Crime
Moment Former Teacher Andrew James McGann Arrested Mid-Haircut at Lupita’s Body Salon in Springdale
LOWELL, Ark. — Arkansas State Police have arrested 28-year-old James Andrew McGann in connection with the brutal double homicide of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who were attacked while hiking with their two young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park on July 26, 2025.
McGann, a former elementary school teacher, was taken into custody at 4:57 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, while receiving a haircut at Lupita’s Body Salon in Springdale.
Surveillance footage captured the moment officers entered the salon and arrested him. According to police, McGann confessed to the killings following his arrest.
He is now charged with two counts of Capital Murder and is being held at the Washington County Detention Center.
His first court appearance is scheduled for August 1.
Authorities say the attack began when Clinton Brink was assaulted on the trail. Cristen Brink reportedly rushed their two daughters, ages 7 and 9, to the family’s car for safety before returning to assist her husband.
She was then fatally stabbed.
The children were unharmed and are now in the care of relatives.
During a press briefing, Arkansas State Police confirmed McGann’s DNA matched evidence collected at the scene.
Investigators said witness descriptions—particularly from the Brink daughters—as well as tips from the public, including reports regarding McGann’s vehicle, played a significant role in identifying the suspect.
The woman cutting McGann’s hair at the time of the arrest, Adriana Ruiz Avalos, later posted her account on social media, stating:
“I was in the middle of cutting his hair when detectives came in. I was shaking… I asked if this was about the Devil’s Den incident, and it looks like it was. They even collected the chair he was sitting on.”
McGann, originally from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, had recently moved to Arkansas.
He previously taught 4th grade at Donald Elementary in Lewisville, Texas, where multiple complaints were reportedly made about inappropriate behavior toward young female students.
According to social media reports, McGann was allowed to quietly resign from the Texas school district without disciplinary action and soon after secured a new teaching job at Bayyari Elementary School in Springdale under the name “Drew McGann.”
Just weeks before the murders, Bayyari Elementary introduced McGann on its social media page:
“Hello! My name is Drew McGann. I am thrilled to be part of the Bayyari team this year as a 3rd grade teacher!”
That post has since drawn scrutiny as details emerge about his previous employment history and the absence of formal disciplinary records that may have prevented background red flags from surfacing.
McGann’s prior employment also included substitute teaching roles in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, and student teaching in Broken Arrow Public Schools.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Oklahoma State University.
The investigation into the motivations and circumstances surrounding the murders is ongoing.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the parents may have been killed while trying to protect their daughters from a targeted threat.
The Brinks are survived by their three daughters.
The community continues to mourn their loss, while calls grow louder for greater accountability in vetting educators across state lines.
Crime
Noemi Hernandez, Mother of Four Murdered By Her Husband Hector Luvianos Two Days Before Christmas
BATAVIA, Ill. — A devastating domestic homicide has left a family and community in mourning just days before Christmas.
Noemi Hernandez, a devoted mother of four, was fatally attacked in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 23, in what prosecutors allege was a violent act committed by her husband.
The incident occurred at an apartment building in the 100 block of Church Street in Batavia.
According to court records and police reports, at approximately 4:37 a.m., Batavia police were dispatched after a man contacted emergency dispatchers and stated that he had killed his wife.
Responding officers located the man outside the apartment building and took him into custody without incident.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Hernandez suffering from severe, life-threatening injuries.
First responders immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as Hector B. Luvianos, 37, who was transported to the Batavia Police Department for questioning.
With assistance from the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, investigators determined the incident was domestic-related and involved only the two individuals. Police emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
On Dec. 24, 2025, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser and Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers announced that Luvianos has been formally charged with first-degree murder, a Class M felony under Illinois law.
He appeared in court the same day for a pretrial detention hearing, after which a judge ordered him held in the Kane County Jail while the case proceeds.
The Kane County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an autopsy is scheduled to determine the official cause and manner of Hernandez’s death.
In the wake of the tragedy, Hernandez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and related expenses.
In the fundraiser, the family described Noemi as “the heart of her family,” noting that she worked tirelessly, loved deeply, and always placed her children first. Her sudden death, they wrote, has left the family emotionally devastated and financially unprepared.
As an immigrant family with limited resources and no life insurance, they now face the burden of funeral and cremation costs, legal fees, and other unexpected expenses, all while supporting four children grieving the loss of their mother.
The family is asking for community support to allow them to lay Noemi to rest with dignity and focus on healing rather than financial hardship.
The investigation remains ongoing.