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

[indicolite22]

The good thing about the gloves, imo, is perhaps they will identify him. Most people don't walk around in July on a hike wearing fingerless gloves, but this guy does. Is anyone calling in tips based on that? Maybe.

jmopinion

Would the gloves give him a better grip on a knife's handle?

 

[Inthedetails]

Would the gloves give him a better grip on a knife's handle?

He wore them for a reason.

jmopinion

 

[Knox]

I respectfully disagree that is a strong possibility. I don't think he would have choose to approach a family of four in broad daylight in a public space. Something triggered him.

Completely agree, but leaving a small window just in case. The thing that causes me doubt is how recently they had moved. I really want to know where Clinton worked.

 

[Knox]

Would the gloves give him a better grip on a knife's handle?

IMO, yes!!

 

[nao]

Would the gloves give him a better grip on a knife's handle?

Moo.. for sure better grip also less chance of him cutting his own hand if knife slips...moo

 

[Snoopster]

The victims must have been quite close to their car, for her to be able to escape and come back.

IMO, the attacker probably had his car in the same lot - and committed the crime close to his car so he could quickly drive away - not go walking back through the park to his car, covered in blood, seen by more witnesses, etc.

So, I think the crime was fairly deliberate, in the sense he knew about his need to get away.

Also, he may have been hiding after the attack on the husband, waiting/watching for his chance to get to his car.

However, I think he didn't really know clearly what he was doing, since choosing 4 people was very foolish. A more deliberate killer would have lurked close to the park entrance until a solo person came by, and wouldn't have shown himself to others in the park.

JMO

Bolded for focus.

I agree that the victims and the perp were likely parked in that small lot near the trailhead.

The victims' bodies were likely found near the far end of the lower trail, and it seems that they were found close together. I base this opinion on the audio recordings of the searchers comments (scanner audio comments that were posted by mainstream media). According to the video (and clips in it):

- less than an hour into the search a searcher says they hear yells calling for help. He says "we're hiking down", and, "hearing them towards the end of the lower part of Devil's Den trail".
- A searcher later announce that they found the victims on lower Devil's Den trail -- "2 bodies".

This would mean that the bodies were like 600 to 800 yards from the trailhead. The initial attack on dad could have happened closer to the parking lot and maybe dad ran one way (away from the lot) while being chased by the killer and mom ran the other way with the kids. Then mom went back in to find dad to see if he was ok.

What surprises me in all of this is that mom didn't pass anyone either way (or else the searchers would have known to search the lower trail and found them sooner).

ETA: I just had a terrible thought. What if the girls were sitting in their vehicle and they saw the perpetrator exit the trail and get in his car? And then their parents didn't emerge? Imagine how scary that would have been?? Not saying this happened but it's possible.

 

[Cryptic]

Your post almost makes me inclined to change my tagline. Beavers Bend is beautiful, and our trout stocked rivers are recovering from flooding.

I am in one of the pesky DFWers with a love of Beavers Bend State Park and the surrounding Oachita Mountains National Forest. But.... I started going there before it was trendy in Texas. Hoping that makes me one of the good guys.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I’m still thinking he went there for the purpose of attacking people, but no one in particular. Also I don’t think an awkward trail or parking lot encounter started anything. The taped over license plate would then make sense.

Edit: typo

 

[FoxxTraxx]

This story may interest those focused on LE's response.

Why it took Arkansas State Police 6 hours to release information on wanted suspect after Devil's Den double homicide​

"The location is in remote, rural Arkansas," an ASP spokesperson said. "It took time for our special agents to arrive on scene, locate witnesses, conduct interviews, and collaborate information so we released the appropriate information."

KFSM News - Ft. Smith AR Why it took Arkansas State Police 6 hours

 

[Hexe]

Maybe she deeply loved her husband and was brave.

Or it did not start with the stabbing from the get go. Maybe they bumped into the perp, he started a talk that was so weird and made Cristen and Clinton so unconfortable they decided she should cart the kids away. When she was packing children into the car, the talk turned to slaughter and Cristen just darted towards her husband maybe not fully comprehending what happened, jyst seeing him.falling down

 

[farmgirl04]

<modsnip - quoted post and response removed>

I know there’s a lot of reasons to believe/think it was random but it feels like it was targeted and not in the sense that anyone will do as long as the perp gets to kill someone. It seems super personal!
All MOO

 

[Justice101]

Finally some more info!

But concerning he was not able to get through to ASP. They have specifically asked the public to give info to them, not to post online.

jmo

How many hours before the murders did this guy say he (potentially) passed by the suspect?

 

[Inthedetails]

How many hours before the murders did this guy say he (potentially) passed by the suspect?

Seems like about an hour before the emergency call? IMO.

I don't know when the suspect actually encountered the victims and how long it took after that before someone was able to call 911.

jmopinion

 

[Cedars]

Moo.. for sure better grip also less chance of him cutting his own hand if knife slips...moo

I think it would depend on whether a person was used to wearing them or not.

If not used to wearing them, any kind of gloves can interfere with natural grip, feel awkward, like an encumbrance.

But if someone's in the habit of wearing them, it becomes a habit and feels odd not to wear them.

IMO, he's not going to wear them now. But a person who knows him might notice that he's stopped.

JMO
.

 

[Justice101]

The more I think about the premeditation the more it sounds maybe someone they knew. An Ex maybe.. someone maybe they were moving away from.

Just sickens my stomach to think about this.

 

[Inthedetails]

The more I think about the premeditation the more it sounds maybe someone they knew. An Ex maybe.. someone maybe they were moving away from.

Just sickens my stomach to think about this.

You'd think the kids would be able to identify an ex?

jmo

 

[arielilane]

A couple who was killed at Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday, July 26, 2025, was hiking with their two daughters when they were attacked. The girls, who are 7 and 9, were not injured and are safe with family members.

Read here for details: https://dps.arkansas.gov/news/asp-releases-additional-information-in-devils-den-double-homicide/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949562935245758555

The victims have been identified as Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who recently moved to Prairie Grove from another state.
Read here for details:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949562937422839827

A call to action has been issued by ASP for park visitors and area residents who may have images of the suspect or information about the suspect or his whereabouts.
Read here for details:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949562938957709795

 

[arielilane]

As others have already stated it sounds premeditated.
This is tragic. My thoughts are with those young children. How horrible for them - there are no words.

Arkansas police searching for murderer who killed couple at Devil’s Den, cops didn’t alert public of double homicide for 6 hours

Police are searching for a killer after a husband and wife were murdered while hiking with their young daughters at a remote state park in Arkansas.

nypost.com

Police issued an updated description of the suspect on Sunday and said he was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up rather than a tank top as initially reported.

He is described as having a medium build, wearing dark pants, a red baseball cap and sunglasses. Police said he also had a backpack and was wearing fingerless gloves.

The suspect was seen driving into the park in a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with its license plate covered by tape.

 

[nao]

I think it would depend on whether a person was used to wearing them or not.

If not used to wearing them, any kind of gloves can interfere with natural grip, feel awkward, like an encumbrance.

But if someone's in the habit of wearing them, it becomes a habit and feels odd not to wear them.

IMO, he's not going to wear them now. But a person who knows him might notice that he's stopped.

JMO
.

Moo..I have been wearing fingerless gloves for decades. I buy gloves and chop the finger part off. They are great, I can garden, hands don't get sweaty, use tools, smoke a cigarette, swipe my phone...to me they are not unusual..but depends on where you live and what you do, I guess...moo

 

[TexLil]

Completely agree, but leaving a small window just in case. The thing that causes me doubt is how recently they had moved. I really want to know where Clinton worked.

Regarding your question on where Clinton worked. I found this in the article below:

"Hiland Dairy confirmed to the Associated Press that Clinton Brink had transferred from its parent company, Prairie Farms Dairy, from South Dakota, and was scheduled to start his job as a driver delivering milk in the Fayetteville area on Monday."

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/prairie-grove-mayor-says-couple-killed-at-devils-den-recently-moved-to-area-had-water-turned-on-this-month/