By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Death penalty possible after ‘random’ hiking murders left children without mom and dad: former prosecutor
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Death penalty possible after ‘random’ hiking murders left children without mom and dad: former prosecutor
News

Death penalty possible after ‘random’ hiking murders left children without mom and dad: former prosecutor

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: August 11, 2025 10:05 am
Jimmie Dempsey Published August 11, 2025
Share
SHARE

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The 28-year-old schoolteacher in Arkansas accused of killing a married couple on a hiking trip with their kids July 26 may face the death penalty should his case go to trial, according to a former local prosecutor.

Andrew James McGann is accused of killing Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, and Clinton David Brink, 43, while the couple took a hiking trip with their two children at Devil’s Den State Park in Washington County, Arkansas.

During a news conference, prosecuting attorney Brandon Carter said he plans to present a death penalty punishment to the future jury as a punishment for the murder charges McGann is facing. 

“This case certainly has the aggravators that exist where a jury should get to decide what the punishment for this defendant is,” Carter said. “And it is my intention to pose that to the jury.”

FAMILY VACATION HOT SPOT ON EDGE AFTER PARENTS RANDOMLY MURDERED IN FRONT OF THEIR KIDS

McGann was charged with two counts of capital murder after allegedly killing the Brinks.

Shane Wilkinson, a criminal defense attorney and former chief deputy prosecutor of Benton County, Arkansas, told Fox News Digital the specifics of the Brinks’ deaths will not bode well in McGann’s fight against the death penalty.

“I just think it’s going to be generally aggravating to people that there’s a mom and dad that have been killed, and there’s two kids that don’t have a mom and dad anymore,” Wilkinson said. “I mean … that’s going be one of the things that people are going to, you know … I mean it’s gonna be hard not to be sad for those kids, right?”

The fact authorities claim this was a “completely random event” by McGann, Wilkinson says, will “scare people.”

Authorities said the Brinks’ children, 7 and 9, are safe and in the care of family members but added they are emotionally distressed. 

ACCUSED DEVIL’S DEN KILLER PASSED BACKGROUND CHECKS AND ENTERED CLASSROOMS FULL OF KIDS, EXPERT SAYS

Devils Den State Park signage near Devil's Den trail

trail head to the Devil's Den trail

Wilkinson said there could be several “mitigating factors” that could help McGann avoid death row, including the fact he’s young and has no known criminal history.

“In this case, it doesn’t look like he has any significant criminal history so far that we know of, right? He is relatively young. I’m sure his attorneys are going to be looking very closely, what if he has any emotional or mental disturbances of some kind,” Wilkinson said. 

“If he has a mental disease or defect, that’ll make a big difference.”

While there’s no clear motive for McGann to kill the Brinks, as authorities allege, Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said McGann confessed.

Andrew McGann's arrest

“During an interview with investigators, the suspect admitted to committing the murders. We also executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered items consistent with the crime,” Hagar said. 

McGann was arrested at a Springdale, Arkansas, barbershop July 30 while he was in the middle of getting a haircut.

Fox News obtained video showing McGann being arrested in Lupita’s Beauty Salon & Barber Shop.

McGann’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 25.

Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Micah Parsons raises eyebrows with reaction to Cowboys’ 1st-round draft pick

Trump says public entitlements like Social Security, Medicaid won’t be touched in GOP budget bill

Red state now offers preferred parking for pregnant women

Menendez brothers resentencing: Los Angeles DA asks for delay before high-stakes hearing

Despite being hailed as resistance hero, Harvard ‘frantically tried’ to work with Trump

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Trump ‘giving serious thought’ to revoking Rosie O’Donnell’s US citizenship
News

Trump ‘giving serious thought’ to revoking Rosie O’Donnell’s US citizenship

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey September 4, 2025
20 years later: Survivors recall the storm that changed the gulf coast
Trump asks Supreme Court for urgent ruling on tariff powers as ‘stakes could not be higher’
Pro-life group urges Senate to press RFK Jr. on abortion pill safety, demand safeguards return
Clinton and Kennedy heirs weigh in on running for Nadler’s New York seat
Fox News Channel finishes summer 2025 trouncing ABC, NBC, CBS in primetime
Remembering the Shenandoah, the Navy’s first rigid airship
Tactical

Remembering the Shenandoah, the Navy’s first rigid airship

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey September 4, 2025
Ostap Hel Navo Jumps from We Line to Civivi
Guns and Gear

Ostap Hel Navo Jumps from We Line to Civivi

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey September 3, 2025
Former NFL player Micheal Barrow arrested after chaotic family altercation at Florida airport
News

Former NFL player Micheal Barrow arrested after chaotic family altercation at Florida airport

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey September 3, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?