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The man was accused of Devil’s Nest State Park In Arkansas, background checks were passed in different school districts across the country.
Andrew James McGann, 28, is charged with two counts Capital murder case About the killings of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail in the Devil’s Lair on July 26.
In recent years, he has held teaching positions in four school districts in three states (Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas).
Teacher accused of hiking murder in Arkansas rebounds between four districts in 3 states
Andrew James McGann booked at the Washington County Detention Center Wednesday, July 30 at 7:08 pm. (Washington County Detention Center)
Clinton and Cristen Fringe were murdered Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Devil’s Dan State Park. (GoFundMe)
In the 2022-2023 school year, he was a fourth-grade teacher at Donald Elementary School Flower Hills in Texaspart of Louisville ISD. He took administrative leave in spring 2023 due to concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment and preference.
District officials confirmed on Fox News numbers that their internal investigation found no evidence of misconduct, McGann resigned in May 2023.
During the 2023-2024 school year, McGarn taught fifth grade at Spring Creek Elementary School in Oklahoma Broken Arrow Public School, then moved to San Springs Public School in Oklahoma from summer 2024 to May 2025.
James Andrew McGann, 28, was arrested at a barber shop on Wednesday, July 30. (Washington County Detention Center)
Previously, both districts confirmed to Fox News digital numbers that McGan passed all legally required background checks, no disciplinary action, and was left by himself. One parent’s son, who was in McGarne’s fifth-grade classroom, told the Associated Press that they remembered the young teachers “retained” and “unfriendly.”
“He really won’t look at me, he won’t talk to me. He just talks to the kids, he will walk away,” Kyle Swanson told The Outlet. “I don’t know, it’s a weird interaction.”
McGann next heads to Springdale Public Schools in Arkansas. The school confirmed that they offered McGarn teaching positions for the upcoming school year, although he has not started working or has “not yet been in contact with students at the time of arrest.”
“Our entire team expresses its deepest condolences to the fringe families,” Jared Cleveland, the district principal, said in a statement to Fox News.
McGann graduated from Oklahoma State University-Tulsa in spring 2022 with a bachelor of science degree in basic education, and he has an active teaching license in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. The Associated Press reported that there is no violation or suspension of any state’s public state license.
Video shows Arkansas hiking murder suspect arrested midterm
Arkansas State Police released a photo and sketch of a man being questioned during the death of a couple while hiking. (Arkansas State Police)
Former FBI agent Bill Daly told Fox News Numbers Between school districts In multiple states, no red flags are presented reflect serious flaws that educators’ background checks are usually conducted.
“Not all background checks are equal,” Daly said. “It may be based on the country and region, and they may not be able to spend that much money on background checks, whether due to legal perspectives or cost constraints.”
He warns that relying solely on extensive database searches often miss important red flags and cannot provide full picture background checks. Daly pointed to the concept of “leakage”, which could suggest problematic behavior and said the signals are often overlooked in school recruitment.
“Things that start to add up over a period of time about someone’s behavior and behavior.”
He also pointed out that it is unusual for teachers to rebound so frequently.
“It’s interesting from a survey perspective, and the fact that he often moves around to different states that may or may not be able to share information more smoothly,” he said.
Arkansas Hiking Murder: Timetable Reveals Teacher Suspect’s Route from Classroom to Court
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Before the school year begins, Daly encourages parents to ask about their school district’s recruitment process and standards Used for background checks.
“I think parents are certainly well suited to ask these questions, and many other questions, what happens in school and school safety,” he said.
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As for school administrators, Daly considered the allegations against McGann, encouraging school leaders to carefully study their recruitment behavior.
“In order for administrators to look at their background checking process more clearly, they need to ask more sober questions, especially given the situation.”
Fox News’ Ashley Papa, Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
