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

[SMK777]

Here’s another one. I don’t think all of these leads will pan out, but it’s still worthwhile for investigators in other states to take a look and rule them out.

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/wisconsin-investigators-revisit-2020-devils-lake-homicide-after-arkansas-arrest/

“Now, investigators in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are re-examining the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was killed while hiking alone at Devil’s Lake State Park. DNA collected at the time ruled out other suspects, but no arrest was made.

A week after McGann’s arrest, Wisconsin authorities received several tips referencing him and requested DNA analysis from Arkansas to determine if he could be connected to—or ruled out from—the Schmutzer case.”

Fingerless gloves stands out.

It makes sense that they'd want to see if there's a connection.

 

[RedHaus]

Here’s another one. I don’t think all of these leads will pan out, but it’s still worthwhile for investigators in other states to take a look and rule them out.

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/wisconsin-investigators-revisit-2020-devils-lake-homicide-after-arkansas-arrest/

“Now, investigators in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are re-examining the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was killed while hiking alone at Devil’s Lake State Park. DNA collected at the time ruled out other suspects, but no arrest was made.

A week after McGann’s arrest, Wisconsin authorities received several tips referencing him and requested DNA analysis from Arkansas to determine if he could be connected to—or ruled out from—the Schmutzer case.”

Great to see the WI LE looking into this!!

John's unsolved case has been on the table here vis a vis a possible AJM crime.

Some here may have sent tips in!

 

[Inthedetails]

Here’s another one. I don’t think all of these leads will pan out, but it’s still worthwhile for investigators in other states to take a look and rule them out.

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/wisconsin-investigators-revisit-2020-devils-lake-homicide-after-arkansas-arrest/

“Now, investigators in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are re-examining the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was killed while hiking alone at Devil’s Lake State Park. DNA collected at the time ruled out other suspects, but no arrest was made.

A week after McGann’s arrest, Wisconsin authorities received several tips referencing him and requested DNA analysis from Arkansas to determine if he could be connected to—or ruled out from—the Schmutzer case.”

John Schmutzer has a WS thread:

Thread 'WI- John Craig Schmutzer, 24, Fatally stabbed at Devil’s Lake State Park, Sauk County- 14 Oct 2020'

Oct 16, 2020

He was found on a hiking trail in a popular state park.

Suspect in Devil's Lake stabbing still at large

Victim in Devil's Lake fatal stabbing identified as Wauwatosa man

• Wendyb1063
• Replies: 25
• Forum: In the News

• 

 

[Arkay]

Here’s another one. I don’t think all of these leads will pan out, but it’s still worthwhile for investigators in other states to take a look and rule them out.

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/wisconsin-investigators-revisit-2020-devils-lake-homicide-after-arkansas-arrest/

“Now, investigators in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are re-examining the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was killed while hiking alone at Devil’s Lake State Park. DNA collected at the time ruled out other suspects, but no arrest was made.

A week after McGann’s arrest, Wisconsin authorities received several tips referencing him and requested DNA analysis from Arkansas to determine if he could be connected to—or ruled out from—the Schmutzer case.”

This seems far more plausible to me than the case in Vermont. We know for a fact that AJM is familiar with this area, and LE has ruled out a connection to Vermont.

Typically serial killers have a type, which would not be the pattern here if AJM is the culprit in both cases in the area, but naturally there is no “rule” dictating whom a killer decides to murder.

If a person with murder on the mind goes to a recreational area armed with weapons, it would seem that murder was planned, but the victim(s) may be purely spur of the moment.

JMO

 

[AngTxGal]

I agree. Programs like that tend to be fairly close-knit because, like you said, they're small and you spend 4-5 years doing most of your classes with the same group of people. My class (Social Work, not Education, but they're very similar structure-wise) was 55 students, 50 women and 5 men, and everyone knew everyone. Someone who kept entirely to themselves and didn't interact with anyone would have stood out big time. It's an interesting observation, imo. I'd love to hear feedback from people who had to do group projects with him.

OKC Elementary Teacher Ed Program
To me this group that has been referred to as a cohort likely were students that applied and entered their teacher education program together their junior year.
Likely this group then moved through a series of courses together.
A student not clicking, remaining outside the group, those unable to assimilate would be obvious.

This was the first of a series of flaming hoops to ensure he was a fit with elementary kids.

Somehow those in charge of vetting were blind to any red flags.

Was AJM the student in class that asked to do a group project alone?
Or was assigned to a group and stood back while others did the work?
Possibly other students used their social skills to pull him in, as if he was a needy student?

On about Aug 1, 2025 a group of OSU Profs began
- second guessing their ability to judge teachers,
- struggling to understand what they missed,
- trying to figure out their responsibility and,
- creating the story that will come out- or not.

Oh would I love to be a fly on the wall of that conference room with closed door!
IMO

 

[seasideForest]

Since today is your first post on this case, you may want to go back to T1, P1 to catch up on our collective thoughts about AJM's mental health.

I have been reading on the threads actually and have seen some of the suggested diagnoses and/or disorders that you've mentioned in your latest post to me.

I'm sorry you're offended.

I do see the Cleveland link now. I have other links and personal knowledge...

seemingly nice but weird elementary school teacher turned raging double murderer with a knife

I think it's offensive to people who do have DID to equate this sentence with the diagnosis.
DID is just a bit more complicated. And complex. I don't have it, but I know people who do.

MOO

Maybe he's just bad? Maybe he has a pedophilia disorder he's managed to 'somewhat' keep under wraps so far?
JMO

 

[CuriousCricket]

DBM

 

[Vaderman]

i would be shocked. vermont isnt anywhere near the region he has lived in. i dont even see much of a resemblance between the sketch and him

Has it been established if he was definitively placed in Vermont? Or did someone tear their sleeves from making this big of a reach trying to connect him?

 

[PunishThenForgive]

Here’s another one. I don’t think all of these leads will pan out, but it’s still worthwhile for investigators in other states to take a look and rule them out.

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/wisconsin-investigators-revisit-2020-devils-lake-homicide-after-arkansas-arrest/

“Now, investigators in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are re-examining the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was killed while hiking alone at Devil’s Lake State Park. DNA collected at the time ruled out other suspects, but no arrest was made.

A week after McGann’s arrest, Wisconsin authorities received several tips referencing him and requested DNA analysis from Arkansas to determine if he could be connected to—or ruled out from—the Schmutzer case.”

Fingerless gloves stands out.

It makes sense that they'd want to see if there's a connection.

Great to see the WI LE looking into this!!

John's unsolved case has been on the table here vis a vis a possible AJM crime.

Some here may have sent tips in!

P

This seems far more plausible to me than the case in Vermont. We know for a fact that AJM is familiar with this area, and LE has ruled out a connection to Vermont.

Typically serial killers have a type, which would not be the pattern here if AJM is the culprit in both cases in the area, but naturally there is no “rule” dictating whom a killer decides to murder.

If a person with murder on the mind goes to a recreational area armed with weapons, it would seem that murder was planned, but the victim(s) may be purely spur of the moment.

JMO

@Arkay, you’re right:

WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - A possible link between a high-profile murder in Arkansas last month and the 2023 unsolved murder of Honoree Fleming in Castleton appears to be a dead end, according to the Vermont State Police.

Source

I followed the Fleming case back in 2023, so I was shocked when I saw it pop up in this thread. The article I referenced in my previous post was published yesterday, and I didn’t realize until reading your post, Arkay, that Vermont State Police had announced that there appears to be no connection between the Arkansas and Vermont cases.

The article I linked above was published just six minutes before I submitted my own post about the Fleming case, so I will keep this post short in case Wisconsin State Police says there is no connection between the Wisconsin and Arkansas cases just as I submit it, lol.

It is certainly eery that the locations of the Wisconsin and Arkansas murders share the word “Devil’s”: Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin and Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. But lots of other parks and tourist attractions do, too:

• Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming
• Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area In Texas
• Devil's Canyon National Natural Landmark in Oklahoma

And how about these in AM’s home state of Illinois:

(Screenshot of Google Search results when I entered “Devil’s Illinois” in the search window)

However, the Wisconsin and Arkansas cases share a lot more than just a single word in the names of their locations:

Now, investigators in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are re-examining the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was killed while hiking alone at Devil’s Lake State Park. DNA collected at the time ruled out other suspects, but no arrest was made.

In the 2020 case, witnesses reported seeing a white male, about 5’10” to 6 feet tall, dressed in black with a hood, mask and backpack, fleeing the scene, according to Wisconsin investigators. One witness said they saw Schmutzer on the ground as the suspect ran.

In the Arkansas attack, the suspect was described as a white male of medium build, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, dark pants, a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, fingerless gloves and carrying a black backpack.

Source (BBM)

Now we wait to see if AM’s DNA matches the DNA collected in Wisconsin.

IMO

 

[shetalksinstereo]

It looks like McGann was teaching at Spring Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow, OK, for the 2023-24 school year, according to Arkansas local news and other outlets.

Looking at that school's calendar for 2023, school appears to have been in session on October 5. Fall Break wasn't for another two weeks. However, October 6 was a "distance learning" day, so perhaps no in-person classes were held. Not sure what the instructors' obligations are.

And that Monday would have been a school holiday, Indigenous People Day (Columbus Day).

 

[RedHaus]

Has it been established if he was definitively placed in Vermont? Or did someone tear their sleeves from making this big of a reach trying to connect him?

It was the Vermont State Police per an MSM article, who reached out to AR LE. But they've since satisfied their inquiry that there is no link.

Here is the link on closure to that inquiry as posted by @PunishThenForgive, above.

Police find no clear links between Ark. suspect and murder of Castleton professor

A possible link between a high-profile murder in Arkansas and the 2023 unsolved murder of Honoree Fleming in Castleton appears to be a dead end.

www.wcax.com

ET: correct location of OP's post I cited.

 

[RedHaus]

DBM

 

[knla]

DBM

 

[Judy Sleuth]

And that Monday would have been a school holiday, Indigenous People Day (Columbus Day).

Not all schools take that as a day off of class - my own (in Pennsylvania) does not.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

This is what I want to know. What were all the bags about? Especially the empty duffle in the picture. Was it always empty?

A witness described him earlier in the day and mentioned his bags were weighted down. Seems to me they are empty in that picture. Idk what to make of it. The dude literally has three bags, for what? I know a lot of people are saying they are for kids. I don't know many kids past toddler age that can fit in a duffle bag. Even if they could how are you going to get them in the bag and just walk the trail with them? That makes no sense. My thoughts are the bags were used to transport items commissioned in the crime OR they're an indication he had some sort of break with reality and the actual rational for having the bags is nonsensical.

Could have made a delivery of some type if were weighted down earlier, no?

 

[Breezyflavor]

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Thank you guys! And pls message me with any questions!

 

[gremlin444]

And that Monday would have been a school holiday, Indigenous People Day (Columbus Day).

Per the school calendar for that year, it was not a day off of school attendance (or it would have been marked in orange).

Wayback Machine

 

[Hexe]

Typically serial killers have a type,

That's actually a myth. Many serial killers, especially these who do not kill for direct sexual gratification, kill anybody who shows up in right time and place.

 

[AngTxGal]

Could have made a delivery of some type if were weighted down earlier, no?

I think that bag is huge, and it didn’t look full of anything in the picture from the back.
The bag itself and gravity could have weighed it down enough to not flop around, or what is there isn’t even a quarter the size of the bag. IMO

The witness didn’t say it was full, just that it appeared weighted.

So if I think about intentions for bring such huge bag that is awkward to carry- doesn’t have backpack straps?
Kidnap- duct tape, rope, sedative, candy
Murder- additional weapons?
Other backpack- snacks, water, phone

What clothes did he have on when he got into his car? We’ve heard he was seen with blood on his face but not what he was wearing.
Did he put his bloody clothing and shoes into that bag?

Lots of questions
IMO

 

[AngTxGal]

That's actually a myth. Many serial killers, especially these who do not kill for direct sexual gratification, kill anybody who shows up in right time and place.

True-
Some must be type driven, others opportunity driven?

but… many sexual predators have a type, some tight and some not so much
- age range
- size

Risk
How much risk can they handle? Are they brazen, careful, thoughtful, impulsive?
Can they overcome the person with force? Subdue them? Ambush?

It is a terrifying and sobering reality to look at the sizes of people who are missing in Texas.
Why do teens 5’5” and shorter seem to run away and disappear more often? Hmm

IMO