Clinton David Brink, 43 & Cristen Amanda Brink, 41 found on trail - Devil's Den State Park, AR- 26 July, 2025 #3 *Arrest*

[indicolite22]

The park website says the entire trail is 1.5 miles. It is a loop, and a piece that crosses the center. Each side is half a mile or so.
From the Cavern area to the exit- 20 min?

That is my point- the times and locations appear to cross.
AJM’s route to his car may have been where the Group of 4 were.
Had he already passed them once, or was this after and he was looking for the girls?
Did he go through the woods?

All this is assuming the arrest affidavit that says 1:15 for the time of murders is close.

IMO

That would mean that they met him 5 minutes before the attack (of course there could be discrepancies in times given). Would the witnesses get far enough not to hear the attack taking place? I think he counted on that or he would have ran away sooner.

IMO he left the park along the shortest route which would be on the lower trail (along the creek). The children must have been close to the visitors' center when he left the scene.

 

[AngTxGal]

I honestly don’t see anything other than pushing my kids back in the direction we came from in that instant. It’s not like they knew that trail and park. Safety would have been the visitor’s center, the parking lot, maybe other families they passed five minutes earlier. The other hiker witness group said they passed other people about every five to ten minutes, everyone was chatty with one another, etc. which is why the killer stuck out so much in their minds. So I imagine the Brinks having a similar experience. Behind you was safe. We don’t really know what lies ahead.

IMO

Agree,
The way they had come would be familiar, feel safer and also a shorter distance. I’m not sure it is shorter- and if they saw the Y for the cross path that may have been confusing.

And that way must have been along the river side/ east, unless the Group of 4 passed Cristen, Clinton and the girls.

I guess it depends on where AJM was standing. If he was blocking that way and if he attacked after passing them or when they were approaching each other.

AJM had been out there so he knew where they would be running back to- and he could have tried to catch up to them by going the other way and crossing the center trail after he left the parents.

The timeline and location of events is much tighter than I expected.
I assumed the attack had happened near 2PM, not 1:15PM

IMO

 

[indicolite22]

He was described as looking down, didn’t turn his head, giving them the side eye.

Did they pass him after he had already committed the murders?

AJM may have not gone directly to his car.
He may have been looking for the girls.

IMO

Given his location and direction (he was walking counterclockwise), it was before the murders. One of the witnesses described his eye color. They must have looked him in the face. Bloody nose and forehead (where he had scratches) would be easily visible.

 

[SMK777]

DBM

 

[SMK777]

It’s understandable that people would want to be notified earlier, but I think the delay may have been calculated.

One theory I’ve been thinking about: what if investigators already had a strong lead early on and didn’t want to spook him while they were closing in.

It’s even possible they had eyes on him pretty quickly and, as long as he wasn’t actively going into public spaces, they just watched and waited until they had solid probable cause (like DNA or autopsy results) before making a move.

Not saying that’s the reason, just something that could explain the delay.

All IMO.

Yes, definitely was true in the Bryan Kohberger case. As they were closing in to arrest him, LE got very quiet and even said they "had no idea" where the suspect might be.

 

[knla]

I don't remember seeing this view from Lupita's Beauty Salon. AJM had a nice looking vehicle.

 

[Vaderman]

I don't remember seeing this view from Lupita's Beauty Salon. AJM had a nice looking vehicle.
View attachment 606325

I thought the first mugshot of him with hair slicked down was from him getting prepped by the stylist before his trim, but it looks like his hair was already in that state before he entered the salon.

 

[Inthedetails]

I don't remember seeing this view from Lupita's Beauty Salon. AJM had a nice looking vehicle.
View attachment 606325

His finances might be a mess. He's new to the teaching profession, changing jobs every year, moving to different states (moving is expensive!), driving a nice car, and living in a nice 3BR house. Doesn't seem to be counting pennies like many young people are.

If his dating profile picture is a hint, his dating life wasn't going well.

I really think his life was spiraling, and for some reason, murder was his reaction.

jmopinion

 

[knla]

I really think his life was spiraling, and for some reason, murder was his reaction.

jmopinion

It's so tragically sad. AJM destroyed that adorable family and ruined his own. He wasn't planning on destroying his life. He didn't think he would get caught.

 

[LibraStarr]

His finances might be a mess. He's new to the teaching profession, changing jobs every year, moving to different states (moving is expensive!), driving a nice car, and living in a nice 3BR house. Doesn't seem to be counting pennies like many young people are.

If his dating profile picture is a hint, his dating life wasn't going well.

I really think his life was spiraling, and for some reason, murder was his reaction.

jmopinion

There’s a document on his case file that shows he had some credit card debt.

Case Loading • Arkansas Judiciary

caseinfo.arcourts.gov

 

[SMK777]

I don't remember seeing this view from Lupita's Beauty Salon. AJM had a nice looking vehicle.
View attachment 606325

Good find! Yes, he did. I wonder what his frame of mind was in this still shot? Why was he bothering to get his hair cut? Did he seriously believe he was going back to teaching? I don't understand him.

 

[Inthedetails]

There’s a document on his case file that shows he had some credit card debt.

Case Loading • Arkansas Judiciary

caseinfo.arcourts.gov

I'm guessing a car payment too? And rent.

Tbh, I'm not sure he really has a grasp on his financial situation, and might be taking out new credit cards when he gets an offer in the mail or when he needs money?? idk, just guessing.

jmopinion

 

[LibraStarr]

Good find! Yes, he did. I wonder what his frame of mind was in this still shot? Why was he bothering to get his hair cut? Did he seriously believe he was going back to teaching? I don't understand him.

I remember the stylist saying that he only wanted the back done, nothing off the top. I think he was trying to make it look different from that picture of the back of his head.

 

[SMK777]

I remember the stylist saying that he only wanted the back done, nothing off the top. I think he was trying to make it look different from that picture of the back of his head.

Oh, that makes sense. But he could have done that via Uber, and left the telltale car behind. I wonder what his actual plan was?
Let's just say they had failed to find him. What would he be doing now?

 

[knla]

Oh, that makes sense. But he could have done that via Uber, and left the telltale car behind. I wonder what his actual plan was?
Let's just say they had failed to find him. What would he be doing now?

Getting ready to teach at his new school. They wouldn't have been able to match up the DNA they found at the scene.

 

[RedHaus]

I'm guessing a car payment too? And rent.

Tbh, I'm not sure he really has a grasp on his financial situation, and might be taking out new credit cards when he gets an offer in the mail or when he needs money?? idk, just guessing.

jmopinion

Page 2 of the Affidavit of Indigency is below. His rent is listed at $1700 (?). And car payment (presuming is "transportation") of $200 (?).

There are other monthly expenses for a total ~$2500 (?). With no income until he started teaching this fall and cash to his name of $1,050 (?), I suspect he was very close to going broke.

That's lot pressure. Unless he didn't care.

IMO.

ET: tighten format

 

[Betty P]

Oh, that makes sense. But he could have done that via Uber, and left the telltale car behind. I wonder what his actual plan was?
Let's just say they had failed to find him. What would he be doing now?

I don’t think he had any idea of how to escape and hide from LE. The whole thing seems unplanned or poorly planned. I doubt he had given much thought about any of it. They would have found him eventually, unless he was incredibly lucky.

 

[AngTxGal]

Page 2 of the Affidavit of Indigency is below. His rent is listed at $1700 (?). And car payment (presuming is "transportation") of $200 (?).

There are other monthly expenses for a total ~$2500 (?). With no income until he started teaching this fall and cash to his name of $1,050 (?), I suspect he was very close to going broke.

That's lot pressure. Unless he didn't care.

IMO.

ET: tighten format
View attachment 606340

If a guy is having financial difficulties, $1700 is a lot for rent if you are in debt. Did parents help= the security deposit for a 3 bedroom home would be high.
Cash is shown as $50??
Is this the total of what he has in the bank?

I’ve heard of teachers getting an advance on pay, or a signing bonus to carry them through the fist month.

When I saw he had only worked for Plano for four days that is exactly what hit me-
Did he get a signing bonus and advance in pay and then bail to another job closer to his parents?
If he did he may have been tied up with some legal issues, unless he could show a district he signed in good faith and would pay back the advance?

He may also have applied for several jobs, took the Plano job, then was offered a job from a district he preferred. So he had to quit Plano- which means he in a sense violated his employment contract. The fine print may say he has 30 days?

IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

Oh, that makes sense. But he could have done that via Uber, and left the telltale car behind. I wonder what his actual plan was?
Let's just say they had failed to find him. What would he be doing now?

Yes, he could have kept that car in the garage and cut his own hair. Or walked to a hair salon- reporters said the salon was 7 miles from his residence. Hmm, if he is a runner that is doable.
If he had stayed underground, he may be at work around kids already, or soon.

He drove around for days walking in and out of hair salons considering a haircut
He was driving that car in public.
He had Oklahoma plates- so they were out of state- wouldn’t come up on Ark registered vehicles

The public was looking for a 4 door black Mazda, not a Kia Stinger.

Why not pick him up on the road, and not a building where there are other people in danger?
It appears someone connected the car to the face and called it in to LE.
Time stamps are 1:18 outside walking in, 1:19 inside salon

Either way- it seems his driving around in the public, going in and out of hair salons for days is what got him caught.
Someone just had to link the face, body build, big head, and demeanor with the 4 door black sporty sedan and decide to call.

So glad he isn’t the brightest bulb in the fridge, may be great at fooling children but no so much aware adults.

IMO

 

[FromGermany1]

I remember the stylist saying that he only wanted the back done, nothing off the top. I think he was trying to make it look different from that picture of the back of his head.

bbm

^^ This!!