Andrew James McGann, a 28-year-old former teacher accused of murdering a couple at Arkansas’ Devil’s Den State Park, had passed background checks in multiple school districts across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas without triggering any red flags, according to recent reports. McGann is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who were found dead on a hiking trail in the park on July 26. The case has sparked renewed scrutiny over the adequacy of educator screening processes.
McGann held teaching positions in four school districts across three states in recent years. In 2022–2023, he worked as a fourth-grade teacher at Donald Elementary in Flower Mound, Texas, part of Lewisville ISD. He was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 for concerns related to classroom management and professional judgment, but district officials confirmed there was no evidence of inappropriate behavior. McGann resigned in May 2023 and later taught in Oklahoma before moving to Arkansas.
Despite the allegations, both Oklahoma and Arkansas school districts confirmed that McGann had passed all legally required background checks and faced no disciplinary actions. One parent noted that he was