RELATED VIDEO: Andrew McGann booked into Washington County Detention Center
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Thursday press conference outlines part of the investigation leading to Andrew James McGann’s July 30 arrest, accused of two murders at Devil’s Den State Park.
During a July 31 press conference, Arkansas State Police confirmed that Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, of Prairie Grove, were stabbed to death while hiking with their two daughters in Devil’s Den State Park on July 26.
McGann, 28, reportedly admitted to murdering the Brink couple.
Devil’s Den double homicide suspect booked into Washington County Jail: What we know about his arrest
Col. Mike Hagar with Arkansas State Police (ASP) said that McGann was reportedly injured, and blood loss from those injuries helped create the DNA profile that led to McGann’s arrest.
ASP previously said the Brink daughters, ages 7 and 9, were not the primary targets in the killings. ASP also stated that the attack appeared random.
What court documents say
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 an individual 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.
In the days following the incident, officials identified the suspect’s vehicle as a black Kia Stinger. 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.
“Andrew James McGann committed the offenses of two counts of Capital Murder when he made the plan to attack and kill another,” the report said. “Andrew then waited with deliberate purpose and killed two hikers at Devil’s Den State Park.”
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