This photo provided by Washington County Sheriff's Office shows Andrew McGann. (Washington County Sheriff's Office via AP)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A teacher admitted he fatally stabbed a couple he didn’t know who were hiking with two of their children in an Arkansas state park, authorities said Thursday, after a five-day search and hundreds of tips led to his arrest.

State Police arrested 28-year-old Andrew James McGann on Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, approximately 30 miles north of at Devil’s Den State Park, said Col. Stacie Rhoads, commander of the department’s criminal investigation division.

McGann is charged with two counts of capital murder in the killing Saturday of Clinton David Brink, 43, and his 41-year-old wife Cristen Amanda Brink. McGann is being held without bond.

“He did indicate that he committed the murders,” Rhoads said during a news conference Thursday. When asked to elaborate, she said: “I would call it an admission.”

Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack and have no reason to believe McGann knew the couple or their children.

Officials said the husband was stabbed first, approximately half a mile into the park, then the mother ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death.

Authorities have not said if the girls witnessed both their parents being killed.

McGann was cooperative during the arrest and admitted to killing the couple soon after, Rhoads said. Police also matched his DNA to blood found at the crime scene. The case is distressing even to the police.

“In my 27 years that I’ve been with the State Police, this is probably one of the most heinous that we’ve had, especially the aspect of just how random it was,” Rhoads said.

But officials emphasized at the news conference that McGann, who has no criminal record, is innocent until proven guilty.

Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter said he did not know if McGann has a lawyer or will need a public defender. The Associated Press has left messages a number listed for McGann.

Two of the Brinks’ three daughters — ages 7 and 9 — were with them on the hiking trail Saturday, but they were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities said.

McGann has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to each respective government certification website. There are no infractions or suspensions noted on his public state licensures in any of those states.

McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, “following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,” according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District.

Sierra Marcum, whose son was in McGann’s fourth grade class, said the teacher came across as standoffish, “pretty cold,” and “disinterested in his students.” Marcum said her son had come home from school upset and complaining about McGann, which she reported to the school’s principal.

McGann resigned from the Lewisville posting in May 2023, the district said in a statement.