An Arkansas couple killed over the weekend while hiking with their two young children had been stabbed in what appeared to be a “completely random” attack, state police said July 31.

Investigators believe Clinton David Brink, 43, was attacked first at Devil’s Den State Park in northwestern Arkansas on July 26, according to state police. His wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, took their two daughters — who are 7 and 9 years old — to safety.

She then “returned to help her husband,” Major Stacie Rhoads, with the Arkansas State Police, said at a news conference. The girls were not injured and are safe with family members, state police previously said.

Andrew James McGann, 28, was arrested on July 30 at a Springdale, Arkansas, barber shop following a dayslong manhunt. He was charged with two counts of capital murder.

The suspect is set to appear in court on Aug. 1. The initial court appearance, where McGann will enter his plea in the murder charges, may not answer the swirling questions about the case. A motive remains under investigation.

“As far as the motive is concerned, it’s part of the investigation,” Col. Mike Hagar, director of the Arksansas State Police, said. “I can tell you that we have no reason to believe that there was any known association between our suspect and our victims. There’s nothing to indicate that at all. It appears to be a completely random event.”

Here’s what we know — and what we still don’t — about the suspect and what occurred when he allegedly crossed paths with the Brink family in Devil’s Den.

Who is Andrew James McGann?

Andrew James McGann was identified by Arkansas State Police as a resident of Springdale, Arkansas, a city of about 84,000 people about 30 miles north of Devil’s Den State Park.

McGann previously lived in Texas and Oklahoma, according to Rhoads. He had recently moved to Springdale and had taken employment as a teacher.

USA TODAY reported that McGann was expected to begin teaching at Springdale Public Schools during the 2025-2026 school year. The school district did not provide additional information about his employment, citing ongoing investigation.

“This individual has not begun employment with the district nor has he at any time come into contact with Springdale students or the families we serve,” Superintendent Jared Cleveland said in a statement. “Our entire team extends our deepest condolences to the Brink family.”

Before moving to Arkansas, McGann was employed by Broken Arrow Public Schools in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Broken Arrow Public Schools spokesperson Tara Thompson told USA TODAY that McGann was a fifth grade teacher at Spring Creek Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year and left on his own accord to work in a different state.

What charges is McGann facing?

McGann is charged with two counts of capital murder. In Arkansas, those convicted of capital murder can be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole.

McGann was taken into custody at 4:57 p.m. local on July 30 at a barber shop in Springdale, state police said. Hagar noted that investigators were able to find the suspect after asking for the public’s assistance and releasing a composite sketch earlier this week.

“It allowed our investigators a starting point and to move forward,” Hagar said. “We had about 500 tips that came in through our phone lines, social media.”

State police confirmed that McGann’s DNA was a positive match with DNA found at the scene.

During an interview with investigators, state police said the suspect had made statements “indicating that he had committed these heinous acts.” Investigators have executed a search warrant at the suspect’s residence, and found articles “consistent with being involved in this particular crime,” according to Hagar.

Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter said his office will not waive the death penalty. The charges against McGann are allegations and he has not been convicted of any crime.

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Who were Clinton and Cristen Blink?

Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were the parents of three girls, according to state police. Two of their daughters were with them at Devil’s Den State Park while their third daughter was not with the family that day, according to Hagar.

“They absolutely protected those girls to their fullest extent, to the point that they cost them their lives. We’re in awe of this mom and dad,” Hagar said. “We’re also in awe of these girls. The information that they were able to provide to start us down this path, to be able to make this arrest. It all started with those two little girls.”

The Associated Press reported that the couple had recently moved from South Dakota to Arkansas, where Clinton Brink was about to begin a job as a milk delivery driver. They’d also lived for a time in Montana, where they played on a recreational volleyball team, according to the AP.

Danikka Harrell, a nurse who knew the couple, told the AP that when she had a hard time finding childcare, the couple let her daughter stay with them and that Cristen Brink would bring the girl home with a plate of food. She described them as “selfless and unconditional with their love and support for their friends.”

What happened on the trail at Devil’s Den State Park?

Arkansas State Police said the Brink family was hiking together when the mother and daughter were “fatally attacked” while with their 7- and 9-year-old daughters.

State police were notified of the incident at about 2:40 p.m. local time on July 26. Authorities discovered the two young girls, who told police that “something had happened to their parents on the trail,” according to Rhoads.

The daughters were not harmed, state police said. The couple’s bodies were found by police on the trail. The suspect’s weapon was identified as a knife, and the victims had died from stab wounds, according to Hagar.

Hagar added that the suspect was injured in the incident, which resulted in a blood loss at the scene. The blood “allowed us to establish a DNA profile to begin with,” he said.

The two girls provided a description of the suspect and another witness at the park was able to give a description of the suspect’s vehicle. From the initial description, Rhoads said investigators received multiple photos and videos from the public that helped track down the vehicle and create the suspect’s composite sketch.

“We received dozens and dozens of tips with the initial vehicle information that we received — it being a black sedan,” Rhoads said. “That vehicle information … became critical in identifying our suspect.”

Authorities located McGann’s vehicle at a local barber shop and took him into custody. Rhoads said investigators do not believe the suspect was going to flee the area.

What’s next for McGann?

An arraignment is likely next week but has not been scheduled yet. More information, including charging documents and additional details, will likely be presented at McGann’s arraignment. USA TODAY reached out to Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter on July 31 but did not immediately receive a response.

Contributing: Greta Cross and John Bacon, USA TODAY