Two parents who were murdered while out hiking in Arkansas with their two young children have now been identified and a search has been launched for their killer.
Mom Cristen Amanda Brink was attacked alongside her husband, Clinton David Brink, while the couple were visiting Devil’s Den State Park with their two daughters, aged 7 and 9, on Sarurday.
The girls were unharmed and are now being cared for by family members while police hunt for their parents’ killer, who struck as the family enjoyed a hike on a walking trail in the remote park in Washington County.
Newsweek has reached out to Arkansas State Police seeking further information and comment.
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Why It Matters
The couple’s daughters now face the double trauma of losing their parents at such a young age and in such brutal circumstances. It remains unclear what the girls witnessed at the scene and investigators have not yet revealed how their parents were killed.
Investigators hunting for the killer have released various details about the suspect and have appealed to other hikers who visited the park that day to check their photos in case they captured him on camera at any point. They urged park-goers not to post their photos online as they could inadvertently jeopardize the police investigation.
What To Know
Arkansas State Police (ASP) were called at about 2:40 p.m. on Saturday and Clinton and Cristen Brink were “found dead on a walking trail,” ASP said in a statement released on Sunday. The pair had been “hiking with their two daughters when they were attacked,” they added.
Police described the park as “remote,” adding that the “terrain is rugged, vegetation is thick and there is no cellphone service.”
ASP issued an updated description of the suspect, saying they “believe he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, with sleeves rolled up, rather than a [dark] tank top as originally reported. The suspect is an unknown, white male with a medium build. He was wearing dark pants, a dark ball cap and sunglasses. The suspect had a black backpack and was wearing fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan.
“The suspect’s vehicle may be a Mazda with a license plate covered by electrical or duct tape. It may have been traveling on State Highway 170 or State Highway 220 near the park.”
The Brink family recently moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, from another state, police confirmed. According to their Facebook social media accounts, the couple previously lived in California and Montana.
Cristen Brink was 41, police said. Her social media suggests that she studied at California State University in San Bernardino and married Clinton Brink in September 2014. Her Facebook page is mostly filled with photos of her husband and children.
Clinton Brink’s own Facebook page showed he was from Bakersfield, California, and said he had lived in Miles City, Montana. Like his wife, the 43-year-old’s page was mostly filled with family photos. Several featured shots of the family enjoying the outdoors.
What People Are Saying
Arkansas State Police said: “Investigators are asking those who visited the park on Saturday to check cellphone photos and videos or GoPro camera footage for images of the suspect. They are also asking residents of the area surrounding the park to notify ASP if they have access to security and game camera footage…Investigators urge anyone with photos or video to not post footage on social media, as this may inadvertently jeopardize the investigation.”
Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, issued a statement saying: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred at Devil’s Den State Park. Our hearts are with the victims’ loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
“The safety of our visitors and staff is our highest priority, and we are working closely with Arkansas State Police and various law enforcement officials as the investigation continues. We have increased law enforcement presence in our state parks [ …] We remain committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and to maintaining Arkansas State Parks as safe, welcoming places for all.”
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on X, formerly Twitter: “We are heartbroken by today’s horrific news from Devil’s Den State Park and are in close contact with State Police and the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism as they work to apprehend the suspect. We are praying for the family and friends of the victims, and know that law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
What Happens Next
The search continues and the investigation remains underway. Anyone with images of the suspect, or information about the case, should contact Arkansas State Police Troop L at (479) 751-6663.