A peaceful family hike turned into a nightmare at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas, where a married couple was brutally murdered in front of their two young daughters. As the search intensifies for the killer still at large, state police are scrambling to answer tough questions about why the public wasn’t warned for nearly six hours after the deadly attack.
Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, had recently relocated to Arkansas. On Saturday afternoon, July 26, they took their daughters—just 7 and 9 years old—for a hike at Devil’s Den, a park known for its dense forests and winding trails in the heart of the Ozarks.
At 2:30 p.m., park-goers reported hearing screams along a remote trail. By the time first responders navigated the rugged terrain and reached the scene, the Brinks were dead. Their daughters were found nearby—traumatized but physically unharmed.
A local resident, Samantha Poole, told reporters, “Devil’s Den is a quiet place. You never expect something like this here. I can’t imagine what those little girls went through.”
Despite the horrifying discovery, police waited until 8:40 p.m.—six hours after the first 911 call—to alert the public that a double murderer was on the loose in the popular park.
The reason for the delay? Officials blamed the park’s lack of cellphone service and challenging landscape.
Arkansas State Police spokesperson Sgt. Mark Harris told local news, “It’s a remote, rural area. Our agents had to hike in, interview witnesses, and piece together what happened before we could release information. We did everything as quickly as possible under the circumstances.”
But for many in the community, the delay was inexcusable. Parents took to social media, expressing outrage that visitors weren’t warned about a potential killer roaming the trails. “We deserve to know when we’re at risk,” said Lisa Graham, a Fayetteville mother of three. “That six-hour window could have meant life or death for someone else.”
Authorities released a new description of the suspect on Sunday: a man of medium build, dark pants, and a red baseball cap, seen with sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and a backpack. He was last spotted in a black four-door sedan—possibly a Mazda—with its license plate covered in tape.
State officials stress that anyone who was hiking in the park on Saturday afternoon and saw anything unusual should contact Arkansas State Police immediately.
Shea Lewis, head of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, assured the public that law enforcement presence in state parks has been ramped up. “Our park rangers are fully commissioned officers, and they are working around the clock to keep our guests safe,” Lewis said in a statement. “This is a tragedy that has shaken us all.”
Devil’s Den, known for its caves and sprawling wilderness about 30 miles south of Fayetteville, is a beloved spot for families and tourists alike. Now, it’s the scene of a manhunt and a community’s grief.
As of Monday morning, the killer remains at large. For Clinton and Cristen Brink’s daughters, the nightmare is far from over.
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