Arkansas teacher arrested in Devil’s Den State Park killings

(NewsNation) — A 28-year-old schoolteacher has been charged with killing a married couple who were hiking with their two young children at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas.

James Andrew McGann was arrested Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, Arkansas — roughly 30 miles north of the state park.

“I’m extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our agents put forward in bringing justice to this family,” said Mike Hagar with the Arkansas State Police.

“The collaboration between state police, other state and local law enforcement agencies and our federal partners has been second to none,” Hagar said.

James McGann taught in Oklahoma, was set to start in Arkansas

McGann was a teacher at a small Oklahoma school district until May of this year, when he resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools obtained by NewsNation affiliate KFOR.

The district, located near Tulsa, said McGann “passed all background checks.”

Before working at Sand Springs Public Schools, McGann taught at Broken Arrow Schools from 2023 to 2024, according to the district.

McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, according to Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent. He said the district could not provide more information, citing the investigation.

“Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family. Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers,” Cleveland said.

Couple killed at Devil’s Den State Park were hiking with daughters

Police in Arkansas and the FBI had been searching for days after Clinton and Cristen Brink were found dead Saturday on a walking trail with their daughters at Devil’s Den.

Their daughters, aged 7 and 9, were not injured and are safe with family members.

The Brink family said the couple died “heroes protecting their little girls.”

The family had recently moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas, Mayor David Faulk said.

Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer.

“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,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.