The couple was attacked while hiking in Devil’s Den State Park with their children. The suspect remains large. The children, ages 7 and 9, are with relatives.
Arkansas State Police said in a July 27 news release that an Arkansas couple was identified who were killed while hiking with two small children in a state park.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Kristen Amanda Brink, 41, were hiking with children in Devil’s Den State Park when they were attacked on July 26, police said. The family recently moved from another state to the area.
The suspect remains large. The children of the 7- and 9-year-old couple are not harmed and are now with relatives, The agency said.
State police received a report of murder in the northwest part of the state around 2:40pm.
On July 27, Arkansas State Police issued an updated description of the suspect, describing a white man with a medium build wearing a long sleeved shirt with sleeves wrapped around. Dark pants, dark baseball cap and sunglasses. The man also had a black backpack and was wearing fingerless gloves, police said, and was seen driving towards the Mazda park exit, a black four-door sedan with a license plate that could be covered in electricity or duct tape.
Police are seeking additional information and are asking people who were in the park on Saturday, July 26th to check mobile phone photos and videos for possible images of the suspect, and to ask local residents for security and surveillance footage. They asked anyone with relevant information to contact them immediately at 479-751-6663.
The park is “in remote and rural areas with rough terrain, thick vegetation and no mobile phone service,” Arkansas Police said in a news release. In response to an investigation from USA Today, Nick Genty, Associate Communications Director for the Arkansas State Police, said there were no updates as of July 28th.
The state’s Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism has issued a statement saying it is “deeply saddened by the tragic events” at the park.
“Our heart lies with the loved ones of our victims during these incredibly difficult times,” said a statement attributed to Cia Lewis, the department’s secretary. “The safety of our visitors and staff is our number one priority and we are working closely with the Arkansas Police and various law enforcement officers as our investigation continues.”
The department noted that law enforcement agencies will have a growing presence in state parks.
