10-08-2025
Teacher kills couple on hike with their two young daughters - then goes for a hair cut
Police arrested Andrew James McGann in a barber shop after a five-day manhunt following the brutal killing of Clinton and Cristen Brink, who lost their lives while hiking with two of their children
A 28-year-old schoolteacher brutally killed a couple who were hiking with their two young daughters, before he was arrested while going for a haircut.
Police arrested Andrew James McGann after a five-day manhunt, taking him into custody at Lupita's Beauty Salon and Barber Shop in Springdale, Arkansas.
At the time of his arrest, McGann was mid-haircut, with his unsuspecting hairdresser later explaining on social media that police entered the salon and "told him to stand up from my chair as I was in the middle of cutting his hair". It comes after a woman, 20, was found dead on bus with 26 iPhones glued to her body.
READ MORE: Mum 'tried to sacrifice son' before killing her sweet children aged just two and nine
"Sooo I'm cutting a guy's hair.. And I'm shaking because now there's cops and detectives," she wrote. "Told them I havnt [sic] swept up the hair incase they need it and they 100 said they did. yall im shaking. [sic]"
McGann took the lives of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who were found dead on a walking trail at Devil's Den after what police have described as a "completely random" attack.
Their daughters, who are seven and nine, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. A third daughter was not on the trail on the day of the attack.
Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar said they are still trying to determine a motive for the stabbing attack. He confirmed that during an interview with police, McGann had admitted to killing the couple.
DNA matching McGann's was also found at the scene of the crime, Hager said, while a search of his residence allegedly turned up items "consistent with being involved in this particular crime".
The Brink family had only recently moved from South Dakota to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, according to the Associated Press, with Clinton scheduled to start a new job as a milk delivery driver two days after his death.
Officials said Clinton was stabbed first. Brave Cristen ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death. It is not known if the girls witnessed their parents being killed.
In a statement released through police, the family of the victims said: "Clinton and Cristen died heroes, protecting their little girls and they deserve justice. They will forever live on in all of our hearts."
McGann, meanwhile, had been due to begin teaching in Springdale Public Schools this week but had not yet come into contact with any of its families or students.
Dr. Jared Cleveland, the superintendent of Springdale Public Schools, said in a statement that McGann had not yet begun his employment and that 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," he said.
McGann also had teaching certifications in Oklahoma and Texas.
