Suspect arrested in killing of couple hiking with daughters in Arkansas
A suspect has been arrested in the killing of a couple who were attacked on an Arkansas hiking trail Saturday, state police said Wednesday.
James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, was arrested at 4:57 p.m. Wednesday at a business in Springdale and is charged with two counts of capital murder, Arkansas State Police said in a statement.
He is accused of killing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who were attacked Saturday afternoon in front of their daughters while hiking at Devil’s Den State Park, police have said.
The arrest comes after a dayslong manhunt.
Col. Mike Hagar, the director of the Arkansas State Police, thanked state police for working long hours in the search for a suspect, as well as federal agencies for their assistance.
“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.
The couple’s daughters are 7 and 9 years old. They were not injured in the attack and are safe with family members, officials said.
Katrina Hutchins, Clinton Brink’s sister, said they moved to the state about three weeks ago.
State police were notified of the killings at Devil’s Den shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday. Officials released a sketch of a suspect and asked the public for help. They said witnesses saw a black, four-door sedan with tape partially covering its license plate.
“Clinton and Cristen died heroes, protecting their little girls and they deserve justice. They will forever live on in all of our hearts,” the family said in an earlier statement.
Authorities on Wednesday did not mention a suspected motive or how the killings occurred.
It was not immediately clear if McGann had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. A phone number for any relatives could not be found in online public records Wednesday night.
Devil’s Den State Park is around 26 miles south of Springdale, a city of around 84,000 in the northwestern part of the state.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that northwest Arkansas has been “a community that has been absolutely heartbroken.”
“Our entire state is grieving for the tragic loss and senseless and horrific crime that’s taken place,” she said. She asked Arkansans to pray for the victims’ family.
