“This individual has not started hiring in the district, nor has he ever been in contact with Springdale students or the families we serve at any time,” Springdale Principal Jared Cleveland said.
Arkansas police arrested man for murder in Devilsden State Park
Arkansas State Police say a man has been arrested in connection with the death of a couple on a hiking in Devil’s Den State Park.
Scripps News
The suspect arrested for the murder of an Arkansas couple in Devilsden State Park over the weekend was hired to teach in an Arkansas school district, school officials said.
According to Arkansas State Police, 28-year-old Andrew James McGann was arrested on July 30 in the murder of Clinton David Brink, 43. He was charged with two counts of capital murder.
McGann was hired as a teacher to begin employment at Springdale public schools between 2025 and 2026, Principal Jared Cleveland said in a statement provided to USA Today.
“This individual has not started hiring in the district, nor has he ever had any contact with Springdale students or the families we serve,” Cleveland said. The district did not provide additional information regarding McGann’s employment, citing an ongoing investigation.
“Our entire team extends our deepest pathetic dol to brinkling families. Their children are especially in our thoughts and prayers.”
McGann was approved as an Arkansas early, elementary and middle school educator since October 2024, according to records from the Arkansas Department of Education. His license expires in December 2028.
Prior to his employment at Springdale public schools, McGann was employed at Broken Arrow Public Schools in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Tara Thompson, Chief Communications Officer at Broken Arrow Public Schools, told USA Today that McGann is a fifth grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary School for the 2023-2024 academic year, leaving his own agreement to work in another state.
“Like all employees employed in the district, he was subjected to legally necessary background checks before being hired and passed,” Thompson said. “Our thoughts and prayers are directed at families affected by this unimaginable act of violence.”
According to the Texas Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Education Education Education records, he was an early primary school educator effective from May 2022 to June 2027, and was a Texas primary and secondary school educator from July 2023 to August 2028.
What happened in the murder?
Arkansas State Police said the brink was fatally attacked while hiking in Devilsden State Park with their two daughters, ages 7 and 9. The girls are not injured and are safe with their family.
The brink recently moved from another state to Arkansas.
McGann’s first court apella took place on Friday, August 1st, the Washington County Prosecutor’s office told USA Today.
Contribution: Thano Nguyen, US TOD
Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Story ideas? Please email her gcross@usatoday.com.
