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

[CS2C]

News Nation is an accepted source. Can you post it here for us?

I don’t think the video is shown on news night, I could be wrong? I saw the video on the YouTube channel. The car to me looks like an Audi S5 or a Kia Stinger. Apparently it had quad exhaust

 

[dub]

Yeah I think when we find out more about who he is it will make sense. Putting tape over your license plate in all actuality does more to attract attention if anything. Just keep in mind that the fact that he hasn't been caught yet in no way necessitates that he's some kind of genius. There's still plenty of time for him to be the biggest moron alive.

100%. That's exactly what I've thought about the license plate from the jump, seems like a great way to have cops waiting for you by your car when you get back from the trail.

I am certain this guy is either extremely stupid or not in his right mind, or both. But even with BOTH being the case I can't wrap my head around not bothering to wear the sunglasses!

 

[flowershop]

A criminologist was interviewed by an ABC News local affiliate:

"If someone wanted to get away with a heinous crime, they would probably go to a place like this," said Angelo Brown, an assistant professor of criminology at Arkansas State University. "It lacks cellphone reception. That's an important factor, you know? So by the time the news got out, he's probably 100 miles away."

Devil's Den killings: Everything we know right now

Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were killed on a walking trail at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas.

www.4029tv.com

 

[Serononin]

As a total aside
Indulge me
I'm the poster who started the whole "recognize eye color in a passing stranger" tangent
I realized why I don't do the eye contact thing - and never have

I grew up in and around New York City
You are raised to avoid eye contact with strangers
So as to not provoke any monkey business if s/he is a little you know what

I get you - I grew up in London and I'm autistic, so eye colour would be the last thing I would notice

 

[marloweclover]

Also thinking quad exhaust possibly modded, possible vanity plate, fingerless gloves, possible Stinger or Audi, those things could all go together in one version of the puzzle imo.

 

[citizen_sleuth]

100%. That's exactly what I've thought about the license plate from the jump, seems like a great way to have cops waiting for you by your car when you get back from the trail.

I am certain this guy is either extremely stupid or not in his right mind, or both. But even with BOTH being the case I can't wrap my head around not bothering to wear the sunglasses!

According to the ASP press release, he was last seen wearing sunglasses (although he must have had them off at some point since the sketch shows him without sunglasses):

The wanted man is described as a white male of medium build, last seen wearing a long-sleeved shirt (with sleeves rolled up), dark pants, a dark baseball cap, and sunglasses.

 

[Leve]

I think that may be a cooling cloth around his neck, not a scarf. It had to be pretty warm. It's been in the 90's there

 

[Betty P]

The fact that they were right at the start of a new chapter in their lives makes it all the more heartbreaking

It also seems less likely they had an enemy. They probably hadn't met very many people yet or had enough time to establish relationships with people who might want to kill them.

Road rage might be possible, but it seems unusual for someone who is upset with a traffic incident to have a "kill kit" in their car for the purpose of getting revenge. Then again, in a place like Arkansas, some people might keep a kill kit handy, just in case.

The part I'm trying to figure out is why the killer wore finglerless gloves on a hot July day. It certainly wouldn't protect them from leaving fingerprints or DNA. Did they use a knife and assume those gloves would protect them from cuts? If so, they're not too bright.

I have a feeling someone has seen the photos and drawings along with the car description and knows who this is.

JMO, they're someone who just felt like killing someone at the park that day and chose this couple because they were in a spot with no other witnesses around.

 

[MollyHarps]

Im just catching up after a day out - is it true that police believe him to be 5’10-6ft tall?

On the picture from behind I have him a lot less than that Im thinking 5’6-5’8

 

[SMK777]

Im just catching up after a day out - is it true that police believe him to be 5’10-6ft tall?

On the picture from behind I have him a lot less than that Im thinking 5’6-5’8

Same here.

 

[Serononin]

The fact that the suspect was carrying what looks to me to be an empty (or at least mostly empty) duffel bag is interesting to me.

I'm not an avid hiker by any means, but I have gone on quite a few hikes and can't recall ever seeing someone carrying a duffel bag -- someone on a trail with a duffel bag would probably stand out. We know the suspect had a car since he was last seen driving towards the park exit, so it's not as if he did not have somewhere to keep the bag before entering the trail. It seems the suspect at least wanted to conceal his identity considering he took the time to cover his license plate with duct/electrical tape (which IMO he probably did before driving to the park), so why carry a duffel bag on the trail when it will likely attract attention?

The duffel bag does not make sense to me unless he was carrying it for a specific purpose -- perhaps to dispose of something or pick something up in the park?

Seeing people on here disagreeing over different aspects of the suspect's figure in the photo makes me wonder if that was actually the purpose of the huge bag - to make it harder to pick out potentially identifying features because so much of his body is obscured by the bag

 

[CS2C]

Im just catching up after a day out - is it true that police believe him to be 5’10-6ft tall?

On the picture from behind I have him a lot less than that Im thinking 5’6-5’8

The witnesses on the interview said mid-late 20’s and 5’10 - 6’00 with a stocky build.

 

[Rational_Geographic]

100%. That's exactly what I've thought about the license plate from the jump, seems like a great way to have cops waiting for you by your car when you get back from the trail.

I am certain this guy is either extremely stupid or not in his right mind, or both. But even with BOTH being the case I can't wrap my head around not bothering to wear the sunglasses!

Yep. He might have some weird distorted view of the world. I still am not sure that picture of him from behind isn't post incident. I know how crazy that sounds but if he's that brazen, it just might. We'll see (and we will.)

 

[Betty P]

Couple got ‘death stare’ from suspect in Devil’s Den State Park killings​

Redirect Notice

This guy must have thought he was wearing his own version of "tactical gear", hence the fingerless gloves. He was on a mission to kill someone, perhaps anyone he thought was a good target.

The video of the car is interesting and locals should take note of the direction it was heading - on Hwy 170 North. Perhaps he was avoiding the interstate as he headed north.

 

[Betty P]

That backpack is very odd.

The bag is quite small, not the usual student backpack.

It reminds me a lot of a binocular harness that hunters or birdwatchers wear, where the bag is worn on the front for easy access to the contents.

I was just wondering the same - if it was a pack that people wear in the front for easy access. It has that big flap on the top to close it.

 

[Betty P]

Maybe he was involved in some other kind of trafficking other than children.
He could have been there to pick up a prearranged drop of drugs or something which is why he had an empty duffle/backpack thing.
If the Brinks stumbled upon the drop about the time he showed up, he may have killed them for that. He then puts the drop in his bag and leaves.
Also would explain the taped over license plate.
Just another thought.

You think the victims were involved in drug smuggling?

 

[sunflowermomma]

The backpack reminds me of a running/cycling pack:
(example pic)

The "skirt" is a sweatshirt/long sleeve shirt tied around his waist, perhaps to change his appearance quickly? jmo

 

[sunflowermomma]

You think the victims were involved in drug smuggling?

I think this person is saying that they think the victims stumbled upon the perp while he was doing something related to drug trafficking, not that the victims were drug smuggling. IMO

 

[Rational_Geographic]

It also seems less likely they had an enemy. They probably hadn't met very many people yet or had enough time to establish relationships with people who might want to kill them.

Road rage might be possible, but it seems unusual for someone who is upset with a traffic incident to have a "kill kit" in their car for the purpose of getting revenge. Then again, in a place like Arkansas, some people might keep a kill kit handy, just in case.

The part I'm trying to figure out is why the killer wore finglerless gloves on a hot July day. It certainly wouldn't protect them from leaving fingerprints or DNA. Did they use a knife and assume those gloves would protect them from cuts? If so, they're not too bright.

I have a feeling someone has seen the photos and drawings along with the car description and knows who this is.

JMO, they're someone who just felt like killing someone at the park that day and chose this couple because they were in a spot with no other witnesses around.

Agree. People don't realize that while these guys absolutely have "types" many times its also the circumstances that come into play and become an even bigger factor. If they think they can get away with it, a victim who isn't their "type" per se becomes more appealing.

This is total speculation on my part but earlier on on Twitter I had seen someone suggest that the gloves may have been mma gloves. I thought hmm interesting, perhaps. Then if you look at his ears you might make the argument hes got a little "cauliflower ear" going on there. Could be someone who trains possibly? Not that it makes sense someone would wear mma gloves to do something like this but who knows..

 

[Betty P]

I can’t find it, but I heard him interview the man who collected the video from his home footage.
It will likely be on Gray Hughes this evening, as he played the audio of the interview with the young man in the group of four last night.

Edit-
Here it is on the local YouTube channel. The guy is doing a great job, no reason for everyone like NewsNation and Gray Hughes to get credit for his work
Devil’s Den video of car exiting park and interview with dispatcher, young man, car video

IMO

Video of the car is also on this interview on News Nation

Couple got ‘death stare’ from suspect in Devil’s Den State Park killings

“They could sense a bad energy coming off of the guy,” the couple who saw the suspect told Tony Brueski.

www.newsnationnow.com