How the Devil’s Den Park Killer Shattered a Community’s Sense of Safety

Evil In Devil's Den: The Andrew McGann Case

This wasn’t just a murder. It was a rupture—one that tore through the collective sense of safety in an otherwise peaceful hiking community.
In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski to unpack how the Devil’s Den murders have left residents of Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, and surrounding areas rethinking everything from outdoor routines to how we raise our kids. We talk about communal trauma, how a single violent act can ripple through a town, and why even catching the killer won’t immediately restore trust.
From parents now second-guessing every decision to communities wondering if they’ll ever feel safe again, this episode is a deep dive into what fear does to our wiring—and how to live with it when it’s suddenly real.
Shavaun also addresses how media exposure, police silence, and the lingering mystery around the killer’s identity contribute to long-term anxiety, vigilance, and the loss of what we thought was “normal.” And we reflect on that final moment—the words “Why are you doing this?”—and what they reveal about the trauma that now lives in everyone who’s touched this case.
This is more than a crime. It’s a cultural shift. And this is how it begins.
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