Man arrested in Arkansas double homicide was former BAPS employee

By John Dobberstein, Editor

The man arrested for killing two people at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas last weekend formerly taught at Broken Arrow Public Schools.

BAPS spokesperson Tara Thompson confirmed the suspect, Andrew James McGann, 28, was a student teacher for BAPS in 2021-22 and possibly a substitute teacher in Sand Springs. In 2022-23 he was a teacher in Denton, Texas, in the Lewsville Intermediate School District.

The following school year he was a teacher at Spring Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow, and in 2024-25 he taught in the Sand Springs Public Schools. He had reportedly lined up a job to teach in Arkansas this coming school year.

“As with all employees hired by the district, he was subjected to and passed the legally required background checks prior to being hired,” Thompson said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family affected by this unimaginable act of violence.”

In a statement, the Sand Springs school district confirmed McGann was employed there from the summer of 2024 to May 2025, then resigned his position to move out of state.

“The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Every employee undergoes a mandatory background check for the district when they are hired. Additionally, each teacher undergoes a background check for the Oklahoma State Department of Education,” the district said. “McGann passed all background checks.

“While SSPS has not yet been contacted by authorities regarding this matter, the district has and will always comply with requests from law enforcement in any investigation. Our hearts are with the family and loved ones who have suffered this tragic loss.”

McGann also spent a brief time teaching at an elementary school in north Texas before resigning. The Lewisville ISD told the Sentinel Thursday that a message went out this morning to the families of current and former students notifying about the arrest of the former teacher and expressing condolences for the family of the victims. 

District spokesperson Samantha Fitzpatrick said McGann was a teacher at Donald Elementary School during the 2022-23 school year, but in the spring of 2023 the district told families of students in his class that he was, “placed on administrative leave while the district investigated complaints of poor classroom management and poor professional judgment related to concerns about uneven treatment of students and displays of favoritism.”

Fitzpatrick said the investigation did not find any evidence of inappropriate behavior with a student but McGann’s, “classroom management and professional judgment to be below our district’s expectations. Ultimately, Mr. McGann resigned from LISD in May of 2023.”

Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police arrested McGann in connection with the murders of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. They were fatally attacked July 26 while hiking with their two daughters. The girls, who are 7 and 9, were not injured and with family members.

McGann was taken into custody Wednesday at a business in Springdale and charged with 2 counts of capital murder. State Police have not released details about why the couple was targeted.

ASP Col. Mike Hagar said he was “extremely grateful” for the work of ASP agents and other state and local law enforcement agents to finding the suspect. “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,” Hagar said.