Devil's Den double homicide suspect makes first court appearance; ordered to be held without bond

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The suspect arrested in connection with the double homicide at Devil's Den State Park made his first court appearance on Friday.

Andrew James McGann, 28, is accused of killing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, of Prairie Grove, who were attacked while hiking with their two daughters. He is facing two counts of capital murder.

McGann made his first appearance at the Washington County Courthouse on August 1.

During his appearance, McGann was appointed a public defender.

Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter requested that McGann have no contact with the victim's family.

McGann has been ordered to be held without bond. His arraignment is set for Aug. 25.

He was arrested on July 30 at Lupita’s Beauty Salon in Springdale and booked into the Washington County Detention Center around 7 p.m.

Arkansas State Police say McGann confessed to the killings and that DNA found at the crime scene matched his. ASP said the attack on the couple was random.

A preliminary report from the Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said dispatch received a 911 call from Devil’s Den State Park on July 26 from someone saying they found two bodies on a trail, and a “large amount” of blood was present.

The hiker found two girls and led them off the trail before attempting to look for their parents. That hiker then found the bodies of the parents on the trail, according to the report.

ASP investigators arrived at the park and interviewed a person at the park who said they saw someone get into a black sedan with blood on his face and drive away onto State Highway 170. A second witness said the black sedan was a Kia Stinger.

On July 28, an autopsy was performed on the two victims’ bodies, and preliminary findings showed both victims died in a homicide by stabbing wounds.

On July 30, police located the suspect’s vehicle at Lupita’s Beauty Salon in Springdale around 4:58 p.m.

Investigators walked into the barber shop and asked about the vehicle in the parking lot. A man who was receiving a haircut, later identified as McGann, said he owned the vehicle.

The report said investigators noted that while speaking with McGann, they saw cuts on his hands. McGann was then detained, and investigators entered his vehicle with his consent to get his ID.

Once investigators got into McGann’s vehicle, they found “a substance appearing to be blood” inside the vehicle.

McGann’s vehicle was then seized and taken to Arkansas State Police Troop L Headquarters in Lowell.

McGann was taken to ASP’s headquarters to be interviewed, and he made statements indicating he had committed two homicides.