Cristen Amanda Brink and Clinton David Brink (Image: Facebook)
Arkansas police believe the killer of a married couple hiking with their two young daughters in Devil’s Den State Park was likely injured during the weekend attack, and have released a sketch of a man wanted for questioning. The composite image, issued on Monday night, shows a man wearing a baseball cap and is the first public visual released by Arkansas State Police since the killings.
Investigators described him as a person of interest who was seen in the park on Saturday, the same day the attack took place. Police have yet to reveal a possible motive or how the couple died. Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a trail deep within the remote, wooded park. Their daughters, aged seven and nine, were unharmed and are now in the care of family members, authorities confirmed.
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A sketch of a man police want to speak to (Image: Handout)
Along with the image, state police issued a statement saying the suspect “likely sustained an injury while attacking the couple,” but did not elaborate on the nature or extent of that injury.
Investigators have been asking the public for days to come forward with any tips. Trailgoers who were at Devil’s Den on Saturday have been urged to review their photos and videos in case they captured the suspect. Police said they have received “numerous calls” but have released little additional information about the probe.
The suspect is believed to have fled the rugged 2,500-acre park, which has poor mobile reception, in a black four-door sedan. The vehicle’s licence plate was partially obscured with tape, police said. Officials have again refrained from suggesting a motive or providing further details on how the couple was killed.
The Brinks had recently relocated from South Dakota to Prairie Grove, a small town in northwest Arkansas. Their water service had only been connected less than two weeks ago, according to Mayor David Faulk. Mr Brink had been due to begin a new job on Monday as a milk delivery driver in the Fayetteville area, Hiland Dairy confirmed.
The Brink family said in a statement: “Clinton and Cristen died heroes protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice. They will forever live in all of our hearts.”
The trail head to the Devil’s Den trail at Devils Den State Park remains closed Monday, July 28, 202 (Image: AP)
The suspect was described as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, and fingerless gloves. He was last seen driving toward an exit in the black sedan. Investigators believe the vehicle may have been a Mazda and could have travelled along State Highway 170 or State Highway 220.
Mr Nick Genty, a spokesperson for the Arkansas State Police, said: “We’re just really hoping that anybody who captured any video or pictures or anything suspicious, just let us know. We’re investigating any and all tips that we get.”
The FBI’s Little Rock field office is assisting in the investigation, according to authorities.
Devil’s Den is located near West Fork, roughly 140 miles northwest of the state capital, Little Rock. The area is popular with hikers and known for its dramatic rock formations. It is also a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville.
As of Monday, the park remained mostly empty and its trails were closed. Park rangers have increased patrols, said Mr Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
The tragedy occurred in Devil’s Den state park (Image: KFSM 5 News Online)
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders condemned the killings. She said: “Law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
Ms Danikka Harrell, a nurse at a rehabilitation facility in Montana, said the Brinks had previously lived in that state for several years, beginning around 2018. They had been active in local community sports, including a recreational volleyball league.
She said: “In the summer, they would set up a volleyball net at a local park and encourage people to play.”
Ms Harrell said that when she was struggling to find child care, the Brinks looked after her daughter without hesitation. She said: “Cristen would often bring a plate of food when she brought my daughter back home.”
Mr Harrell said: “They were selfless and unconditional with their love and support for their friends.”
The couple’s bodies have been sent to the state crime lab, where the manner and cause of death will be formally determined. Investigators again appealed to the public to review any images taken in the park south of Fayetteville that day, in case they captured something that could help identify the suspect.