Alleged Devil's Den Killer Pleads 'Not Guilty' to Murdering Couple on Hiking Trail as State Seeks Death Penalty By Sean Neumann 12

The man accused of killing a husband and wife while they were hiking with their two young daughters last month has pleaded not guilty, setting up what’s expected to be a lengthy court trial that could lead to his execution if convicted, according to prosecutors.

Andrew McGann pleaded not guilty Thursday morning to killing Clinton and Cristen Brink while they were hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas on July 26.

Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter vowed Thursday that the state will pursue the death penalty against McGann, whom prosecutors wrote in a preliminary report had confessed to the Brinks’ murders after he was arrested on July 30, according to local THV 11.

“The defendant in this case is innocent until he’s proven guilty, but I’m confident that we have the right defendant in this case, and the public need not worry going forward,” Carter said, according to the outlet.

PEOPLE previously reported that McGann, a 28-year-old former teacher, had been charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the Brinks’ killing.

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Clinton, 43, and Cristen, 41, were fatally attacked while hiking with their girls, aged 7 and 9, who were not injured.

The family had just moved to the state about three weeks before the murders, NBC News reported, citing Clinton’s sister Katrina Hutchins. McGann too had recently moved to Arkansas from Oklahoma, the outlet reported, citing 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 date is set for Nov. 14. He is currently being held without bond, according to THV 11. 

Meanwhile, county prosecutors warned that McGann’s 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,” Carter continued. “I’ve never been involved in a death penalty case that didn’t last multiple years, so I anticipate lengthy litigation in this case going forward. I would tell the public it will be slower than you think it will be.”