The madman accused of slaughtering two parents defending their young daughters in Arkansas’ Devil’s Den State Park is a teacher with a record of moving from school-to-school after allegations of inappropriate behavior.
James Andrew McGann, 28, was due to start teaching Springdale Public Schools (SPS) in a week – just days after he allegedly ambushed Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, on a hiking trail last Saturday and stabbed them to death while their girls fled to safety.
SPS superintendent Jared Cleveland confirmed McGann had been hired to teach, but said he “has not at any time come into contact with Springdale students or the families we serve,” according to 5 News.
But it wouldn’t be the first time the alleged killer had been around kids – McGann also has teaching certificates for early childhood education through middle school in Oklahoma and Texas, the outlet reported.
And McGann previously taught at the Donald Elementary School near Dallas, Texas – where resigned from in 2023 after allegations of alarming behavior toward young girls in class.
“The district investigated complaints of poor classroom management and poor professional judgment related to concerns about uneven treatment of students and displays of favoritism,” read the email, shared with The Post by Donald Elementary’s Lewisville Independent School District.
“Our investigation did not find any evidence of inappropriate behavior with a student, however we did find his classroom management and professional judgment to be below our district’s expectations,” it continued.
McGann was hired the next school year to teach fifth grade at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma – which told The Post that a thorough background check turned up nothing to indicate he shouldn’t be hired.
“As with all district employees, McGann underwent and passed all legally required national background checks,” the school district said in a statement, adding that no alarms were raised during his interview and that there was never reason to discipline him during his tenure.
He left Spring Creek Elementary at the end of the 2023-24 school year for employment elsewhere.
Despite those allegations, investigators said Thursday that there was “no indication to suggest” that the Brinks’ daughters were the target of his alleged attack.
Police said the attack appeared to be completely random, and that McGann had no connection with the Brinks at all.
The family was ambushed while they hiked through the remote park, with Cristen rushing the girls to safety while Clinton stayed back to fend off their attacker.
Once the girls were safe Cristen ran back to help her husband – but both ended up dead and left on the trail with stab wounds.
The girl’s descriptions of their attacker led police to McGann on Wednesday, and he was arrested while getting his haircut at a Springdale barbershop.
He allegedly confessed to the crimes, but is expected to plead guilty.
Prosecutors said McGann — whose DNA matched blood left at the murder scene — could face the death penalty if convicted.