Latest news with #hikingtrail
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher accused of murdering couple hiking in Arkansas park had shown ‘odd' behavior around schoolkids, parent says
A teacher suspected of murdering a couple in front of their children on an Arkansas hiking trail had previously exhibited 'odd' behavior around his former students, parents say. Police believe Andrew James McGann, 28, fatally stabbed Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 42, while hiking with their 7- and 9-year-old daughters in Arkansas' Devil's Den State Park on July 26. The children are now being looked after by family members. A man seen leaving a trail with blood on his face entered a black Kia Stinger, sparking a four-day manhunt. Police said they eventually found the car in Springdale, where McGann was getting a haircut. The barber, Adriana Ruiz Avalos, told NBC News that she immediately had a bad feeling about him due to his tired and timid behavior. A true crime fan, she even saved his hair clippings as DNA evidence. Five minutes into the haircut, a law enforcement officer entered the shop, asking questions about the car parked outside, leading him straight to McGann. He has been charged with capital murder after his DNA matched evidence at the scene, and authorities said he admitted to the crimes. Ruiz Avalos isn't the first person to report McGann acting strangely. Two years ago in Texas, McGann – who reportedly worked at four schools in four years – allegedly exhibited 'odd' and 'grooming' behavior around young girls in his Donald Elementary School classroom. Lindsay Camp Polyak said she and other parents grew concerned that he wasn't effectively teaching their children, resulting in them falling behind. 'My kid would come home and say, 'Mr. McGann loves to play tag. He plays tag at recess every day with the girls,'' Polyak told NBC News, adding that her son claimed McGann gave out candy and special prizes only to the girls. Parents in a fourth-grade group chat shared concerns that McGann held 'special lunches' with select girls in his classroom, with some alleging he encouraged them to sit on his lap, Polyak said. Megan Perkins, another parent of a student at Donald Elementary, told the outlet that McGann was 'odd,' noting what she described as his overly competitive behavior with kids during field day events. She said other parents often discussed his unusual conduct, though not everyone found it concerning, as some chalked it up to insecurity, as he was new to the community. McGann was placed on administrative leave by Lewisville ISD in spring 2023 over concerns about classroom management and favoritism, though an internal investigation found no inappropriate conduct, NBC News reports. He resigned in May 2023 and moved to Oklahoma, teaching fifth grade at Spring Creek Elementary, where some parents described him as quiet but well-liked by students, despite being awkward around adults. An anonymous woman who spoke with the outlet said her son admired McGann so much that he began wearing Polo shirts like his teacher. McGann showed interest in wrestling, hiking, and the outdoors, and even started a running club for students, she said. However, she did notice that McGann was often 'awkward around parents' and avoided eye contact during conferences, once allegedly joking he taught elementary kids because he was "afraid of adults." McGann later taught at Northwoods Fine Arts Academy in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, for the 2024–25 school year, resigning again after one year. Though he had no disciplinary record or red flags in background checks, the Texas Education Agency flagged his teaching certificate following his arrest. McGann had recently relocated to Arkansas for a new teaching job in the Springdale Public Schools system. Two weeks before the start of the school year, he was arrested for the murders. McGann has been charged with capital murder after his DNA matched evidence at the scene. Authorities said he made statements admitting to the crimes. Investigators have a search warrant for his home and car, which they hope will lead to more information about his motive for his alleged crimes. He remains in the Washington County Detention Center without bond.
CTV News
30-07-2025
- CTV News
What to know about the fatal attack of a married couple at Devil's Den park in Arkansas
This undated image provided by the Arkansas State Police on July 29, 2025 shows a man whom investigators are asking the public to help identify in connection with a double homicide at Devil's Den State Park. (Arkansas State Police via AP) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Authorities have released a photo and a composite sketch of a person they are trying to question as they investigate the fatal attack of a married couple in front of their children at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. The search for the man who killed the hikers at a state park in northwest Arkansas entered its fifth day, while many details about the attack remain unclear. Here are some things to know: Couple found dead on a walking trail Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devil's Den. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. Police have released a composite sketch and photo of a person of interest they are searching for in the attack. Along with the drawing, state police released a statement saying the suspect 'likely sustained an injury while attacking the couple.' It did not go into further detail. The State Police has said it has received numerous calls. But the agency has released few details, including how the couple was killed and whether it believes the killer is still in the area. The FBI has said its Little Rock field office is assisting in the investigation. Police released composite sketch of person of interest Police have not identified the killer or given a possible motive for the attack. But they have provided a description, the composite sketch and the photo of a person of interest. The photo was provided by a witness who was at Devil's Den State Park Saturday, police said. The photo was taken from behind and does not show the person of interest's face. Officials described him as a white male wearing a long-sleeved shirt with sleeves rolled up, dark pants, a dark ball cap and sunglasses. He was carrying a black backpack and wore fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape. The car, possibly a Mazda, may have been traveling on nearby State Highway 170 or State Highway 220. Victims had moved from South Dakota Clinton and Cristen Brink had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. The Brink family said the couple died 'heroes protecting their little girls.' Park known for hiking trails Devil's Den is a 2,500-acre state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometres) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. Devil's Den is known for its hiking trails and rock formations, and it is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart's Bentonville headquarters. It was selected as a state park site in the 1930s. The park's trails, which lead to the surrounding Ozark National Forest, remained closed Wednesday. Authorities have asked the public to report tips and urged trail-goers who were at Devil's Den on Saturday to look through their photos and videos for possible images of the suspect. Police have also asked local residents to review any security or game camera footage for unusual activity or images matching the vehicle. Andrew Demillo, The Associated Press
