Manhunt Ends at Barbershop Near Suspect's Home

The Arrest of a Suspect in a Gruesome Double Murder

The intense search for a man accused of committing a brutal double murder in northwest Arkansas came to an end on Wednesday when the suspect was arrested during a routine haircut. This unexpected turn of events unfolded at Lupita’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop in Springdale, where the suspect was reportedly in the middle of getting his hair cut when law enforcement arrived.

“I was in the middle of cutting his hair when detectives came in and got him,” shared a stylist at the salon in a Facebook post. According to the stylist, the man had entered the shop without speaking and only indicated what hairstyle he wanted. Soon after, plainclothes officers arrived and asked the man if he was the owner of a car outside. He confirmed it, and the officers proceeded with the arrest.

Andrew James McGann, 28, was taken into custody in connection with the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who were found stabbed to death while hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in the Ozark Mountains. The Arkansas State Police initially made an error by transposing McGann’s first and middle names, which was later corrected.

McGann’s DNA matched evidence found at the crime scene, and he admitted to the murders during an interview with investigators. Additionally, items seen in a photo of the suspect were discovered during a search of McGann’s home, along with knives. However, it remains unclear whether the weapon used in the crime was among the collected items.

McGann faces two counts of capital murder. He had recently been hired as a “teacher candidate” by Springdale Public Schools but had not yet started working there. He was booked and processed into the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville.

A Random Crime with No Connection to the Victims

According to officials, McGann acted alone, and there is no indication of any connection between the suspect and the victims. Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar emphasized that the public is safe, stating, “We have absolutely no indication, no reason whatsoever to believe there was any connection at all between our suspect and our victims.”

While the motive for the killings is still under investigation, Hagar described the event as “a completely random occurrence.” McGann had recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma and had obtained a job at a local school. Officials declined to provide specific details about the arrest due to the ongoing prosecution.

Jail records indicate that McGann is being held without bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday morning. As of Thursday afternoon, he did not have an attorney, according to Gregg Parrish, executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission.

The Brinks’ Daughters Are Safe

The Brinks’ daughters, ages 7 and 9, were not harmed and are currently safe with relatives, police confirmed. In response to the killings, law enforcement increased its presence at state parks across Arkansas.

Since the weekend, state police had worked with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to track down the suspect and bring “justice to this family,” Hagar said. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed her condolences, stating, “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.”

A Former Teacher with a Controversial Past

McGann had previously worked as a fifth-grade teacher in Oklahoma before moving to Arkansas. State records show he is currently licensed to teach elementary and middle school grades in at least three states: Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

He was employed at Sand Springs Public Schools from the summer of 2024 to May 2025, and he resigned his position to move out of state. McGann also taught at Donald Elementary in Flower Mound, Texas, in the spring of 2023, where he was placed on administrative leave over allegations of inappropriate behavior. An internal investigation found “no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students,” though it noted that his classroom management and professional judgment were below district expectations.

Sierra Marcum, whose son had McGann as a fourth-grade teacher, recalled that he was “very disinterested, cold, wouldn’t make eye contact.” She was shocked to learn that her former teacher had been charged with double homicide.

A Days-Long Search Ends in a Barbershop

Earlier this week, police released a photo and sketch of a man seen at Devil’s Den State Park and asked the public to help identify him. They also requested information about a medium-build white male who may have driven a Mazda near the park.

Authorities received an overwhelming number of tips, with much of the video footage proving instrumental in identifying the suspect. The search led to the arrest of McGann mid-haircut at a barbershop near his home.

The Tragic Incident at Devil’s Den State Park

The couple was found on the Devil’s Den Trail, where they had been hiking with their children. Their bodies were discovered after a call from the visitor center reported that two children were present and that their parents had been assaulted. One parent was possibly stabbed, and the other was missing.

The incident occurred in a remote area of Devil’s Den State Park, known for its rugged natural scenery and lack of cell phone service. The trail where the couple was found is a 1.5-mile loop that is considered moderately difficult.

During the search, first responders heard shouts for help, though it was unclear from whom. One responder stated, “I think I see you right there. I’ve got two bodies down here.”