Authorities explain how Andrew James McGan was arrested for the murder, but no motive has been made available prior to the main court date.
Victim of Demon’s Nest Double Murder attempts to save her husband and dies: police
New details of a double homicide at Devilden State Park in Arkansas are emerging, but any motive remains unknown.
Straight Arrow News
The main court date, set on August 14, can provide new insight into the authorities’ lawsuit against a suspect accused of murdering a couple while hiking with children in rural Arkansas Devilsden State Park in July.
Former teacher Andrew James McGann is charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of Clinton and Kristan Binks of Devils Den State Park. Investigators said the couple was attacked in front of their seven- and nine-year-old daughters.
McGann is scheduled to appear in court next on August 14 after the initial scheduled hearing was changed on August 25th. He is in custody in Washington County and is not in custody. Details, including claim documents and additional details, may be presented in his arrest.
Claims shared with USA Today by the Washington County Prosecutor’s office, revealed details regarding the agency’s explanation of the murder, but the alleged motive for the killing remains unknown.
What did the officials say about the incident?
At a July 30 press conference, Arkansas State Police outlined the investigation and said the murder began when the couple’s seven- and nine-year-old daughters witnessed “the most frightening thing you can imagine.”
“That was the basis of everything we had,” added State Police’s main Stacey Road, “we need to be careful to rely solely on that information.”
The caller who reported the murders found two bodies and said “there are large amounts of blood present,” according to a preliminary statement. The children were placed in hikers and took them off the trail before they searched for and found their parents’ bodies, the statement said.
Clinton and Kristan Brink’s July 28 autopsy listed preliminary causes of the death as stabbing murder, accusations documents said.
Investigators interviewed people at the park, one of them told police about a man who came out of the trail with something blood-looking on his face. He saw him leave the park in a dark sedan.
“My mother never came back.”
Rhoads said police believe Cristen took the child safely and returned to the scene of the attack about half a mile away to help her husband.
“The mother didn’t return to the car with her children,” Rhodes said.
State police initially asked the public for help in identifying suspects, and the public responded by providing nearly 500 images and videos, including mobile phones and photos and footage of home and business surveillance, Rhoads added. Witnesses at the park provided additional information, she said. She includes what she called a “pretty good explanation” of the vehicle seen by a person driving from a park that was proven to be “critical” when identifying McGann.
“We used that information to examine the various owners,” explained Rhoads. “So we sought him out and found him at the (barbershop) store in Springdale. We took him into custody.”
McGann had several cuts in his hand, Rhodes said, and investigators allowed him to search for his car, Hemp Stinger. After obtaining the warrant, police also searched McGann’s home, saying that initial DNA evidence from the scene matches the DNA found in his vehicle.
What’s next for Andrew James McGan?
Public Safety Director and ASP Director Colonel Mike Hagar added that state police investigators believe McGann is acting alone and does not expect other arrests.
Investigators say McGann, a former teacher who recently moved from Oklahoma, admitted to the murder.
USA Today contacted Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter and the Washington County Public Defense Office on August 6th.
If McGann is convicted of murder, he could be killed or sentenced to life in prison without parole. Carter says his office will not waive the death penalty.
Contributor: George “Clay” Mitchell, Fort Smith Southwest Times Records. N’Dea Yancey-Bragg, Thao Nguyen, USA Today.
