Chicago, IL – A 28-year-old man who once walked the halls of a prestigious Oak Park high school is now at the center of a horrifying double murder case. Andrew James McGann, a former teacher from Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood, has been charged with the stabbing deaths of a married couple at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas — a crime that left two young daughters traumatized and a community in disbelief.
Horrific Attack on Family Hike
Authorities say the victims, Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were hiking with their daughters, ages 7 and 9, on July 26 when the unthinkable occurred. The family was approximately half a mile into the park trail when Clinton Brink was stabbed.
Cristen Brink reportedly moved her daughters to safety, then returned to help her husband, where she too was fatally stabbed, according to Arkansas State Police.
“It appears to be a completely random attack,” police noted during a press briefing. The daughters were unharmed and are now in the custody of family members. A third daughter was not present during the hike.
Suspect Arrested After Confession
McGann, who had no previous criminal record, was arrested at a barbershop in Springdale, Arkansas — around 30 miles north of the park. Police say he admitted to the killings, though a motive has not been publicly disclosed.
He now faces capital murder charges, and Washington County prosecutors have confirmed that the death penalty is on the table if convicted.
Chicago Roots and Fenwick High Background
McGann’s connection to Chicago runs deep. He grew up in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood and even visited his childhood home in recent years. Anthony Morales, the home’s current owner, told WGN that McGann returned just two years ago to show the house to his girlfriend.
McGann is also a 2015 graduate of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, a respected private institution. Scott Hardesty, a spokesperson for the school, confirmed McGann’s graduation to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Troubled Teaching Career Before the Arrest
Though McGann was working as a teacher, warning signs had reportedly emerged. In spring 2023, he was placed on administrative leave at an elementary school in Flower Mound, Texas, over concerns about his classroom management.
Despite that, he later passed background checks in two Oklahoma school districts, and was expected to begin a new position in northwest Arkansas on August 11, just weeks after the murders.
Community in Shock as Investigation Continues
The Brinks’ deaths have sent shockwaves through both Arkansas and Illinois, as the public grapples with the randomness and brutality of the act. Support services have been arranged for the surviving children, and a GoFundMe campaign has reportedly been launched by friends and relatives.
McGann remains in custody, and court proceedings are expected to begin in the coming weeks.
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