Two years before his arrest in the brutal stabbing deaths of a couple at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas, Andrew J. McGann was already drawing concern from parents at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas. According to Lindsay Camp Polyak, whose son was occasionally in McGann’s class, he displayed off-putting behavior that raised red flags among parents.
“My kid would come home and say, ‘Mr. McGann loves to play tag. He plays tag at recess every day with the girls,’” Polyak recalled. She added that McGann gave out candy and special prizes — but only to girls.
In a fourth-grade parents’ group chat, Polyak said she learned that McGann arranged “special lunches” with girls in his classroom. Some parents even alleged that McGann encouraged girls to sit on his lap.
Arrest and Murder Charges
Details about McGann’s past came to light after he was arrested for the fatal stabbings of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 42, at Devil’s Den State Park on July 26. Authorities said the couple was killed in front of their two daughters, ages 7 and 9.
Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar stated there was “no reason to believe that there was any known association between our suspect and our victims.” Officials do not believe the Brinks’ children were the targets of the apparent random attack.
Parents Describe ‘Strange’ Behavior
Megan Perkins, another parent from Donald Elementary, said McGann was “odd.” She said he showed unnecessary competitiveness with children during school events like field day. While some parents were alarmed by his behavior, others saw him as simply insecure or awkward.
Lewisville Independent School District stated that McGann was “placed on administrative leave in the spring of 2023 following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment and student favoritism.” The district noted that an internal investigation “found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students.”
A Troubled Teaching Trail
According to the Texas Education Agency, no state investigations into McGann were on file. However, following his arrest, the agency flagged his teaching certificate. McGann resigned from Lewisville ISD in May 2023 and moved to Oklahoma, where he began teaching fifth grade at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma City for the 2023–24 school year.
One parent at Spring Creek told NBC News that McGann was “pretty quiet, but all the kids loved him.” Her son admired his teacher so much that he started dressing like him, she said. McGann had interests in wrestling, hiking, and outdoor activities. He even started a running club for students.
Despite the kids’ fondness for him, the parent noted that McGann was often “awkward around the parents” and had trouble making eye contact. During one conference, he joked that he taught elementary school because he was “afraid of adults.”
Resignations Without Red Flags
Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma said McGann “voluntarily resigned at the end of that year to pursue employment elsewhere.” The district confirmed no disciplinary actions were taken during his tenure, and background checks revealed nothing suspicious.
McGann’s next stop was Northwoods Fine Arts Academy in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, where he again taught fifth grade during the 2024–25 school year. Sand Springs Public Schools confirmed that he “resigned his position” after one academic year.
It is unclear why McGann relocated to Arkansas, but he had secured another teaching position there with Springdale Public Schools.
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The Crime Scene in Devil’s Den
On July 26, a hiker encountered a disturbing scene at Devil’s Den State Park. The hiker found two girls alone on a trail and helped guide them to safety. Nearby, their parents were discovered stabbed to death, according to a report from the 4th Judicial District prosecutor’s office.
Witnesses said a man was seen leaving the trail with blood on his face. He entered a black Kia Stinger — later identified as belonging to McGann.
A Quiet Arrest at a Salon
Four days after the killings, police tracked the car to Springdale, where McGann was getting a haircut. The arrest took place at Lupita’s, a small beauty salon.
Barber Adriana Guadalupe Ruiz Avalos described feeling uneasy when McGann entered the salon wearing baggy khakis and asking tersely for a high-fade haircut. “He was timid, barely said a word and kept his head down,” she said.
Ruiz Avalos had been following coverage of the killings. When law enforcement entered and asked about the Kia parked outside, her suspicions grew. Moments later, McGann was handcuffed and taken into custody.
She said she didn’t sleep that night. “I felt nauseous all night. I didn’t fall asleep until 6 a.m. I was just thinking about them,” she said, referring to the victims.
Ruiz Avalos, who watches true-crime documentaries regularly, left McGann’s hair clippings on the floor in case they were needed for DNA evidence.
Remembering the Brinks
The Brinks were new to Arkansas, having moved to the state about three weeks before the killings, according to Clinton’s sister, Katrina Hutchins.
The family released a brief statement: “They deserve justice.”
“They died protecting their little girls,” the family said.
Facing Capital Murder Charges
McGann has been booked on charges of capital murder. Jail records indicate that his DNA matched evidence found at the crime scene. Investigators reported that McGann made statements “indicating that he had committed these heinous acts.”
