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

[Cedars]

There was a third girl child in the family there that day. I was under the impression there were only two: a 7 year old and a 9 year old.

Three little girls orphaned by him.

I think you mean 'not there that day'? That's what I heard.

 

[bajaflash]

No Guilty Plea
and
an admission of guilt?

No defense attorney would advise a guilty plea at the arraignment, but it is always ultimately the defendants choice.

If you plead guilty, there is no trial and no negotiating.

 

[RedHaus]

On the off chance someone hasn't posted this yet (I checked but may have missed)

Surveillance video shows Devil's Den murder suspect being booked into jail

Surveillance video released Thursday shows Andrew James McGann being booked into the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

www.4029tv.com

eta- nothing groundbreaking but I cannot help but gawk

Teeny tiny little feet, like the 'back' pic!

 

[Cedars]

Presser ended.

That was an EXCELLENT presser, imo.

(Though I'm super shocked the kids were not his target. That will take awhile to sink in for me.)

I agree - it was very educational, not just about this case but crime solving in general.

Thanks to posters who did summaries.

 

[indicolite22]

From the very start it seemed like a random attack to me. And being a creepy teacher does not necessarily mean the children were the targets as had been assumed. You can be a weirdo who shouldn't be a teacher and also a crazy who randomly commits homicide.

Crime is way messier than most "science" that tries to get applied to it to make it make sense, but alas, human brains will never not seek to make a pattern.

Stuff like this is the stuff of our nightmares. All you do is exist, and come across a monster.

A homicidal maniac and a pedophile in one, that is a combo.

 

[Inthedetails]

Not Guilty Plea
and (at the same time)
an admission of guilt?

Standard procedure. Even the AG at the presser said it's something every defense lawyer would advise a client to do, to plead not-guilty. (The role of the trial is to make the State PROVE its case. It's too early to plead not-guilty, if he ever will.)

jmopinion

 

[SMK777]

Not Guilty Plea
and (at the same time)
an admission of guilt?

In the poster's transcript one of the authorities said that even with the suspect's admissions, no defense attorney is going to let his client enter an initial guilty plea.

 

[Sundog]

Very lucky that they matched his DNA, that he made no attempt to flee or hide his vehicle, and that he went to a public salon. And has admitted to the crime. I guess pleading not guilty is a formality?

Surprised that they say the daughters were not his target...

So did he prepare for, and plan, a random murder?

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

Teeny tiny little feet, like the 'back' pic!

That was always what really struck me in the trail picture. His feet look tiny.

He very obviously isn't a woman. But the more feminine characteristics some of us saw in that picture are definitely present. Small feet, wider hips, narrower shoulders, etc.

He's much more muscular than I expected, yet he also carries himself in a very diminutive manner. That might be due to his physiology, or it might even be a deliberate affectation to make himself appear less threatening.

 

[arielilane]

bbm

Arkansas State Police said shortly after arresting Andrew McGann on July 30 that he will be facing at least two counts of capital murder.

What happens now that Andrew McGann was arrested in connection with the Devil's Den murders

Prosecutors tell 5NEWS McGann could be in court as early as Friday morning.

www.5newsonline.com

Prosecutors told 5NEWS that McGann, who will be housed at the Washington County Detention Center, will appear in court on Friday morning, after which a probable cause affidavit will be released.

 

[ADP2019]

Very lucky that they matched his DNA, that he made no attempt to flee or hide his vehicle, and that he went to a public salon. And has admitted to the crime. I guess pleading not guilty is a formality?

Surprised that they say the daughters were not his target...

They said they have no indication the daughters were his target and that they are still exploring the motive for the crime. They also said they didn't watch the recording of the admission of guilt.

 

[Little Jack]

What we know about his intentions that day-
He wanted to obscure his license plate
He brought a weapon

If he was attempting to flash people, interact with kids, photograph kids or what have you... he still had the weapon. He came prepared to cause physical harm to someone.

For what reason I do not know- to subdue a child and get their cooperation? To "defend" himself if an adult intervened?

 

[vls12345]

Standard procedure. Even the AG at the presser said it's something every defense lawyer would advise a client to do, to plead not-guilty. (The role of the trial is to make the State PROVE its case. It's too early to plead not-guilty, if he ever will.)

jmopinion

Yep.

I watched the presser. The prosecuting attorney said he wasn't aware if the defendant had retained a private lawyer yet or if he would utilize someone from the public defender's office. Regardless, he doesn't know any defense lawyer who would let their client plead guilty at an initial hearing (even if the defendant has already admitted to the murders to LE).

MOO.

 

[ADP2019]

I think you mean 'not there that day'? That's what I heard.

The eldest daughter was not on the trail with he rest of the family on Saturday.

 

[AngTxGal]

Thank you @AngTxGirl for this effort.

It is a great help to be able to read the transcript and not miss something said.

Quite welcome, glad I can still do that!

IMO

 

[Cedars]

Yep.

I watched the presser. The prosecuting attorney said he wasn't aware if the defendant had retained a private lawyer yet or if he would utilize someone from the public defender's office. Regardless, he doesn't know any defense lawyer who would let their client plead guilty at an initial hearing (even if the defendant has already admitted to the murders to LE).

MOO.

I'm glad he shared that insight. There's been a lot of cases where people get upset about that, think everything is the personal decisions of a defendent. But their lawyers are making a lot of these decisions because the lawyers know how the system works.

JMO

 

[Sundog]

They said they have no indication the daughters were not his target and that they are still exploring the motive for the crime. They also said they didn't watch the recording of the admission of guilt.

I heard them say that "there is no indication at this time that the girls were his target.

The Major was asked if the defendant made a confession. She replied that it was "an admission," she clearly didn't want to use the term "confession."

 

[AngTxGal]

From the very start it seemed like a random attack to me. And being a creepy teacher does not necessarily mean the children were the targets as had been assumed. You can be a weirdo who shouldn't be a teacher and also a crazy who randomly commits homicide.

Crime is way messier than most "science" that tries to get applied to it to make it make sense, but alas, human brains will never not seek to make a pattern.

Stuff like this is the stuff of our nightmares. All you do is exist, and come across a monster.

I don’t think that the press conference not mentioning that the little girls could have been targetted for nefarious reasons actually concludes the possibility.

For me it wasn’t an assumption so much as a pattern of behavior and escalation that I’m pretty sure will come out in time.
I can see reasons they would not share any abduction thoughts in the first press conference, prior to a full investigation.
Especially since those little girls may be trying to give a full testimony of the events to authorities.

I’ll wait to find out a better motive for an attack, details of the events, and another logical reason for that huge duffle bag before I change my mind.

IMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Wild idea, I know, but maybe the defendant doesn't mind going to prison. I wondered previously if he moved around frequently in an attempt to stop himself from committing crimes, to distract urges by uprooting and moving every school year.

Maybe admitting to the murders is another way to calm his demons and remove himself from society, where he cannot live decently. Perhaps he's conceding he can't handle responsibilities and gives up, forcing the state to take control his life.

I know he plans to plead not-guilty. I am well aware.

Sometimes I wonder if crimes committed by young men in particular are a slow form of suicide. They aren't finding their way in the world, so they retreat and let prison be their excuse for not succeeding.

Just a thought. Not saying it's accurate. Pondering only.

jmopinion

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

Apologies if this has already been posted and I overlooked it. It's the security camera footage of his arrest at the hairdresser, posted by 5News: