Couple killed in Arkansas state park have Bakersfield connection
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were killed while hiking with their two daughters at the park, Arkansas State Police said. Their bodies were found in a remote area of the park along a walking trail, Nexstar affiliate KFTA reports.
Manhunt continues for suspect in Arkansas state park killings: What to know
The children were not hurt in the incident.
Authorities said the Brinks had recently moved to the area from out of state and a Facebook page for Clinton Brink shows he was originally from Bakersfield.
Police are looking for the suspect in the double homicide. They said the suspect left the park in a black, four-door sedan that had a license plate covered with tape.
Trails at the park remained closed.
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CBS News
3 hours ago
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Suspect in Devil's Den double homicide may have been injured in attack, police say
The Arkansas State Police said they believe the suspect in the murder of a couple hiking with their daughters at Devil's Den State Park was injured while attacking the pair. Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were hiking with their young daughters when they were attacked, the ASP said. The couple were found dead on a walking trail, police said. The family had recently moved to the area from another state, the ASP said. Their daughters, aged 7 and 9, are being cared for by family. Police said in a news release they believe the suspect "likely sustained an injury while attacking the couple," but did not say how the suspect may have been injured or what led them to believe that was the case. Family members said in a statement that the Brinks "died heroes, protecting their little girls," but did not elaborate. The suspect was described as wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark pants and a black baseball cap, the ASP said. He is a White male with a medium build. The man was described as wearing sunglasses and fingerless gloves, and carrying a black backpack. The suspect was seen driving toward the park in a black four-door sedan, police said. The vehicle may be a Mazda with a covered license plate, police said. Police also shared a composite sketch of a man whom they said they are looking to identify so they can question him. The man was seen in the park on Saturday, police said. The sketch shows him with a loose-necked shirt and a dark hat. The ASP asked that anyone who visited the park on Saturday check any photos or videos they may have taken for images of the suspect. Residents who live in the area have been asked to notify police if they have access to security or game camera footage. Police said they have received "numerous calls" with possible tips. Devil's Den State Park is in West Fork, Arkansas. The park contains 11 hiking trails that lead into the surrounding Ozark National Forest, according to its website. The park is also home to dozens of campsites, an 8-acre lake and rock formations and caverns.
The Hill
5 hours ago
- The Hill
FBI joins manhunt following double homicide in Arkansas state park
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Yahoo
6 hours ago
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Arkansas police release sketch drawing in search for killer at Devil's Den State Park
Arkansas Hikers Killed LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas police say the killer of a married couple who had been hiking the remote Devil's Den State Park with their young daughters was likely injured during the weekend attack and released a sketch drawing of a man wanted for questioning. The composite sketch, which was released Monday night and depicts a man wearing a baseball hat, was the first image Arkansas State Police have given to the public as the search for the killer entered a fourth day. The man in the drawing was described by police as a person of interest who was seen in the park Saturday. Authorities have not provided a possible motive or elaborated on how the couple was killed. Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. Along the with drawing, state police released a statement saying the suspect 'likely sustained an injury while attacking the couple." It did not go into further detail. Authorities have asked the public for days to report tips and urged trailgoers who were at Devil's Den on Saturday to look through their photos and videos for possible images of the suspect. State police said they have received 'numerous calls' but have released few details about the investigation. The suspect may have fled the rugged 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) park, which has weak cellphone service, in a car on with a license plate partly covered by tape, state police have said. Authorities have not provided a possible motive or elaborated on how the couple were killed. The family had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas, and their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. 'Clinton and Cristen died heroes protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice,' the Brink family said in a statement.' They will forever live in all of our hearts.' Officials described the suspect as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark ball cap, sunglasses and fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape. The car, possibly a Mazda, may have been traveling on State Highway 170 or State Highway 220. 'We're just really hoping that anybody who captured any video or pictures or anything suspicious, just let us know,' state police spokesperson Nick Genty said. 'We're investigating any and all tips that we get.' The FBI said its Little Rock field office is assisting state police in the investigation. Devil's Den is located near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. The park is known for its hiking trails and rock formations, and is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart's Bentonville headquarters. On Monday, few visitors were at the park and the trails remained closed. Rangers had stepped up patrol at Devil's Den, said Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the deaths 'horrific" and said "law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.' Danikka Harrell, a nurse at a rehabilitation center in Montana, said the Brinks had also lived in that state for several years starting around 2018 and played on a recreational volleyball team. In the summer, the Brinks would set up a volleyball net at a local park and encourage people to play, she said. Harrell said that when she struggled to find child care, the Brinks allowed her daughter to stay with them 'without a thought" and that Cristen Brink would often bring a plate of food when she brought the girl back home. 'They were selfless and unconditional with their love and support for their friends,' Harrell said. Investigators asked for potential witnesses to review their photos and videos from the park south of Fayetteville. The bodies of the couple were taken to the state crime lab, where the manner and cause of death will be determined. ___ Associated Press writers Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report
