On Friday, authorities arrested a 28-year-old man. He is linked to the murders of a married couple discovered at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. James Andrew McGann is a resident of Springdale. He is now charged with two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. On Saturday, officials located the couple on a nature trail. The scenic trail winds through a huge nature-filled oasis, a 2,500-acre park located approximately 140 miles northwest of Little Rock.
That brutal incident has reverberated from coast to coast and left the local community in shock. Just days before their deaths, the Brinks had relocated from South Dakota to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, where Clinton was set to begin a new job as a milk delivery driver. Cristen, a formerly licensed nurse in Montana and South Dakota, had not even started practicing full-time in the field.
The Brink family called the couple heroes for dying while shielding their daughters. While the families of the deceased mourned their loved ones killed in such a violent manner, they too spoke about the remarkable courage shown during this tragedy.
James Andrew McGann was just recently accepted into a teacher candidate position with Springdale Public Schools. He’s looking forward to starting this next school year on the right foot! At that point, he hadn’t met with any families or students in the district. Investigators are still working to understand the circumstances of his 2017 arrest and the extent of his connection to the murders. In the meantime, his first court appearance and where he is being held are unclear.
Vincent said since the discovery of the victims, the trails at Devil’s Den State Park have been closed. These trails serve as a gateway to the spectacular Ozark National Forest. Acadia National Park Acadia is known for its stunning and peaceful vistas. Given this beauty, it’s all the more shocking to locals that the incident occurred.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement regarding the crash and offered her sympathies to the Brink family. She noted that law enforcement remains 100 percent dedicated to solving justice for violent crimes.
“No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our state.” – Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Col. Mike Hagar applauded the law enforcement community for their diligence and dedication. He said that their work allowed them to “remove a monster from the streets and bring comfort to grieving families and citizens.”
“If you commit a violent, senseless act here in our state, our law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice, because that’s what the people of Arkansas frankly deserve.” – Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Col. Mike Hagar also praised law enforcement efforts, stating that their hard work allowed them to “take a monster off the streets” and provide relief to grieving families and citizens.