Arkansas murder suspect is a former North Texas school teacher, per reports
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Suspect accused of killing couple at Devil’s Den State Park is a former North Texas school teacher, per reports
James McGann, 28, was arrested Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, Arkansas. McGann was charged with two counts of capital murder. Police had been searching for McGann since July 26, when they say he fatally attacked Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink,. 41, while they were hiking in Devil’s Den State Park with their two daughters. The children weren’t hurt and are safe with family members, according to police.
ARKANSAS, USA — The 28-year-old man charged with killing a couple while they were hiking at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas with their two daughters formerly taught school in North Texas, sources told the Associated Press.
James McGann, 28, was arrested Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, Arkansas, about 30 miles from the state park, after a five-day search, police say. McGann was charged with two counts of capital murder.
Police had been searching for McGann since July 26, when they say he fatally attacked Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, while they were hiking in Devil’s Den State Park with their two daughters, aged 7 and 9. The children weren’t hurt and are safe with family members, according to police.
“I’m extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our Agents put forward in bringing justice to this family. The collaboration between State Police, other state and local law enforcement agencies, and our federal partners has been second to none. Because of their hard work and investigative skill, we were able to take a monster off the streets, and bring relief to those two precious girls, and the rest of our citizens,” Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said in a statement.
“Let there be no mistake – we do not tolerate violent crime in Arkansas. If you target innocent people, law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.
The Associated Press reports McGann had been hired as a teacher candidate at Springdale Public Schools for the upcoming school year, but that the district said McGann had not yet come into contact with any of the district’s families or students.
Most recently, prior to that, the Associated Press reports McGann had taught at Sand Springs Public Schools in a suburb of Tulsa in Oklahoma until May before he resigned to take a job out of state.
Before that, Sierra Marcum told the Associated Press that McGann was a fourth-grade teacher in Flower Mound in North Texas, and taught her son three years ago. She told the AP that McGann was the “most standoff teacher she had ever met.”