Additional Coverage:
A Double Murder Suspect’s Unexpected Trip to the Barber
Springdale, Arkansas — The manhunt for a suspect in a weekend double homicide ended dramatically Wednesday when Andrew James McGann, 28, was arrested mid-haircut at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop.
McGann is accused of killing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who were found dead Saturday on a hiking trail in Devil’s Den State Park. Their two young daughters, ages 7 and 9, were unharmed and are now with family.
The arrest unfolded when detectives entered the barbershop, located about 7 miles from McGann’s listed address, and apprehended him. A stylist, in a Facebook post, recounted the surreal experience of cutting McGann’s hair when officers arrived. His booking photo shows him still wearing a barber’s cape.
McGann is charged with two counts of capital murder and is being held without bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday. The Arkansas Public Defender Commission confirmed Thursday afternoon that he did not yet have legal representation.
Arkansas State Police Major Stacie Rhoads held a news conference following the arrest but declined to disclose details about the investigation or a possible motive, citing the ongoing prosecution. Rhoads did confirm that McGann had recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma and had been hired as a “teacher candidate” by Springdale Public Schools, though he had not yet started working.
The investigation involved federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, who worked tirelessly to bring “justice to this family,” according to Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement expressing relief and commending law enforcement for their swift action.
Police had released a photo and sketch of a man seen in the park Saturday and requested public assistance in identifying him. The overwhelming response and video footage from the public played a crucial role in identifying McGann, Rhoads said.
McGann’s background includes teaching positions in Oklahoma and Texas. He resigned from a fifth-grade teaching position at Sand Springs Public Schools in Oklahoma at the end of the 2024-25 school year to move out of state.
He also taught fifth grade at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma during the 2023-2024 school year and fourth grade at Donald Elementary in Flower Mound, Texas. All districts confirmed he passed required background checks.
The Brink family requested privacy in a statement Monday, describing Clinton and Cristen as heroes who protected their daughters. They recently moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border. Increased law enforcement presence has been implemented at state parks across Arkansas following the incident.