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

[Justice101]

What about insanity defense?
For insanity a defense attorney would have to show he does not know the difference between right and wrong.
The is evidence that he does
Conceal identity with clothing
His fleeing the scene of the crime
Asking for a haircut that covers his face

It is possible he is nuts, but I don’t think he would qualify for Criminally Insane.

IMO

Yes agree, and he also allegedly covered his license plate.

 

[Inthedetails]

So on the previous thread here on WS I speculated as crazy as it would be that maybe the image LE released of McGann was in fact in terms of timeline of events actually from *after* the murders had taken place. I thought this was perhaps the case because of the empty duffle and previous witnesses saying his totes were filled with items. Not dying on that hill by any means, however its interesting to note this lack of care or awareness even that he could be caught mere days after his offenses. The only things he actually did in terms of evading capture that I can tell is obscuring his license plate and leaving the park in a rush (but I don't know the actual timeline on that either.)

His lax demeanor once apprehended and lack of attempts to conceal his vehicle beyond leaving the park, covering his plate and then even going to get his hairs cut could be consistent with the behavior of someone who might not necessarily prioritize leaving the scene immediately after his heinous act. Still just a thought and not saying its for sure or anything.

Hey, it's possible!

One witness mentioned seeing blood on his face. We know now, his face was beat up after the crime. In the photo, he is perhaps standing like that to hide his face (rather than surveying the distance before the crime).

We don't know, but could be!

jmopinion

 

[Knox]

Police: McGann admitted to killing the couple, DNA match found at the scene

Andrew James McGann admitted to police that he killed Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, on a hiking trail at Devil's Den, Col. Mike Hagar with the Arkansas State Police said Thursday.

www.4029tv.com

The girls found their way to another hiker, who got the girls off the trail, then hiked to find the girls' parents. When the hiker found the two bodies, they hiked back off the trail to get cell service and called the police.

One witness told police they had seen a person come off the trail with what looked like blood on his face.

We’ve seen accounts from people who saw him at various times that day. What’s odd, no one heard anything?

 

[SMK777]

Now that law enforcement has made clear that this was a random attack and that the children were not targets, it leads to the conclusion that an argument between the father and the suspect must have escalated.

The fact that the mom took her children to safety and then told them to run as fast and far as they could, makes me realize that she, too, could have run with them and completely escaped the attack. She was only killed because she went back to help her husband. Tragic all around, as the children would still have their mom had she continued to run with them.

I wish we knew how the initial encounter began.

 

[femto]

Now that law enforcement has made clear that this was a random attack and that the children were not targets, it leads to the conclusion that an argument between the father and the suspect must have escalated.

I don't think so given his attire and obscuring his car plate. Everything suggests he went there to kill or at the very least do something bad and he prepared to do so. The question is whether this was done on random or a targeted attack.

 

[Inthedetails]

First court appearance will be broadcast:

 

[Inthedetails]

Now that law enforcement has made clear that this was a random attack and that the children were not targets, it leads to the conclusion that an argument between the father and the suspect must have escalated.

The fact that the mom took her children to safety and then told them to run as fast and far as they could, makes me realize that she, too, could have run with them and completely escaped the attack. She was only killed because she went back to help her husband. Tragic all around, as the children would still have their mom had she continued to run with them.

I wish we knew how the initial encounter began.

In addition to being a concerned wife, she was also a nurse. I wonder if she returned with the intention of rendering aid to her husband, not to enter the fight.

IDK.

jmopinion

 

[CuriousCricket]

From the cut hair they would be able to get only mtDNA though. Not the unique profile that comes from nuclear DNA.

Actually, that is no longer true, as seen in the Rex Heuermann trial for the Gilgo Beach murders. The judge will rule in early September whether nuclear DNA evidence taken from hair found with the remains can be used. This is a new technique and only one lab in the country is apparently providing this type service. So far, it is completely new in the US's court systems, if I recall the testimony correctly from the New York case.

 

[Motherofvoids16]

As a Oklahoma substitute teacher, I can tell you that an extensive background check was done on me!!! I'm honestly wondering if having credentials to be a teacher means no background check is thought to be necessary!

I am a teacher, too. Full background check (level II), drug testing and fingerprinting are required before you can start. It is unimaginable to me that any district would forego these things. LE and Admin said he passed background.

 

[Jade]

Maybe it’s all those nosy talky parents that got him worked up.

So he decides he is going to grab a girl for his own before the school year starts since it was made clear his socializing with the girl students was creepy to everyone else.

The hovering harassing parent types his pleasure to deal with foremost.

Does he have on foundation makeup [1st mugshot] for the salon visit to hide the facial injuries?

He must have had his hair slicked down to have his cap so snug.

Smooshed hair, stiff from being dirty and makeup at the salon?

Maybe he was showered upon arrival at the penal facility in case he had lice and to remove the makeup then it bounced back in the humidity on its own for mugshot 2?

All imo

 

[Motherofvoids16]

Does that mean July 15 was his hire date? That is when the paperwork would have been submitted for the background check?

I’m asking because a midsummer hire is kinda late.
That would give me stress to be taking a job with less than one month before school starts.


IMO

It is quite early, actually. It is common - especially among newer teachers - to get hired at the last minute, usually at less desirable schools or schools that are harder to fill for whatever reason. Most of his experience was subbing - he was a fairly new classroom teacher. Full background, fingerprinting and drug testing are required for my district.

 

[Motherofvoids16]

I’m thinking he may have been hyped up on something? He worked himself up to carry out a diabolical plan and it went wrong and he lost it?

Of course I’m thinking the who was random, but the goal was premeditated and that goal was not murder. Jmo

Many professions require drug testing, teaching is not one of those professions.
We do know they have plenty of hair to run tests, and likely took cheek swabs, and blood.
This info probably won’t come out until trial.

I’ve worked with people who suffered an intense trauma, spouse killed in a car accident, and their affect became flat- they looked right through you. Reactions were abnormal if at all, and slowed down to a processing crawl.
His state and affect the hair dresser describes and the arrest video seems like this, which is completely opposite of what I would imagine during the murders.

I’m confuzzled for sure- I suppose a person who is bipolar could swing like that
Someone will have to chime in and enlighten us
IMO

All districts in my state require drug testing prior to hire.

 

[Motherofvoids16]

Now that law enforcement has made clear that this was a random attack and that the children were not targets, it leads to the conclusion that an argument between the father and the suspect must have escalated.

The fact that the mom took her children to safety and then told them to run as fast and far as they could, makes me realize that she, too, could have run with them and completely escaped the attack. She was only killed because she went back to help her husband. Tragic all around, as the children would still have their mom had she continued to run with them.

I wish we knew how the initial encounter began.

This has been my line of thinking from day one.

 

[Inthedetails]

All districts in my state require drug testing prior to hire.

Drug use after the hire wouldn't be detected, ykwim?

Some drugs make a person feel like a super power, which might have been happening on the trail. And, some drugs fill the body with rage.

I'm not saying the guy was on drugs, but not ruling it out.

jmopinion

Eta: if he was on drugs, it will show up in his hair.

 

[Motherofvoids16]

As a Oklahoma substitute teacher, I can tell you that an extensive background check was done on me!!! I'm honestly wondering if having credentials to be a teacher means no background check is thought to be necessary!

They said he passed BG check.

 

[jackal67]

Thank you for posting this footage! To me, he looks like a kid, a young teen.

Yes thats what I thought

 

[Motherofvoids16]

Drug use after the hire wouldn't be detected, ykwim?

Some drugs make a person feel like a super power, which might have been happening on the trail. And, some drugs fill the body with rage.

I'm not saying the guy was on drugs, but not ruling it out.

jmopinion

Eta: if he was on drugs, it will show up in his hair.

Actually, I wonder if he went off drugs - perhaps he was on anti-psychotics and stopped taking them. I do not know if those types of prescription drugs would preclude someone from being hired. I would think so, but I am not certain. I don't even know if they test for those drugs in the panel. There are different drug testing panels, from very basic to very comprehensive.

 

[AngTxGal]

All districts in my state require drug testing prior to hire.

There is no state level requirement for drug testing in Texas, and it looks like that is the same in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Decisions to test are up to the school district, or employers in general.

Drug Testing Laws in Employment- 50 state survey- Justia Law

It looks like some states have to have a reason to require drug testing.
From what I’m reading the drug testing requirements are related workman’s comp claims after an accident, maybe due to opioid misuse? Others are related to evolving laws regarding cannabis.

Interesting, if he was asked to be tested by the district those results may be pending if his hire date was July 15.

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

It is quite early, actually. It is common - especially among newer teachers - to get hired at the last minute, usually at less desirable schools or schools that are harder to fill for whatever reason. Most of his experience was subbing - he was a fairly new classroom teacher. Full background, fingerprinting and drug testing are required for my district.

Interesting, so if he was hired July 15 all of these checks and testing results would have to be returned before school starts. So they have a month- and if there is a problem they have to renig on a contract and find someone else.
I taught public school for a few years, but that was decades ago and things have changed. I don’t remember being hired that late, I do remember intent to stay letters showed up in Feb/March, then renewal contract offers went out.

IMO

 

[SMK777]

In addition to being a concerned wife, she was also a nurse. I wonder if she returned with the intention of rendering aid to her husband, not to enter the fight.

IDK.

jmopinion

Good point.