallas, TX.
The post read: Hello my name is Andrew McGann. I am very excited to join the Dolphin family as a 4th Grade Math and Writing Teacher. I graduated from Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes!) in May with a B.S. in Elementary Education. I have been a substitute for the past two years in Tulsa County, Oklahoma and a student teacher for the Spring 2022 semester in Broken Arrow Public Schools in a 4th Grade Math and Science classroom.
This is a year of firsts for me: first year teaching, first year in LISD, and first year living in Texas. I think LISD is an excellent place to build a career and a life for myself as that is my intention in coming here from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
My favorite thing to do in my free time is exercise, specifically, running. I played football, baseball, and rugby in high school so I love sports. I have heard there are some runners in the dolphin family so show me where the good trails are at since I’m in need of a go-to running trail.
I am also a big animal lover. Cats are my favorite animal (my cat Khan in the picture with me), but don’t worry dog moms, I love dogs too! I am honored to be a part of your team and I can’t wait to meet my students/fellow staff. Go Dolphins!
Sources say McGann had moved to Northwest Arkansas to teach, although it wasn’t immediately known where he was to be employed.
Update July 30, 9 p.m.:
Lowell, AR – (Contributed) – July 30, 2025 – Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) have arrested James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, in connection to a double homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Devil’s Den State Park.
McGann was taken into custody at 4:57 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at a business in Springdale. He was charged with two counts of Capital Murder.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following: “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. I ask that Arkansans lift up prayers of thanks for the brave men and women of law enforcement – and offer prayers of condolence to the victims of this horrific crime. Let there be no mistake – we do not tolerate violent crime in Arkansas. If you target innocent people, law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.”
ASP Col. Mike Hagar added, “I’m extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our Agents put forward in bringing justice to this family. The collaboration between State Police, other state and local law enforcement agencies, and our federal partners has been second to none. 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.”
Breaking News July 30, 8:45 p.m.:
Little Rock, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – July 30, 2025 – Sources tell Jonesboro Right Now that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a married couple Saturday at Devil’s Den State Park in Northwest Arkansas.
The information was confirmed to JRN Wednesday evening by sources who were not authorized to comment publicly. Information suggested the suspect, believed to be a 28-year-old male, was identified through vehicle records and description as well as DNA evidence.
Gov. Sarah Sanders will join Colonel Mike Hagar, the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, and Shea Lewis, the Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, for a press conference. The press conference is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Arkansas State Police Troop L Headquarters in Lowell, Arkansas.
No other information was immediately available.
This is a developing story. Although this incident did not occur in our local area, due to the interest in the case the story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Previously:
Little Rock, AR – (Associated Press) – July 30, 2025 — Authorities have released a photo and a composite sketch of a person they are trying to question as they investigate the fatal attack of a married couple in front of their children at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas.
The search for the man who killed the hikers at a state park in northwest Arkansas entered its fifth day, while many details about the attack remain unclear.
Here are some things to know:
Couple found dead on a walking trail
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devil’s Den. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said.
Police have released a composite sketch and photo of a person of interest they are searching for in the attack. Along with the drawing, state police released a statement saying the suspect “likely sustained an injury while attacking the couple.” It did not go into further detail.
The State Police has said it has received numerous calls. But the agency has released few details, including how the couple was killed and whether it believes the killer is still in the area. The FBI has said its Little Rock field office is assisting in the investigation.
Police released composite sketch of person of interest
Police have not identified the killer or given a possible motive for the attack. But they have provided a description, the composite sketch and the photo of a person of interest.
The photo was provided by a witness who was at Devil’s Den State Park Saturday, police said. The photo was taken from behind and does not show the person of interest’s face.
Officials described him as a white male wearing a long-sleeved shirt with sleeves rolled up, dark pants, a dark ball cap and sunglasses. He was carrying a black backpack and wore fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape.
The car, possibly a Mazda, may have been traveling on nearby State Highway 170 or State Highway 220.
Victims had moved from South Dakota
Clinton and Cristen Brink had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said.
Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas.
The Brink family said the couple died “heroes protecting their little girls.”
Park known for hiking trails
Devil’s Den is a 2,500-acre state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital.
Devil’s Den is known for its hiking trails and rock formations, and it is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart’s Bentonville headquarters. It was selected as a state park site in the 1930s.
The park’s trails, which lead to the surrounding Ozark National Forest, remained closed Wednesday.
Authorities have asked the public to report tips and urged trail-goers who were at Devil’s Den on Saturday to look through their photos and videos for possible images of the suspect.
Police have also asked local residents to review any security or game camera footage for unusual activity or images matching the vehicle.