Teacher Accused Of Killing Parents On Hike Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Charges

The coach accused of fatally stabbing an Arkansas mates while they were hiking pinch 2 of their daughters pleaded not blameworthy to 2 superior execution charges connected Thursday.

Andrew James McGann, a 28-year-old simple schoolhouse teacher, was arrested past month, accused of stabbing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, to decease and charged pinch 2 counts of superior murder.

McGann hardly said and showed small emotion during nan arraignment, which lasted astir 30 minutes, according to NBC connection KNWA-TV

Authorities said that McGann made statements to investigators "indicating that he had committed these heinous acts" and that his DNA was recovered astatine nan crime scene.

In a little statement, nan Washington County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said that "the authorities continues to prosecute nan decease penalty" successful McGann’s case.

McGann's lawyers from nan region nationalist defender's agency declined to comment.

Andrew James McGann appears successful beforehand of District Judge Terra Stephenson for his enslaved proceeding connected Aug. 1 successful Fayetteville, Ark. Michael Woods / AP

The Brinks were hiking successful Devil’s Den State Park, which lies successful nan northwest area of Arkansas, pinch their young children, who are 7 and 9 years old, authorities say.

Investigators judge that Clinton was attacked first, while Cristen brought nan kids to safety. Authorities said she past "returned to thief her husband" earlier being attacked herself. The kids were not injured successful nan attack, and officials said past period that they do not judge they were targets.

A motive for nan alleged onslaught remains unknown.

Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar said past period that officials "have nary logic to judge that location was immoderate known relation betwixt our fishy and our victims."

Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar said past period that officials "have nary logic to judge that location was immoderate known relation betwixt our fishy and our victims."

McGann evaded authorities for respective days aft nan Brinks were recovered dead. He was arrested successful a Springdale, Arkansas, barbershop while getting his hairsbreadth cut, astir 30 miles from Devil's Den.

Officials said McGann precocious moved to Arkansas for a caller occupation astatine an simple schoolhouse aft school successful various schools passim Oklahoma. He was precocious hired to thatch wrong Springdale Public Schools successful Arkansas, but had not started nan caller role, according to a territory administrator.

McGann passed inheritance checks for his employment successful Oklahoma's Education Department and for nan 2 districts he taught astatine wrong nan state.

Some parents of McGann's erstwhile students said they raised concerns that he was not decently school their children. Others said they worried he was "grooming" female students.

"In early May, precocious April, different parents commencement telling maine that he was having typical lunches during nan luncheon break, wherever each nan kids would spell to nan cafeteria, but past he would inquire immoderate of nan typical girls to enactment successful his schoolroom and person luncheon pinch him, which was weird," genitor Lindsay Camp Polyak previously told NBC News. "Other moms alleged that he had encouraged immoderate girls to beryllium successful his lap."

Polyak added that her boy told her that McGann would springiness candy and different prizes to female students, and that he "loves to play tag. He plays tag astatine recess each time pinch nan girls."

The Lewisville Independent School District successful Texas, 1 of nan districts wherever McGann taught and wherever Polyak's boy is simply a student, said successful a connection to nan schoolhouse organization that an soul investigation "did not find immoderate grounds of inappropriate behaviour pinch a student."