Police Reopen 2020 Devil’s Lake Murder After Arkansas Double Murder Suspect Arrest [WATCH]

Authorities in Wisconsin are reopening a 2020 homicide case to determine whether it may be connected to a recent double murder in Arkansas, as reported by the Western Journal.

Andrew James McGann, 28, was arrested last month in connection with the July 26 stabbing deaths of Clinton and Cristen Brink at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas, according to KNWA-TV.

Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police have arrested James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, in connection to a double homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Devil’s Den State Park.https://t.co/wjgOMPF942 pic.twitter.com/89lGYoavm3

— Arkansas State Police (@ARStatePolice) July 31, 2025

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Following his arrest, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office began re-examining the October 14, 2020, killing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin.

Schmutzer was hiking alone when he was fatally stabbed. Despite collecting DNA evidence at the time, investigators were unable to identify a suspect, and the case remained unsolved.

Wisconsin Police are investigating whether Devil’s Den suspect Andrew McGann is linked to the October 14, 2020, murder of John Schmutzer, a 24-year-old hiker stabbed to death on the Grottos Trail at Devil’s Lake State Park.

The attack, like the Arkansas case, was random. pic.twitter.com/TixJZhi60j

— Joseph Morris (@JosephMorrisYT) August 8, 2025

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Detective Sgt. Drew Bulin of the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that after the Arkansas attack, people contacted police in both states noting similarities between the two crimes.

“We’ve been in contact with the state police down there and they shared some details with us,” Bulin said, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

“We’re just trying to take a look at it and determine if it’s a coincidence or maybe there’s something more to it.” He added that the review is still in its early stages.

Witnesses in the Arkansas case described seeing a white male of medium build wearing dark clothing. In the Wisconsin case, witnesses reported a black-clad white male, estimated to be between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall, fleeing the scene.

Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar told ABC News that McGann admitted to killing the Brinks. Investigators said his DNA matched blood evidence recovered from the crime scene.

⚠️ WARNING: This post contains graphic descriptions of murder.

James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, Arkansas, has been arrested & charged with two counts of capital murder in the killings of Clinton David Brink, 43, & Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. The married couple were found… pic.twitter.com/KlnWbKedEJ

— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) July 31, 2025

McGann, an elementary school teacher, had recently relocated to Arkansas from Oklahoma. KARK-TV reported that Vermont authorities also considered him a possible suspect in the 2023 killing of Honoree Fleming but later determined he was not connected to that case.

Wisconsin investigators say they will continue reviewing all available evidence to determine if there is any link between McGann and the Schmutzer homicide.

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