Former Teacher Accused of Murdering Parents Displayed Troubling Behavior, Parents Say
Andrew James McGann, the teacher accused of brutally murdering two parents in front of their young daughters at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas, allegedly displayed disturbing behavior at his former school in Texas, according to concerned parents.
Zacharri Polyak, a parent whose son attended Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound where McGann taught, recalled an incident where the accused killer put a little girl on his lap and made inappropriate comments. Polyak described the behavior as “grooming” and said that McGann showed favoritism towards certain girls in the class, giving them candy and special attention.
Despite concerns raised by parents, Lewisville ISD stated that an internal investigation found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students. McGann was placed on administrative leave during the 2022-2023 school year and resigned in May 2023.
Sierra Marcum, another parent, shared that McGann was cold and disinterested in his students. She reported some of his behavior to a principal after her son came home upset, claiming that he was touchy and showed favoritism to certain girls in the class.
McGann was hired to teach fifth grade at Spring Creek Elementary in Oklahoma after leaving the Texas school. The school district conducted a thorough background check and found no red flags, stating that there was no reason to discipline him during his tenure.
McGann was set to start a new teaching job at Springdale Public Schools in a week before his arrest. He allegedly ambushed the parents at Devil’s Den State Park and stabbed them to death while their daughters escaped unharmed.
After a five-day manhunt, police located and arrested McGann at a barbershop mid-haircut. He was charged with capital murder and appeared in court where he was ordered held without bail.
Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the deadly attack. The tragic incident has left the community shocked and saddened, raising questions about how such a violent act could have been committed by someone who once stood in front of a classroom of young children.
