Arkansas hairstylist reveals ‘eerie' encounter with Devil's Den murder suspect Andrew James McGann moments before he's arrested mid-haircut: ‘He looked soulless'
Andrew James McGann entered Lupita's Beauty Salon in Springdale, Arkansas, just before 5 p.m. on July 30, five days after the brutal murders of Cristen Amanda Brink and her husband, Clinton David Brink, in the state park.
Hairstylist Adriana Ruiz Avalos was put off by McGann's presence but still began the haircut, unaware of the high-profile arrest about to take place inside her shop.
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5 Andrew James McGann is arrested inside Lupita's Beauty Salon in Springdale, Arkansas on July 30, 2025.
Lupita's Beauty Salon
'As soon as I saw him, as I was telling him to come into my chair, I had an eerie feeling about him,' Avalos told NewsNation's 'Banfield' Thursday night.
'He looked soulless,' she claimed. 'He didn't look right.'
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The hairdresser says she had never seen McGann before the haircut session and found his hair and scalp in poor condition.
'Very dry and matted,' Avalos characterized McGann's head.
McGann's eyes were 'very sunken' as he sat in the chair during the haircut.
The 28-year-old murder suspect allegedly asked Avalos not to cut anything off the top to keep his eyes covered as he had evaded police for nearly a week, the outlet reported.
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5 McGann is being held on two counts of Capital Murder at the Washington County Jail.
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5 Cristen and Clinton Brink were killed while they were with their daughters in Devil's Den State Park on July 26, 2025.
Facebook / Cristen Brink
Law enforcement agents tracked McGann down to the salon, pinpointing him inside because his car, a black 2022 Kia Stinger, was parked outside.
McGann kept his head down and tried not to engage with the plain-clothed agents when a detective entered the shop, located 35 miles away from Devil's Den State Park.
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'He really didn't say anything until they were like, 'I believe it's your car,'' Avalos said.
The hairstylist believes McGann wasn't aware of the situation until it was too late.
McGann was arrested mid-haircut and was handcuffed while still wearing a barber's cape, according to surveillance video from inside the salon.
The cape was removed from the suspected killer as he was escorted out of the shop.
McGann is accused of murdering the Brinks while the couple were on a walk in Devil's Den State Park with their two daughters.
The family of four was allegedly ambushed by a knife-wielding McGann on a remote wilderness trail on July 26.
Clinton Brink fended off the attacker as his wife rushed their daughters to safety.
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5 Police tape blocks the trailhead to the Devil's Den trail at Devil's Den State Park on July 28, 2025.
AP
5 The family of four was allegedly ambushed by a knife-wielding McGann on a remote wilderness trail on July 26.
Facebook / Clinton Brink
The doting wife returned to help her husband, Arkansas prosecutors and police revealed Thursday.
The couple was found dead in the wilderness and their killer had fled the area.
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The terrified girls, ages 7 and 9, gave officials a vivid description of the attacker, and a manhunt was launched.
McGann was charged with two counts of capital murder and is being held without bond at the Washington County jail.
He allegedly confessed to the crimes, but is expected to plead guilty.
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Prosecutors said McGann — whose DNA matched blood left at the murder scene — could face the death penalty if convicted.
Avalos claims the entire incident took a toll on her and was left overwhelmed.
'I'm saddened because two little girls lost their parents. And it's … a soulless act by Andrew. It's unimaginable,' she said.
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