The man accused of killing a husband and wife while they were hiking with their two young daughters last month has pleaded not guilty. His case is expected to turn into a long court trial that could end with the death penalty if he is convicted, according to prosecutors.
Andrew McGann entered a not guilty plea on Thursday to the murders of Clinton and Cristen Brink. The couple had been hiking with their daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas on July 26 when they were killed.
Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter said Thursday that the state will seek the death penalty against McGann. Prosecutors noted in an early report that McGann had confessed to the killings after his arrest on July 30, according to local THV 11.
“The defendant in this case is innocent until proven guilty, but I’m confident we have the right defendant in this case, and the public need not worry going forward,” Carter said, according to the outlet.
PEOPLE earlier reported that McGann, a 28-year-old former teacher, was charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the Brinks’ deaths.
Clinton, 43, and Cristen, 41, were fatally attacked while hiking with their daughters, ages 7 and 9. Thankfully, the children were not harmed.
The Brinks had recently moved to Arkansas only three weeks before the murders, NBC News reported, citing Clinton’s sister Katrina Hutchins. McGann had also recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma, according to Arkansas State Police Major Stacie Rhoads.
“We’re still exploring and determining exactly what that motive [for the killings] was,” Rhoads said.
McGann’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 14. He is being held without bond, according to THV 11.
Prosecutors also warned that the criminal trial could take “multiple years.”
“I anticipate this will be lengthy litigation,” Carter said, according to THV 11. “The state is going to pursue the death penalty in this case. I’ve never been involved in a death penalty case that didn’t last multiple years, so I anticipate lengthy litigation going forward. I would tell the public it will be slower than you think it will be.”
