Topline: Police are searching for a man seen leaving the trail where the parents were killed.
Published: July 30, 2025 8:30 am ET
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Photos via Arkansas State Police
WEST FORK, AK — With a suspected killer still at large, Arkansas State Police are intensifying their search for a man believed to have murdered a couple at Devil’s Den State Park in broad daylight.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead along a remote hiking trail in the popular park just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. Their two daughters, ages 7 and 9, were hiking with them but were unharmed and are now safe with family members, authorities said.
According to a statement from ASP, investigators are treating the incident as a double homicide and have released both a composite sketch and a newly uncovered photo of a man they are seeking to identify for questioning.
via Arkansas State Police
The man is described as white, of medium build, and was last seen wearing dark pants, a rolled-up long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, and a dark baseball cap. He was carrying a black backpack and wearing fingerless gloves. Police believe he may have sustained injuries during the attack.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the man leaving the park in a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with license plates obscured by tape. The vehicle was seen heading toward State Highway 170 or 220. Authorities have asked residents near the area to check their security and game cameras for any unusual activity or sightings of the vehicle.
Police responded to a 911 call at 2:40 p.m. Saturday, and scanner traffic from that day captured the moment an officer discovered the victims’ bodies on the lower Devil’s Den Trail.
Photo of possible suspect released by Arkansas State Police.
“I’ve got two bodies down here,” a trooper can be heard saying in audio obtained by KNWA/FOX24.
ASP Col. Mike Hagar emphasized the agency’s commitment to finding the person responsible.
“We are using all available resources to apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice,” he said in a Sunday statement. “This was a heinous crime, and we won’t stop until he’s found.”
The Brinks had recently relocated to Arkansas from out of state. Public records and media reports indicate they had lived in both inland California and Miles City, Montana. In a statement issued through their extended family, relatives described the couple as heroes who died protecting their daughters.
“Clinton and Kristen died Hero’s [sic] protecting their little girls and they deserve justice,” the family wrote. “They will forever live on in all of our hearts.”
The Arkansas State Crime Lab is conducting autopsies to determine the precise cause of death. Police have not released further details about how the Brinks were killed, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
In response to the killings, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement calling the attack “horrific” and pledging support for the investigation. “We are praying for the family and friends of the victims,” Sanders said. “Law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has increased law enforcement presence across all state parks, according to agency Secretary Shea Lewis. Devil’s Den remains closed as police continue their search, complicated by the park’s rugged terrain and limited cell coverage.
Park officials are asking anyone who visited the area on Saturday to review any photos, video clips, or GoPro footage for signs of the suspect or his vehicle.
Authorities stress that any such materials should not be posted online, but instead preserved and submitted directly to the ASP tip line at (501) 618-TIPS or online at https://bit.ly/ASP-Devils-Den-Tips. For direct information regarding the suspect’s location, witnesses are asked to call ASP Troop L at (479) 751-6663.
“Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case,” Col. Hagar said. “We need the public’s help.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Young Daughters Survive After Parents Killed on Arkansas Hiking Trip
Police are searching for a man seen leaving the trail where the parents were killed.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 30, 2025 8:30 am ET
Photos via Arkansas State Police
WEST FORK, AK — With a suspected killer still at large, Arkansas State Police are intensifying their search for a man believed to have murdered a couple at Devil’s Den State Park in broad daylight.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead along a remote hiking trail in the popular park just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. Their two daughters, ages 7 and 9, were hiking with them but were unharmed and are now safe with family members, authorities said.
According to a statement from ASP, investigators are treating the incident as a double homicide and have released both a composite sketch and a newly uncovered photo of a man they are seeking to identify for questioning.
via Arkansas State Police
The man is described as white, of medium build, and was last seen wearing dark pants, a rolled-up long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, and a dark baseball cap. He was carrying a black backpack and wearing fingerless gloves. Police believe he may have sustained injuries during the attack.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the man leaving the park in a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with license plates obscured by tape. The vehicle was seen heading toward State Highway 170 or 220. Authorities have asked residents near the area to check their security and game cameras for any unusual activity or sightings of the vehicle.
Police responded to a 911 call at 2:40 p.m. Saturday, and scanner traffic from that day captured the moment an officer discovered the victims’ bodies on the lower Devil’s Den Trail.
Photo of possible suspect released by Arkansas State Police.
“I’ve got two bodies down here,” a trooper can be heard saying in audio obtained by KNWA/FOX24.
ASP Col. Mike Hagar emphasized the agency’s commitment to finding the person responsible.
“We are using all available resources to apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice,” he said in a Sunday statement. “This was a heinous crime, and we won’t stop until he’s found.”
The Brinks had recently relocated to Arkansas from out of state. Public records and media reports indicate they had lived in both inland California and Miles City, Montana. In a statement issued through their extended family, relatives described the couple as heroes who died protecting their daughters.
“Clinton and Kristen died Hero’s [sic] protecting their little girls and they deserve justice,” the family wrote. “They will forever live on in all of our hearts.”
The Arkansas State Crime Lab is conducting autopsies to determine the precise cause of death. Police have not released further details about how the Brinks were killed, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
In response to the killings, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement calling the attack “horrific” and pledging support for the investigation. “We are praying for the family and friends of the victims,” Sanders said. “Law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has increased law enforcement presence across all state parks, according to agency Secretary Shea Lewis. Devil’s Den remains closed as police continue their search, complicated by the park’s rugged terrain and limited cell coverage.
Park officials are asking anyone who visited the area on Saturday to review any photos, video clips, or GoPro footage for signs of the suspect or his vehicle.
Authorities stress that any such materials should not be posted online, but instead preserved and submitted directly to the ASP tip line at (501) 618-TIPS or online at https://bit.ly/ASP-Devils-Den-Tips. For direct information regarding the suspect’s location, witnesses are asked to call ASP Troop L at (479) 751-6663.
“Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case,” Col. Hagar said. “We need the public’s help.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Young Daughters Survive After Parents Killed on Arkansas Hiking Trip
Police are searching for a man seen leaving the trail where the parents were killed.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 30, 2025 8:30 am ET
Photos via Arkansas State Police
WEST FORK, AK — With a suspected killer still at large, Arkansas State Police are intensifying their search for a man believed to have murdered a couple at Devil’s Den State Park in broad daylight.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead along a remote hiking trail in the popular park just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. Their two daughters, ages 7 and 9, were hiking with them but were unharmed and are now safe with family members, authorities said.
According to a statement from ASP, investigators are treating the incident as a double homicide and have released both a composite sketch and a newly uncovered photo of a man they are seeking to identify for questioning.
via Arkansas State Police
The man is described as white, of medium build, and was last seen wearing dark pants, a rolled-up long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, and a dark baseball cap. He was carrying a black backpack and wearing fingerless gloves. Police believe he may have sustained injuries during the attack.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the man leaving the park in a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with license plates obscured by tape. The vehicle was seen heading toward State Highway 170 or 220. Authorities have asked residents near the area to check their security and game cameras for any unusual activity or sightings of the vehicle.
Police responded to a 911 call at 2:40 p.m. Saturday, and scanner traffic from that day captured the moment an officer discovered the victims’ bodies on the lower Devil’s Den Trail.
Photo of possible suspect released by Arkansas State Police.
“I’ve got two bodies down here,” a trooper can be heard saying in audio obtained by KNWA/FOX24.
ASP Col. Mike Hagar emphasized the agency’s commitment to finding the person responsible.
“We are using all available resources to apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice,” he said in a Sunday statement. “This was a heinous crime, and we won’t stop until he’s found.”
The Brinks had recently relocated to Arkansas from out of state. Public records and media reports indicate they had lived in both inland California and Miles City, Montana. In a statement issued through their extended family, relatives described the couple as heroes who died protecting their daughters.
“Clinton and Kristen died Hero’s [sic] protecting their little girls and they deserve justice,” the family wrote. “They will forever live on in all of our hearts.”
The Arkansas State Crime Lab is conducting autopsies to determine the precise cause of death. Police have not released further details about how the Brinks were killed, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
In response to the killings, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement calling the attack “horrific” and pledging support for the investigation. “We are praying for the family and friends of the victims,” Sanders said. “Law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.”
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has increased law enforcement presence across all state parks, according to agency Secretary Shea Lewis. Devil’s Den remains closed as police continue their search, complicated by the park’s rugged terrain and limited cell coverage.
Park officials are asking anyone who visited the area on Saturday to review any photos, video clips, or GoPro footage for signs of the suspect or his vehicle.
Authorities stress that any such materials should not be posted online, but instead preserved and submitted directly to the ASP tip line at (501) 618-TIPS or online at https://bit.ly/ASP-Devils-Den-Tips. For direct information regarding the suspect’s location, witnesses are asked to call ASP Troop L at (479) 751-6663.
“Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case,” Col. Hagar said. “We need the public’s help.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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