Arkansas state police have launched an intense manhunt for a suspect believed to be responsible for the brutal killings of a married couple hiking with their two young children at Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas. Authorities identified the victims as 43-year-old Clinton David Brink and 41-year-old Cristenb Amanda Brinks, who were attacked Saturday afternoon while on a trail near Fayetteville. Their daughters, ages 7 and 9, were present during the tragedy but were unharmed and are now in the care of family members. Investigators have classified the case as a double homicide and are urging anyone who was at the park to review photos, videos, or GoPro footage taken that day, as well as asking nearby residents to examine their home security recordings.
Colonel Mike Hagar of the Arkansas State Police stated that “all available resources” are being deployed in the effort to capture the suspect, who is described as a White man of medium build carrying a backpack. Witnesses reported seeing him driving a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, toward the park’s exit along State Highway 170 and possibly heading to State Highway 220. Devil’s Den State Park, a rugged 2,500-acre site in the Boston Mountains of the Ozarks, is known for its dense forests, caves, remote trails, and lack of cellphone service. Law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels is now patrolling the area, and the governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, offered condolences to the victims’ families while promising justice. Police continue to seek the public’s help as they work to track down the suspect.
Devil's Den State Park was named one of the most beautiful state parks in America by @thetravlens. This park is an Arkansas icon, nestled in Lee Creek Valley. This stunning view is on the Yellow Rock trail at the park 🌄! https://t.co/GExj8uK2XZ #ARStateParks #VisitArkansas pic.twitter.com/Fgh0ePWEdC
— Arkansas State Parks (@ArkStateParks) January 28, 2023