The teacher accused of executing a husband and wife in front of their two young daughters at an Arkansas state park carried out the murders ‘randomly’, authorities said.
James Andrew McGann, 28, has no link to murdered Clinton Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen, 41, who were killed on a ‘remote and rural’ trail at Devil’s Den State Park.
Their bodies were were discovered at around 2.40pm on Saturday. The couple’s two daughters – ages seven and nine – were hiking with them at the time, but came away uninjured. The girls are now safe with family members.
McGann was seen glowering at the camera and wearing an anti-suicide smock in the unsettling image released by police as they released fresh information on the case.
On Wednesday, the elementary school teacher, of Springdale, was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder.
With little information available about a possible motive, fears are mounting that the attack may have been a Bryan Kohberger-style killing, a random act of violence with no apparent connection between the suspect and his victims.
Kohberger pleaded guilty last month to the apparently random murders of four University of Idaho students.
‘We’re not going to talk about his motive right now,’ Major Stacie Rhoads, Arkansas State Police CID Commander told KATV Channel 7 News of McGann Wednesday.
A chilling new mugshot was released of James Andrew McGann (pictured), the 28-year-old elementary school teacher accused of brutally executing a husband and wife in front of their two young daughters during a random attack at an Arkansas state park
Cristen Brink (left), 41, and Clinton Brink (right), 43, were found dead at around 2.40pm on Saturday on a ‘remote and rural’ trail at Devil’s Den State Park
Law enforcement also believe the couple, who had recently relocated to Prairie Grove from Montana, died trying to protect their girls.
‘They are such sweet people, and they are so genuine,’ Danikka Harrell, a friend of the victims, told KHOG News.
‘I’m really struggling to understand why or how this could happen to such sweet people,’ she added.
McGann was arrested without incident by detectives just before 5pm on Wednesday while getting a haircut at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop on Huntsville Avenue in Springdale.
In posts shared by an employee of the shop, investigators were seen photographing cut hair scattered on the floor, surrounded by bright yellow evidence markers, according to 40/29 News.
Another clip showed a black four-door sedan, taped off as evidence, being loaded onto a tow truck, matching the description of a vehicle seen leaving the park with a covered license plate shortly after the murders.
The couple’s two daughters – ages seven and nine – were hiking with them at the time, but came away uninjured. Pictured: The scene of the crime
Investigators revealed that McGann had no connection to the couple he’s accused of brutally stabbing to death. They previously released this image of a person of interest in the case
McGann (pictured) was arrested without incident by detectives just before 5pm on Wednesday while getting a haircut at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop
McGann was subsequently booked into the Washington County Detention Center, where online records list him as six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds.
State police have since confirmed that McGann had recently relocated from Oklahoma to Arkansas after being hired by Springdale Public Schools for a teaching position in the upcoming school year.
With summer still in session, the school district confirmed to 40/29 News that he had not yet come into contact with any students or their families. McGann was scheduled to teach at Bayyari Elementary School.
Before relocating to Arkansas, McGann taught fifth grade at Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma during the 2023–2024 school year.
McGann left the district voluntarily mid way through the year for undisclosed reasons.
‘As with all employees hired by the district, he was subjected to and passed the required background checks prior to being hired,’ Broken Arrow Public Schools officials said in a news release provided to Fox23.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family affected by this unimaginable act of violence,’ it added.
McGann also had links to a school in Texas, Fox reports.
A composite sketch released by Arkansas State Police prior to Gunn’s arrest
The couple’s two young daughters are being cared for by family members.
If convicted on either of the two capital murder charges, McGann faces the possibility of a death sentence.
The Washington County prosecutor confirmed to 40/29 News that decisions regarding his potential sentence will be determined later as the case moves through the judicial system.
McGann is now scheduled to appear in court on August 1.
The Lewisville Independent School District and the Flower Mound Police Department did not immediately respond to Daily Mail for comment.
