Arkansas police arrest man in Devil’s Den park killings after dayslong search, finding him nearby
Little Rock, Ark. – On Wednesday, Arkansas police charged a 28 -year -old man in the murder of a married couple who hiked with their children in Dev’s Den State Park, finding him in a neighboring city after a five -day search and public pleas for the precursors to look at their photos.
State police arrested Andrew James McGann, of Springdale, in a city hairdressing salon, said Colonel Stacie Rhoads, commander of the department’s criminal investigations division. McGann has been accused of two capital murder leaders. The police would not say what was the reason.
McGann had recently moved to the region and worked in a school, according to the authorities, although they said no in what work.
A lawyer could not be located for McGann, and a message was left for a number listed for him. He was detained on WaShington County prison on Wednesday. He was not immediately clear when his first appearance in court was.
“If you commit a violent and insane act here in our state, our police are driving you and will bring you to justice, because this is what the people of Arkansas deserves frankly,” said the Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a press conference on Wednesday evening.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, was found dead Saturday on a walking path in Devil’s Den. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9 years old, were not injured and are treated by family members, the authorities said.
Police had published a composite sketch and a photo of a person of interest they were looking for in the attack. In addition to the drawing, the police published a statement saying that the suspect “probably suffered an injury by attacking the couple.” He did not enter more detail.
State police have published few details, including how the couple was killed. The FBI said that his Little Rock field office helped the investigation. The head of the state police praised cooperation between the police to catch McGann.
“Due to their hard work and their investigation skills, we were able to remove a street monster and relieve these two precious girls and the rest of our citizens,” said Colonel Mike Hagar.
Rhoads said that the public help and the video sequences they received played a decisive role in capturing McGann. Advice came from the state of Washington, she said.
“It was overwhelming,” she said.
Clinton and Cristen Brink had just moved from southern Dakota to the small town of Prairie Grove in the northwest of Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, said Mayor David Faulk.
According to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been authorized as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas.
The Brink family said that the couple died “hero protecting their little daughters”.
“Our whole state is in mourning for tragic loss and insane and horrible crime that occurred in this region,” said Sanders.
Devil’s Den is a state park of 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital.
The park is known for its hiking trails and rocky training, and it is a few minutes by car from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and the headquarters of Bentonville de Walmart. It was selected as a state park site in the 1930s.
The park trails, which lead to the surrounding Ozark national forest, remained closed on Wednesday.
___
This story has been updated to correct the name of the suspect. A previous statement from the state police has spent its name James Andrew McGann. It’s Andrew James McGann.
___
The journalist of Associated Press, Hallie Golden, contributed from Seattle.
