Clinton David Brink, 43 & Cristen Amanda Brink, 41 found on trail - Devil's Den State Park, AR- 26 July, 2025 #2 *Arrest*

[Possum_AR]

Yes, there is a news source (linked upthread) that shows his Arkansas license started October 2024. So, at the beginning of last school year, he was making plans to move to Arkansas for this school year.

Not sure what to make of that, but I admit my thoughts are not kind ones. Did he make sure he had the next job lined up, which gave him some free reign in the current job to mess up?

It does make me think he was particularly vicious in Devil's Den because if he got caught, then he'd lose his job. He had to prevent that, so killed rather than just run away. (Which, of course, was a stupid decision, but he made a series of stupid decisions).

jmopinion

If you look at the database his licenses were in green (or blue, I'm going off memory). But there was a note that all licenses in there color are reciprocity licenses. Arkansas and Oklahoma have some reciprocity for teacher licensure, meaning teachers certified in one state may be able to obtain a license in the other without having to repeat all requirements. So the Oct 2024 date was probably when he got his Oklahoma license. JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

If the creep’s goal was to abduct a little girl, what do you think would have ultimately happened to her after the abduction?

Welcome to WS. Sorry for the reason you're here, but we all found our way here somehow.

If past cases provide guidance, and I think they do, the overwhelming number of children abducted do not survive long.

Very grateful that did not happen here, though obviously we lost a couple of protective parents in the process.

jmopinon

 

[Inthedetails]

If you look at the database his licenses were in green (or blue, I'm going off memory). But there was a note that all licenses in there color are reciprocity licenses. Arkansas and Oklahoma have some reciprocity for teacher licensure, meaning teachers certified in one state may be able to obtain a license in the other without having to repeat all requirements. So the Oct 2024 date was probably when he got his Oklahoma license. JMO

Aha! Excellent to have people who know stuff on the thread.

Thanks.

jmo

 

[ADP2019]

If you look at the database his licenses were in green (or blue, I'm going off memory). But there was a note that all licenses in there color are reciprocity licenses. Arkansas and Oklahoma have some reciprocity for teacher licensure, meaning teachers certified in one state may be able to obtain a license in the other without having to repeat all requirements. So the Oct 2024 date was probably when he got his Oklahoma license. JMO

His was a reciprocity license. There was a $75 reciprocity fee noted on it.

 

[amandab]

What a terrifying mug shot

 

[Vaderman]

If past cases provide guidance, and I think they do, the overwhelming number of children abducted do not survive long.

That he came prepared to kill, I'm wondering if he planned on just taking on of the girls further into the woods away from the trail.

 

[Inthedetails]

That he came prepared to kill, I'm wondering if he planned on just taking on of the girls further into the woods away from the trail.

Very good point! I hadn't thought that "everything" could've happened in the park.


jmopinion

 

[cattlekate]

The comments on the FB news site KNWA & Fox24 announcing his arrest make me furious. Coming from other families he taught in his past states — as other people have posted here already. Interested to see what the rest of this investigation reveals. I just listened to that podcast yesterday and realized I’ve never heard witnesses speak publicly like this in the past — probably because LE would have told/advised them not to due to an investigation? And the top line being down was the motivation for witnesses to speak up elsewhere? I did find it unusual. Incredibly glad this perp was caught and justice can be served.

I do not have FB anymore. This website doesn’t allow the FB comments to be posted, I guess. I wish I could see them.

But I did listen to the amazing witness on the you tube channel which the LEOs scolded. The witness couldn’t get through to a human so he reached out? His description was so spot on.

 

[AngTxGal]

BBM

"Oklahoma State Department of Education records said McGann had a standard elementary education certificate for grades first through eighth that went into effect May 2022 and expires June 2027.

Arkansas State Board Education documents reflect that McGann has a standard teaching certificate for early childhood education, elementary, middle school math, middle school English, middle school social studies, middle school science, and English as a second language. The license went into effect October 2024 and is valid until December 2028.

McGann also was a certified educator in Texas, with an expiration date set for August 2028."

Springdale superintendent says district had hired Devil's Den murder suspect for 2025-26

Springdale Public Schools confirmed McGann had been hired for the upcoming school year.

www.5newsonline.com

It sounds like he graduated EC6, certified to teach elementary through 6th grade.
Then he took either a National Teacher’s Exam, or took certification tests in OK, TX, and ARK.

Why? Most teachers don’t do that. To me he was able to move from place to place, and get lost in the red tape. Teaching at one place one year, another school in another state the next, then move to another state and another school.
That is a plan to not get caught

What made him act at a park? Did he become more brazen and thought he would just take a child?
I expect his computer is going to be full of offensive materials.

Lock him up and throw away the key!

IMO

 

[SMK777]

I have to say, the last thing I expected was a young guy who taught elementary grades in public schools, and had pedophilic interests.

I imagined someone closer to 40 who was living under the radar with money and drug issues who was getting psychotic and was in the mood to pick a random fight and escalate it.

I wonder what his lawyers will dream up as a defense? Or will he simply plead guilty of all charges?

 

[justtrish]

If police thought this was spur of moment confrontation that escalated, the charges would be manslaughter not capital murder, right ?

Perhaps something they learned before his arrest is what tipped the scale to capital murder. I think he already was out of place because there is no way he was going for a run with those big pants, long sleeve shirt, and that ridiculous bag on his back. He wasn't out there to recreate dressed like that so he had to be out there for some other reason If that some other reason was taking photos of kids, or to get this thrills while watching kids, or something like that, then he was already out there committing a crime when the murders occurred. In many states that already makes it capital murder.

I can't wait to read the arrest affidavit. I hope it provides a little bit of something we don't already know.

 

[Justice101]

Just dawned on me:

I wonder if he was getting his head shaved (to hide the only photo of him which is his hair from the back side) reason he was in the barber shop???

 

[AngTxGal]

He often uses the word "family" in his introductory posts on some of the schools' web/fb pages, looks like he badly wanted to belong but (judging by the number of schools he was teaching at) clearly failed to fit in. Probably (in his minds eye) these "families" rejected him. What's unusual in this case is that (the way I understand it) sexual predators who focus on kids seldom engage in agressive behaviour towards parents or adults in general. Basically, they're usually cowards. While it seems plausible that the father was stabbed during a confrontation where defended his child, it seems weird for this deviant to then proceed and attack the mother, rather than just run away. As someone here already mentioned, steroids (on top of sexual frustration) may have played a role here.

Don’t you think that is pretty standard teacher talk…
Being part of the team, join the family, welcomed into the community, look forward to making new friends.

Not getting the vibes a family is what he was looking for. He moved around a lot- no girlfriend? It seems he was in the market for a little girl.
I think the mom kept him from getting to those girls.

He’s a perv, not sure he needs steroids as an excuse, but he may have been sexually frustrated if he got his jollies with children. It had been since he left his last job in May!

I so wish castration was automatic for such pervs, I fear he has a wake of little girls he has been inappropriate with over his several years teaching.
That is horrific

IMO

 

[Justice101]

I have to say, the last thing I expected was a young guy who taught elementary grades in public schools, and had pedophilic interests.

I imagined someone closer to 40 who was living under the radar with money and drug issues who was getting psychotic and was in the mood to pick a random fight and escalate it.

I wonder what his lawyers will dream up as a defense? Or will he simply plead guilty of all charges?

If they have any DNA from his cuts/blood at the crime scene and the defense learns of it in discovery, he will try to get a plea deal.

 

[Inthedetails]

What a terrifying mug shot

What strikes me about the mug shot (other than his hair and bruises) is he does not look ashamed, humiliated, or scared - all of which would be normal reactions. He doesn't try to look normal or "innocent."

Instead, he looks really mean.

jmopinion

 

[SMK777]

If they have any DNA from his cuts/blood at the crime scene and the defense learns of it in discovery, he will try to get a plea deal.

Yes, excellent point.

 

[Justice101]

I so wish castration was automatic for such pervs, I fear he has a wake of little girls he has been inappropriate with over his several years teaching.
That is horrific

IMO

Don't get me started.. There are so many punishments that have been excluded over time because they were dubbed by higher judges as "inhumane"... that the net result of punishing people by simply keeping in them in prison for life is not effective at all as a deterrent. Even though supposedly there are studies saying the death penalty does not stop crime... fair enough, no death penalty.. but how about HARD LABOR FOR MURDERERS, CASTRATION FOR AGGREGIOUS ACTS ON A CHILD, period of SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, etc.

I think we as a society have dropped the ball allowing law makers, judges and courts to gradually soften penalties way too much for serious crimes. Some "backwards" societies even allow the victim's families to decide on the punishment. Maybe they are not so backwards afterall.

OK, soap box is over and I feel better getting that out.

 

[justtrish]

What strikes me about the mug shot (other than his hair and bruises) is he does not look ashamed, humiliated, or scared - all of which would be normal reactions. He doesn't try to look normal or "innocent."

Instead, he looks really mean.

jmopinion

Looks like he hasn't slept since Saturday, and he appears to have been beat up. I really am surprised he was out in public getting a hair cut and driving the car that was seen leaving the park. He had to have watched the news or seen that they were looking for a black car. I guess he just thought no way they think it's me.

I am curious how long police were on to him. I bet they followed him and waited until he was seated and well into this haircut before they barged in. He was distracted and didn't see them coming. If he had one of those hair cape things over his clothing, then it would also keep his arms secured so he couldn't grab a weapon easily to resist. he was stuck.

 

[Maradentro]

I wonder if the Brink's actually took a picture or video of him on one their phones before or during the attack and police had a clear image of him. If he grabbed their phone before he fled and took it, that could have easily helped to track him even if he ditched it at some point.

 

[Inthedetails]

Looks like he hasn't slept since Saturday, and he appears to have been beat up. I really am surprised he was out in public getting a hair cut and driving the car that was seen leaving the park. He had to have watched the news or seen that they were looking for a black car. I guess he just thought no way they think it's me.

I am curious how long police were on to him. I bet they followed him and waited until he was seated and well into this haircut before they barged in. He was distracted and didn't see them coming. If he had one of those hair cape things over his clothing, then it would also keep his arms secured so he couldn't grab a weapon easily to resist. he was stuck.

The big dummy could've stayed home, ordered a clippers over the internet, and gave himself a buzz cut. He is brazen, that's for sure.

jmopinion