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

[arielilane]

Police in Wisconsin have reopened a 2020 murder investigation to see whether fatal stabbings in two different state parks in two different states could have a common link

Wisconsin Police Working Devil's Lake Homicide Looking at Devil's Den Double-Murder Suspect in Arkansas

Police from Wisconsin are taking a look at an Arkansas double murder to determine whether the cases are linked.

www.westernjournal.com

Aug 8


In light of the arrest, officials in Sauk County, Wisconsin, are taking a new look at the Oct. 14, 2020, stabbing death of John Schmutzer, 24, who was hiking in Devil’s Lake State Park when he was killed.

 

[SMK777]

Yeah, I mean with Bryan Kohberger it seemed like a pretty big jump to go from a clean record to suddenly killing four strangers in cold blood, so you have to question if there had been others.

With James McGann, I don't know. At Devil's Den he may have only intended to target the Husband, and even that might have stemmed from some sort of dispute ("You lookin' at my kids, buddy? What are you some kind of pervert?") and then the wife was just collateral damage when she went back to intervein.

The part that really makes me really wonder though, is that he just looks like a crazed killer.
When you're this pissed off with the world surely it's only a matter of time before something gives?

strangers

Yes, he indeed looked the part but time will tell if LE can connect him with prior crimes.

 

[Hexe]

With James McGann, I don't know. At Devil's Den he may have only intended to target the Husband, and even that might have stemmed from some sort of dispute ("You lookin' at my kids, buddy? What are you some kind of pervert?") and then the wife was just collateral damage when she went back to intervein.

The police clearly stated Mr Brink was ambushed by McGann. There was no dispute.

 

[indicolite22]

The part that really makes me really wonder though, is that he just looks like a crazed killer.
When you're this pissed off with the world surely it's only a matter of time before something gives?

IIRC, adult witnesses who met him on the trail just minutes before the murders described seeing hatred in his eyes. It's was almost as if he were hunting. OTOH, if he didn't get caught he would probably walk into his new school with a different look in his face. I doubt people would suspect him.

 

[OneLove]

Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe he looks "normal" in the photo with Khan because someone else took the photo and directed him.

jmo

Yes, my first impression was also that he looked normal, maybe even happy, in that pic. When I *studied* it though, I noticed that her only lifted an upper lip and only on one side, almost as though he was struggling to get a look that wasn't so off putting. And the cat effect may have been intentional as a smoke screen. Maybe there was never really a Khan at all? Maybe it was a CON instead? If only he had any recent people in his life that could speak to this, like neighbors or running partners, or gym buddies, or anyone at all. It seems there is a vast void in his life of connections.

There is a body language analyst who used to post quite a lot in social media, analyzing the facial expressions and body movements of clips from televised speeches of people on the national front but I cant remember his name now. I'd love to see his analysis of AM. Anyone know who I'm referencing?

 

[OneLove]

The police clearly stated Mr Brink was ambushed by McGann. There was no dispute.

I'm sure the police know a LOT of detail we do not. Trial will be interesting if there ever is one.

 

[Slythefly]

Yes, my first impression was also that he looked normal, maybe even happy, in that pic. When I *studied* it though, I noticed that her only lifted an upper lip and only on one side, almost as though he was struggling to get a look that wasn't so off putting. And the cat effect may have been intentional as a smoke screen. Maybe there was never really a Khan at all? Maybe it was a CON instead? If only he had any recent people in his life that could speak to this, like neighbors or running partners, or gym buddies, or anyone at all. It seems there is a vast void in his life of connections.

There is a body language analyst who used to post quite a lot in social media, analyzing the facial expressions and body movements of clips from televised speeches of people on the national front but I cant remember his name now. I'd love to see his analysis of AM. Anyone know who I'm referencing?

In relation to how AJM appears in pictures, I put focus into any of the personal pictures and none whasoever in mugshots, licenses or school IDs.

As a former educator, I recall when I would get fingerprinted and have my picture taken. The lady taking my picture informed me that the picture will be placed in the FBI database, so there is to be no smiling, and you must look serious straight into the camera.

I asked her so I am being forced to look as a criminal would? And she said yes lol. Ever since then, I never analyze how someone looks in official photos because who knows what direction they received off camera. Personal or FB pictures will tell the natural story of the body language and facial expressions, if one is interested in reading into those types of things.

 

[AngTxGal]

Yes, my first impression was also that he looked normal, maybe even happy, in that pic. When I *studied* it though, I noticed that her only lifted an upper lip and only on one side, almost as though he was struggling to get a look that wasn't so off putting. And the cat effect may have been intentional as a smoke screen. Maybe there was never really a Khan at all? Maybe it was a CON instead? If only he had any recent people in his life that could speak to this, like neighbors or running partners, or gym buddies, or anyone at all. It seems there is a vast void in his life of connections.

There is a body language analyst who used to post quite a lot in social media, analyzing the facial expressions and body movements of clips from televised speeches of people on the national front but I cant remember his name now. I'd love to see his analysis of AM. Anyone know who I'm referencing?

Absolutely agree, seems a relationship void

Unable to smile, I know when depression hits after a traumatic event any expression that signifies being happy is a struggle to make and maintain. It is a very bizarre feeling that is often described as numbness or an inability to feel at all
I see a void, even an intensity of emotion such as anger but had equated it with that kind of numbness

There is a Dr. G, is this who you are referring to?

IMO

 

[RedHaus]

There is a body language analyst who used to post quite a lot in social media, analyzing the facial expressions and body movements of clips from televised speeches of people on the national front but I cant remember his name now. I'd love to see his analysis of AM. Anyone know who I'm referencing?

RS&BBM
Can't help you with identifying that person.

But here we on WS, we have our very own. I also can't recall who that OP is. But I vividly recall, I think in a private convo related to the Esther Dingley case (which brought me to WS late 2020!), an incredible analysis this OP did of a BBC interview with ED's long term partner. It was quite impressive.

If I have a chance, I may go back into the recesses of that case to see if I can ID that OP.

Unless anyone else here knows of whom I speak.

 

[Simply Caustic]

This is on my mind, what was his high school experience like?
We know he graduated from Fenwick 2015, and Oklahoma State Sp 2022.

Fenwick is not some obscure small church school, this is very well known and highly regarded Catholic school with a long tradition of high caliber graduates ranging from CEOs of corporations to astronauts, military officers, and politicians.
I see historical links to these corporations: McDonalds, Sears, American Airlines, Proctor and Gamble- WOW!

Fenwick Catholic School- 9-12 gradesgraduating class 200, total student body near 1000
Students for the 2010-2011 school year $40 million in merit based scholarships. Wow!!
This means on average a student would have received $200,000 toward college, of course some received a lot and others probably nothing.
Alum attend Notre Dame, Georgetown, Boston College, Harvard etc. of course not everyone.
AJM would have entered Fenwick high school fall 2011.
Fenwick would be a highly competitive school, with merit scholars

AJM then attended a state university
graduated two years later than his peers who would have graduated 2019.
became an elementary school teacher

That would not be the typical path of a student from Fenwick. He seems to have been out of his element.

Understand I am not judging his professional choices or schools, I attended a state school and worked to pay for it so this would be a foreign world to me.

But… He started out with an huge advantage in this education and networking very few high schools students in the entire nation have!

What expectations were placed on him?
How did he do compared to his peers?

Did he have a learning disability? In addition to possible head injury? Or mental illness?

Perplexed
IMO

JMO Fenwick is an excellent school, but I wouldn’t call his path out of the ordinary. It’s quite large and grads run the gamut from the best of the best to ordinary. Your points on his late graduation and seemingly sudden transfer are notable; I wonder what occurred, if anything, to trigger these events?

I’m a lifelong Chicagoan and Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin is well-known here as a nearby destination for scenic hiking trails and amazing views. The similarity between the broad strokes of what we know about this case and that of John Schmutzer in Devil’s Park are intriguing and I am interested to see what we learn that either further connects (or disconnects) the two cases. I also can’t help but wonder about James Yoblonski as a possible connection given the creepy, inappropriate actions AJM took as a teacher and the postulated theory that James may have met someone online; I’ll take further comment on that to the respective threads, but wanted to mention it.

 

[laurammke]

Came here to comment on the possible connection to John Schmutzer’s murder at Devil’s Lake State Park / Wisconsin as well. I just read a news story that police are testing DNA from McGann for any possible connection to Schmutzer’s murder.

 

[Charlot123]

I think Vermont is a red-haired herring.

I'm willing to change my mind, but he needs to be in that state at that time. I don't see it, at this point.

jmopinion

I don’t know about VT. We have too many people disappearing from the trails that it makes sense to check his trips and flights country-wide, IMHO.

He lived in the Midwest. Evansdale is always the question, but he wasn’t even driving then. Still, any relatives in the area? Then that strange lake murder in Myron Grove in 2015. Lots of places around, even.

 

[Luce2842]

THE teacher accused of killing two parents in an Arkansas state park is being investigated in connection with two similar cold cases.

An unsolved stabbing in 2020 and a mysterious 2023 shooting death are now being revisited in the wake of the double murder at Devil's Den State Park.

Serial killer fears after 'satanic link' in Devil's Den murder & unsolved death

THE teacher accused of killing two parents in an Arkansas state park is being investigated in connection with two eerily similar cold cases. An unsolved stabbing in 2020 and a mysterious 2023 shoot…

www.the-sun.com

 

[SMK777]

I don’t know about VT. We have too many people disappearing from the trails that it makes sense to check his trips and flights country-wide, IMHO.

He lived in the Midwest. Evansdale is always the question, but he wasn’t even driving then. Still, any relatives in the area? Then that strange lake murder in Myron Grove in 2015. Lots of places around, even.

Do you think he may possibly be connected to Evandale, as Richard Allen seems to have not been?

 

[Onlyguessing23]

I don’t know about VT. We have too many people disappearing from the trails that it makes sense to check his trips and flights country-wide, IMHO.

He lived in the Midwest. Evansdale is always the question, but he wasn’t even driving then. Still, any relatives in the area? Then that strange lake murder in Myron Grove in 2015. Lots of places around, even.

Thank you, Charlot123. I wasn’t familiar with either of these until now. Hopefully, these are both being looked at again with this new information.

 

[Charlot123]

Do you think he may possibly be connected to Evandale, as Richard Allen seems to have not been?

Something to be looked into. The driving distance is four hours, and 12 years ago, I assume AM was not able to drive on his own, but boy, is Chicago close to Iowa. The girls would be of his age of interest, they disappeared close to a popular recreational park, and there are tons of reasons to visit the neighborhood in the summer. I always thought of the two universities nearby, one in Cedar Rapids and one in Iowa City; a schoolkid just could visit them or even take summer classes.

Think of this, a 10-year-old girl would feel flattered by the attention of a 15-year-old boy. It didn’t need to look like an abduction.

ETA: just remembering that in several known SK cases, there often is a murder, or a disappearance close by, that has never been resolved and it happens much earlier than the crimes start. The killer would be around 13-14 when it happened and the victim, slightly younger. These cases are always questioned, but either the SK did not develop his trademark style yet, or it is simply hard to prove anything because when it happened, the perps were not among the suspects, but these cases stay in history as “separate”.

 

[RedHaus]

Hopefully, these are both being looked at again with this new i7nformation

RSBM
Given in at least one of many MSM articles posted here in the past 2 days about how WI LE are in contact with AR LE to get AJM's DNA to evaluate if he is linked to the 2020 stabbing death of John Schmutzer, said WI LE were tipped off by public tips, I encourage all of us to send TIPs to respective LE of any possible case that might connect to AJM. Citizen sleuthing at its best!

 

[Inthedetails]

Think of this, a 10-year-old girl would feel flattered by the attention of a 15-year-old boy. It didn’t need to look like an abduction.

snipped

The Evanston girls were transported far away in a car. Would a 15yo be able to do that?

jmo

 

[Charlot123]

snipped

The Evanston girls were transported far away in a car. Would a 15yo be able to do that?

jmo

We don’t know where they were killed. They were found 25 miles north of Evansdale in the winter, that’s all that has been published.

The question is, when did AM receive his learners permit? You have to have someone driving with you, but if you drive well and look older than 15, you may get away with driving alone. He’d risk only with the girls in the car, but not if they were alive and consenting.

 

[Inthedetails]

We don’t know where they were killed. They were found 25 miles north of Evansdale in the winter, that’s all that has been published.

The question is, when did AM receive his learners permit? You have to have someone driving with you, but if you drive well and look older than 15, you may get away with driving alone. He’d risk only with the girls in the car, but not if they were alive and consenting.

Yes, the girls found miles away, which implies they were transported. Would a 15yo, who didn't live nearby, be able to pull off this crime that involved driving and stump LE for years?

As amazing as it would be to solve the Evanston case, I'm not seeing AM as a likely perp. But, what do I know.

jmopinion