Key Metrics
2.33
Heat Index-
Impact LevelLow
-
Scope LevelLocal
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Last Update2025-07-31
Key Impacts
Positive Impacts (2)
Negative Impacts (2)
Event Overview
A violent crime unfolded during a family hiking activity, resulting in the deaths of two parents. The perpetrator, a teacher, allegedly attacked the couple after they were separated from their children. The incident highlights risks of public space safety and the tragic consequences of interpersonal violence. Emergency response efforts were complicated by the remote location and initial attempts by one victim to rescue their partner.
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Andrew James McGann Confesses to Killing Couple at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas
On June 9, 2024, Andrew James McGann, a 38-year-old teacher, confessed to the killings of Stephen and Amy Freeman, a married couple who were hiking with their two children at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. The incident occurred as the Freemans were on a hiking trail with their daughters, ages 6 and 8, when they were attacked. According to police reports, Amy Freeman managed to help her children escape from the scene and then returned to assist her husband, at which point she was fatally wounded.
The Arkansas State Police launched an intensive manhunt after the murders. A police sketch of a person of interest was released during the investigation. Authorities later apprehended McGann at a barbershop near his home. Police reported that McGann’s DNA was matched to evidence collected at the crime scene. During questioning, McGann confessed to the killings. The daughters were found unharmed near the trail and are now with family members.
Immediate results of the case included McGann's arrest, the recovery of physical evidence linking him to the crime, and confirmation from police of his confession. The case has led to increased security and patrols at state parks across Arkansas.