Hold My Sweet Tea
Where True Crime collides with chilling ghost stories and Southern folklore. Join us, sip sweet tea, and uncover shocking tales of murder, mystery, and the supernatural, all with a healthy dose of Southern charm and a touch of sass!
Hold My Sweet Tea
Ep. 53-Devil's Den: Andrew James McGann
A sunny family hike transforms into an unimaginable nightmare when Andrew McGann, a teacher with a troubling past, randomly attacks Clinton and Cristen Brink at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. As we peel back the layers of this shocking July 2024 crime, we uncover the heroic final acts of a mother who saved her daughters before returning to help her husband—a decision that tragically cost her life.
What drives someone to murder complete strangers? We trace McGann's suspicious pattern of short teaching stints across multiple states, allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female students, and the red flags that somehow didn't prevent him from continuing to work with children. Former students and parents reveal disturbing details, including McGann allegedly telling a young girl that "if she were older, he would marry her."
The Brinks had only recently moved to Arkansas from South Dakota, their water connected just two weeks before the murders. Their daughters, ages 7 and 9, now face life without parents because of a seemingly random encounter on a hiking trail. We explore how McGann's attempt to evade capture—including taping over his license plate—ultimately failed when he was arrested mid-haircut at a local salon.
This case raises profound questions about violence in public spaces, inadequate systems for tracking concerning behavior among educators, and whether this represents McGann's first violent crime or simply the first time he was caught. As prosecutors seek the death penalty, we wonder what other secrets might emerge from his past.
Share this episode with true crime enthusiasts who appreciate thoughtful analysis of current cases, and email us at steeped@holdmysweettea.com with your thoughts and case suggestions. We're already planning special Halloween content and would love your input on what spooky stories to cover next!
Source Material:
DeMillo, Andrew and the Assciated Press, July 30, 2025, Arkansas teacher charged with killing couple who were hiking in Devil's Den, https://www.wlbt.com/2025/07/31/police-arrest-man-killings-married-couple-hiking-state-park/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6i6DN65E4LJg4w5aaZ2aGqOdbE9X7Fmv8ux_VXX2LwlgnQMyHVIy3NqPDHiw_aem_cSPkOCsbP-aBqz_VmZ14Gw#knx5w0ypahdx1l2al7cv68a054fx5bp5
Myers, Doug, August 3, 2025, Teacher accused in Arkansas double homicide resigned fro Plano ISD after only 4 days in 2024, officials say, https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/texas/news/teacher-accused-arkansas-double-homicide-plano-isd-resignation-2024/
Longmire, Becca, July 31, 2025, Man charged over murders of husband and wife while hiking with their daughters in Arkansas, https://people.com/man-charged-murder-husband-wife-cristen-clinton-brink-killed-hiking-daughters-arkansas-11782373
Boss, Sayan, august 2, 2025, Twisted killer Devil's Den 'killer' Andrew James McGann would 'tickle pupils' and even told girl 'I wish you could be my girlfriend;https://www.the-sun.com/news/14896393/andrew-james-mcgann-tickle-pupils/