Suspect Arrested in Brutal Murder of Arkansas Couple During Family Hike
After a dayslong manhunt, police have arrested Andrew James McGann, 28, in connection with the horrific murder of Clinton and Cristen Brink, who were killed during a family hike at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas on July 26. Their two young daughters, ages 7 and 9, witnessed the attack and were left orphaned but unharmed—thanks in part to their mother’s brave actions to protect them.
The family had recently moved to Prairie Grove from another state. Around 2:40 p.m., park staff received a call that two children reported their parents had been attacked and were missing. The couple was later found dead on the trail, both killed by stab wounds.
Authorities praised Cristen Brink for leading her daughters to safety before returning to help her husband. The family called Clinton and Cristen “heroes” and launched a fundraiser that has raised nearly $57,000 for funeral costs.
McGann, a former teacher from Oklahoma recently hired in Arkansas, was arrested at a Springdale hair salon on July 30. Police say he passed all background checks and had no known connection to the victims. They believe the attack was random.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the arrest a “comfort and reassurance,” while Arkansas State Police said the investigation is ongoing. The suspect faces two counts of capital murder.