Accused Arkansas Hiker Killer Pleads Not Guilty

A man accused of stabbing a married couple in Arkansas while they were hiking with their young daughters has entered a plea of not guilty to capital murder charges.

Andrew James McGann, 28, was charged with two counts of capital murder after the July 26 attack that resulted in the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. The incident occurred near Devil’s Den State Park, where McGann allegedly murdered the couple and later abandoned their bodies in a remote area off the trail.

The family reports indicate that the victims died while protecting their children, aged 9 and 7. The children remained unharmed and were taken into the care of relatives. Authorities believe the girls were not the primary targets, but the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

During the attack, Clinton reportedly lagged behind to fight off the attacker, while Cristen hurried the children to safety. She later returned and was killed defending her husband, according to family accounts. The suspect fled the scene, and police only disclosed a sketch and descriptions after a six-hour delay.

The bodies were found in a remote part of the park, far from the hiking trail. Soon after the murders, law enforcement launched a statewide search, releasing a sketch of the suspect based on the children’s descriptions. A few days later, McGann was arrested while getting a haircut, with officials noting it was an attempt to update his look rather than an effort to hide.

Further investigations revealed troubling behavior from McGann, including allegations of inappropriate conduct with students, such as tickling and giving gifts to female pupils. He had previously resigned from an elementary school in Texas following an internal review that found his classroom management skills lacking.

The next court appearance for McGann is scheduled for November 14. He remains in custody without bond, facing serious charges connected to a violent crime that shocked the local community.