Crime House Daily - First Watch: The Devil’s Den Murderer & Nicholas Rossi’s Web of Lies

Host: Katie Ring
Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this First Watch episode, host Katie Ring covers two headline-grabbing, ongoing crime stories. The first delves into a shocking double homicide at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas, where a family was attacked by a public school teacher. The second story unpacks the tangled criminal history and dramatic extradition of Nicholas Rossi, a serial fraudster and sex offender who eluded justice for years through manipulation and false identities. The episode emphasizes active investigations and provides the latest on both cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Devil’s Den Double Homicide: Brutal Attack on a Hiking Family

• [04:15-13:25]
• Incident Recap: On July 26, 2025, Clinton and Kristen Brink, newcomers to Arkansas, took their daughters (aged 7 and 9) hiking in Devil’s Den State Park. Their family day turned deadly when a man ambushed them with a knife.
• Heroic Efforts: Clinton fought off the attacker to protect his family; Kristen managed to flee with the girls but bravely returned to try to help her husband.
• Emergency Response: Due to the remoteness of the trail, rescue was delayed. Both parents were found dead, but the daughters were physically unharmed.
• Investigation Details:
  • Witness tips led police to a suspect, described as a white man with a medium build, wearing rolled-up long sleeves, dark clothes, and fingerless gloves.
  • DNA at the scene linked the crime to Andrew McGann, a 28-year-old public school teacher with a contentious past in Texas and Oklahoma school systems.
  • While McGann passed background checks, past allegations by parents hinted at disturbing behavior toward female students (e.g., tickling, asking girls to sit on his lap, keeping some alone during recess).
• Legal Developments: Initially confessing, McGann later pleaded not guilty to two counts of capital murder, facing potential death penalty. The trial is expected to be lengthy, with next court date set for November 14, 2025.
• Outstanding Questions: Motive and further details are pending investigation. Official statements have not revealed what led to McGann’s arrest or his connection to the victims.
• Family’s Statement: “Clinton and Kristen died heroes protecting their little girls. They deserve justice. They will forever live on in all of our hearts.” (Katie quoting statement, [12:44])

Notable Quote

“Clinton and Kristen died heroes protecting their little girls. They deserve justice.”
— Clinton and Kristen Brink’s family statement, read by Katie (12:44)

2. Nicholas Rossi: A Serial Predator’s Decades-Long Web of Lies

• [14:28-29:05]
• Early Crimes: Nicholas Rossi (born Nicholas Oliver Dean) began his criminal career in 2008 by attacking and sexually assaulting a fellow student in Dayton, Ohio. Although convicted as a sex offender, he consistently denied responsibility and retaliated by suing his victim.
• Pattern of Abuse: Afterward, Rossi assaulted numerous women in Ohio, Utah, and beyond. He borrowed money, manipulated, and became aggressive, with at least two additional known sexual assault victims (KP and Ms).
• Broken Justice: Backlogged rape kits delayed Rossi’s further prosecution in Utah for many years, allowing him to continue abusing women.
• False Rebirths & Con Games: Rossi reinvents himself repeatedly:
  • Works as a legislative aide in Rhode Island, gaining sympathy as a foster care advocate, only for allegations of domestic abuse to emerge.
  • Marries, commits domestic violence, and rapidly moves states, leaving a trail of abuse and manipulation.
  • In Canada, assumes a new identity (“Timothy Arthur Nicholas Knight Brown”), cons a TV host out of $30,000, and attempts blackmail.
  • Fakes his own death, gets politicians to memorialize him, then flees to Scotland as “Arthur Knight.”
• Dramatic Capture: Hospitalized in Scotland with COVID, distinctive tattoos lead to his true identity being discovered after staff connect him to an Interpol alert. Rossi fakes a British accent and uses a wheelchair and oxygen mask in court to stall extradition.
• Justice Finally Catches Up:
  • January 2024: Extradited to the U.S. after fingerprints/mugshots confirm his identity.
  • August 2025: Convicted of first-degree felony rape in Utah; faces sentencing (potentially 5 years to life) in October.
  • Another Utah trial for rape charges is imminent.
• Victims’ Resilience:
  • Mary Grabinsky, Rossi’s first known victim, describes his “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” nature and voices relief that people now see through his lies ([28:05]).

Notable Quotes

“He is trying to fool everybody and I’m glad so many people see through it.”
— Mary Grabinsky, survivor of Rossi’s assault, as quoted by Katie (28:05)

“From everything we've learned so far, it's clear that Rossi is a man who lies, manipulates, and exploits.”
— Katie (22:41)

3. Brief Cold Case Update

• [04:15-05:07]
• The 2005 disappearance of Stephen Cook in Malia, Greece, has seen a breakthrough: after 20 years, remains were found (2017), and now an arrest and murder charge has been made. Trial is upcoming.

Segment Timestamps

• [00:55] — Introduction of Devil’s Den murder case
• [04:15] — Cold case update: Stephen Cook
• [07:13] — 911 call and discovery of the Brink family tragedy
• [09:05] — Arrest and background of suspect Andrew McGann
• [12:44] — Family’s statement, community reaction
• [14:28] — Start of Nicholas Rossi segment
• [16:00] — Early assaults, court manipulations, pattern of abuse
• [18:50] — Chronicles of fraud and evasion
• [22:00] — New identity, international flight, and capture
• [28:05] — Victim quote (Mary) and trial outcomes

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Family’s Honor: “Clinton and Kristen died heroes protecting their little girls. They deserve justice.” (12:44)
• On Rossi’s Manipulation: “From everything we've learned so far, it's clear that Rossi is a man who lies, manipulates, and exploits.” (22:41)
• A Survivor’s Relief: “He is trying to fool everybody and I’m glad so many people see through it.” (Mary Grabinsky, 28:05)

Tone and Style

Katie delivers the stories with a calm, investigative tone, balancing respect for victims and families with thorough analysis and clear explanations of court and investigative processes. The episode is direct, empathetic, and focused on factual updates, consistently reminding listeners that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Final Notes

• For followers: Katie encourages listeners to stay updated via social media (@crimehouse24.7 on TikTok & Instagram) and highlights the importance of following trial developments as both cases unfold.
• Impact for Listeners: This episode is especially valuable for those tracking new true crime cases, emphasizing both recent developments and long-term timelines in active investigations.