A SUSPECT has been arrested in connection with the killing of a couple hiking on a trail in Arkansas on Saturday. 

The man worked as a teacher in a public school before he was charged on Wednesday, according to police. 

Who is James Andrew?

James Andrew McGann is a Springdale resident. 

He is 28 years old and was arrested at 4:57pm on Wednesday at a business in Springdale after being charged with two counts of capital murder, according to the Arkansas State Police.

According to police, he was arrested at a barber shop after a manhunt.

McGann had recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma after taking a job at a local school, Sand Springs Public Schools.

He had been recruited as a teacher for the upcoming school year, but he had not officially started working at the school.

His former school is believed to be Springs Public School in Oklahoma, where he taught from summer 2024 to 2025. 

He had also worked as a teacher for Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma during the 2023-2024 school year. 

McGann was a 5th-grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary.

It has been reported that McGann had passed a mandatory background check for his employment at Sand Springs Public Schools as well as for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

What is James Andrew accused of?

McGann is accused of killing Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink.

Clinton was 43 years old and Cristen was 41 years old when they were killed in front of their daughters on Saturday afternoon. 

The couple were attacked while hiking at Devil’s Den State Park with their seven and nine-year-old daughters present. 

The daughters were not injured and are safe with family members, officials have reported.

According to Katrina Hutchins, Clinton Brink’s sister, the family had moved to the state about three weeks ago.

State police were notified about the killings at Devil’s Den shortly before 3pm Saturday.

Devil’s Den State Park is around 26 miles south of Springdale, a city of around 84,000 in the northwestern part of the state.

What have the locals said?

State police Director Mike Hagar thanked state police for working long hours in the search for a suspect, as well as federal agencies for their assistance.

Hagar said: “Because of their hard work and investigative skill, we were able to take a monster off the streets and bring relief to those two precious girls and the rest of our citizens.” 

The authorities are still deciding what the suspected motive was for the murders.

The victims’ family have also issued a statement. 

The family said: “Clinton and Cristen died heroes, protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice. They will forever live on in all of our hearts.”

Sand Springs Public Schools said: “Our hearts are with the family and loved ones who have suffered this tragic loss.”