A couple hiking with their young daughters was found dead Saturday afternoon at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains, prompting a manhunt for a suspect.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were discovered deceased on a remote trail, with their daughters, ages 7 and 9, unharmed and now with family.
Arkansas State Police received a call around 2:30 p.m. from the park’s visitor center, where the girls reported their parents had been assaulted, with one possibly stabbed.
Police radio audio, captured by Broadcastify.com, included a responder saying, “Washington County received a call from the visitor center. Two children are there. They advised that their parents were assaulted. One was possibly stabbed. The parents are missing.”
Another official noted hearing “yelling calling for help” near the lower Devil’s Den Trail, where the bodies were later found.
The Brinks, who recently moved to Arkansas from out of state, were described by their family as “heroes protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice,” according to a statement to ABC News. “They will forever live in all of our hearts,” the family added, requesting privacy while urging anyone with information to contact authorities.
The suspect, a medium-built white male, was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt with rolled sleeves, dark pants, a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and a black backpack. He fled in a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with a taped-over license plate, heading toward an exit accessible to State Highway 170 or 220.
Police described the park as “a remote and rural area, where the terrain is rugged, vegetation is thick, and there is no cellphone service,” complicating the response.
The 1.5-mile Devil’s Den Trail, known for its rocky terrain and two-to-three-hour hike time, is closed until further notice.
Authorities, notified around 2:40 p.m., delayed issuing a public alert until 8:40 p.m., citing the challenges of the remote scene. Investigators are reviewing visitor photos and area security footage, but cautioned against social media posts that could hinder the probe.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the killings “horrific,” and Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, announced increased law enforcement presence at state parks.
The investigation continues with the trail area cordoned off. A GoFundMe account has been established to accept donations to support funeral expenses and the children’s needs.