Arkansas State Police director gives first public update since Devil’s Den double homicide arrest

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas State Police director Col. Mike Hagar addressed lawmakers Thursday for the first time since the arrest of Andrew McGann, the man accused in a double homicide of a mother and father at Devil’s Den State Park on July 26.

Speaking before a legislative committee at the Arkansas Capitol, Hagar praised the investigators who worked on the case and the two young girls whose courage helped lead to a swift arrest.

The victims, Clinton and Cristen Brink, were found dead along a hiking trail inside Devil’s Den State Park. Their daughters, ages 7 and 9, witnessed the attack and alerted a nearby hiker, who helped notify authorities. The couple had recently relocated to Arkansas.

The girls’ eyewitness accounts, Hagar said, were vital to identifying the suspect. The crime occurred on a Saturday afternoon; McGann was in custody by midweek.

“Without the courage of those girls, we would not have made an arrest this quickly,” Hagar said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Hagar acknowledged the public’s desire for information as details of the case became public, but said investigators had to protect the integrity of the case.

“We always want to give more but we never want to do anything that’s detrimental to the case or that might prejudice a jury,” he said.

Lawmakers also questioned Hagar about public safety in state parks and how Arkansans can protect themselves. He responded by affirming his department’s support for Second Amendment rights.

“The more good people we have with weapons, the more good that can come,” Hagar said. “We’re as pro-Second Amendment as they come.”

The investigation involved multiple agencies, including federal partners. Hagar said tips from the public poured in days following the murders of the Brinks, and Hagar met with investigators every day during the investigation, stressing the need to put out as much information publicly as they could, while maintaining the integrity of an ongoing investigation.

Although additional details remain sealed due to the pending prosecution, lawmakers commended the state police’s handling of the case.

“Those girls will carry this with them for the rest of their lives,” one senator said. “The way ASP handled this — with professionalism and compassion — made all the difference.”

The court has closed proceedings involving McGann for now, citing the sensitive nature of the case and the age of the surviving witnesses.

McGann faces multiple charges, including capital murder. A trial date has not been set.