Police release picture of man wanted for questioning in investigation into devil's den park killings
Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail Saturday at Devils Den 2,500-acre state park in northwest Arkansas. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. Police have not said how the couple were killed but said Monday night the killer likely was injured during the attack. Authorities have asked the public to report tips and urged trailgoers who were at Devils Den on Saturday to look through their photos and videos for possible images of the suspect. State police said they have received numerous calls but have released few details about the investigation including whether they believe the killer is still in the area. The FBI said Monday its Little Rock field office is assisting with the investigation.
Police release photo and composite sketch Police have not identified the killer but have provided a description, the composite sketch and the photo of a person of interest. The photo was provided by a witness who was at Devils Den State Park Saturday, police said. The photo was taken from behind and does not show the person of interest's face. Officials described the suspect as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark ball cap, sunglasses and fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape. The car, possibly a Mazda, may have been traveling on nearby State Highway 170 or State Highway 220.
Victims had just moved to Arkansas Clinton and Cristen Brink had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. 'Clinton and Cristen died heroes protecting their little girls and they deserve justice,' the Brink family said in a statement. 'They will forever live in all of our hearts.'
Police ask public for photos from park day of attack Devils Den is located near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. In addition to images from the park the day of the attack, police are asking local residents to review any security or game camera footage for unusual activity or images matching the vehicle. Devils Den is known for its hiking trails and rock formations and is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart's Bentonville headquarters. Trails remained closed at the park on Tuesday. Rangers stepped up patrols at the park following the attack.
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Al Arabiya
a day ago
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A teacher has admitted killing a couple hiking with their children in Arkansas. Here's what to know
A 28-year-old schoolteacher admitted killing a couple who were hiking with their two young daughters at a state park in Arkansas authorities said Thursday. Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devil's Den State Park. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members authorities have said. State Police arrested Andrew James McGann after a five-day search and a flood of tips. He was found in Springdale, a city about a 40-minute drive from Devil's Den. Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack. Here's what to know about the case: Family new to Arkansas. The Brinks had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. Officials said Clinton Brink was stabbed first, then Cristen Brink ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death. Authorities have not said if the girls witnessed both their parents being killed. The Brink family said the couple died heroes protecting their little girls. Suspect is a newly hired teacher. McGann was charged with two counts of capital murder and was being held without bond Thursday. Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter said he did not know if McGann has a lawyer or will need a public defender. The Associated Press has left messages at a number listed for McGann. Hagar said police have no reason to believe McGann knew the couple or their children. Springdale Public Schools said it had hired McGann for the upcoming year but that he had not yet had contact with families or students. He has active teaching licenses with no infractions or suspensions in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, according to government certification websites. McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism, according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District. He resigned from the school in May 2023. McGann was also a teacher at a small Oklahoma school district starting in the summer of 2024 until May. Tips from the public. Police had urged those who were at the park on the same day to check their cameras for images that could help point to a suspect – and people responded. Their tips, photos, and footage were instrumental in capturing McGann, police said. Police also released a composite sketch and a photo of a person of interest that showed him only from behind. Tips came in from as far away as Washington state, said Col. Stacie Rhoads, commander of the state police's criminal investigation division. It was overwhelming, she said. A park known for trails and rock formations. Devil's Den is a 2500-acre (1000-hectare) state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. The park is known for its hiking trails and rock formations, and it is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart's Bentonville headquarters. It was selected as a state park site in the 1930s. The park's trails, which lead to the surrounding Ozark National Forest, remained closed Thursday.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
What to know about the fatal attack of a married couple at devil's den park in Arkansas
Authorities have released a photo and a composite sketch of a person they are trying to question as they investigate the fatal attack of a married couple in front of their children at Devils Den State Park in Arkansas. The search for the man who killed the hikers at a state park in northwest Arkansas entered its fifth day, while many details about the attack remain unclear. Here are some things to know: Couple found dead on a walking trail: Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devils Den. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. Police have released a composite sketch and photo of a person of interest they are searching for in the attack. Along with the drawing, state police released a statement saying the suspect likely sustained an injury while attacking the couple. It did not go into further detail. The State Police has said it has received numerous calls. But the agency has released few details, including how the couple was killed and whether it believes the killer is still in the area. The FBI has said its Little Rock field office is assisting in the investigation. Police released composite sketch of person of interest: Police have not identified the killer or given a possible motive for the attack, but they have provided a description, the composite sketch, and the photo of a person of interest. The photo was provided by a witness who was at Devils Den State Park Saturday, police said. The photo was taken from behind and does not show the person of interest's face. Officials described him as a white male wearing a long-sleeved shirt with sleeves rolled up, dark pants, a dark ball cap, and sunglasses. He was carrying a black backpack and wore fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape. The car, possibly a Mazda, may have been traveling on nearby State Highway 170 or State Highway 220. Victims had moved from South Dakota: Clinton and Cristen Brink had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. The Brink family said the couple died heroes protecting their little girls. Park known for hiking trails: Devils Den is a 2,500-acre state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. Devils Den is known for its hiking trails and rock formations, and it is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart's Bentonville headquarters. It was selected as a state park site in the 1930s. The park's trails, which lead to the surrounding Ozark National Forest, remained closed Wednesday. Authorities have asked the public to report tips and urged trail-goers who were at Devils Den on Saturday to look through their photos and videos for possible images of the suspect. Police have also asked local residents to review any security or game camera footage for unusual activity or images matching the vehicle.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Police release picture of man wanted for questioning in investigation into devil's den park killings
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas police released a photo Tuesday of a man wanted for questioning in the investigation into the weekend killing of a married couple in front of their children at Devils Den State Park. The image released by state police doesn't show the man's face and comes a day after police released a composite sketch of a person of interest. Details about the attack including how the couple was killed or a motive for the killing remained scarce. Police say killer likely injured during attack. Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail Saturday at Devils Den 2,500-acre state park in northwest Arkansas. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. Police have not said how the couple were killed but said Monday night the killer likely was injured during the attack. Authorities have asked the public to report tips and urged trailgoers who were at Devils Den on Saturday to look through their photos and videos for possible images of the suspect. State police said they have received numerous calls but have released few details about the investigation including whether they believe the killer is still in the area. The FBI said Monday its Little Rock field office is assisting with the investigation. Police release photo and composite sketch Police have not identified the killer but have provided a description, the composite sketch and the photo of a person of interest. The photo was provided by a witness who was at Devils Den State Park Saturday, police said. The photo was taken from behind and does not show the person of interest's face. Officials described the suspect as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark ball cap, sunglasses and fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape. The car, possibly a Mazda, may have been traveling on nearby State Highway 170 or State Highway 220. Victims had just moved to Arkansas Clinton and Cristen Brink had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. 'Clinton and Cristen died heroes protecting their little girls and they deserve justice,' the Brink family said in a statement. 'They will forever live in all of our hearts.' Police ask public for photos from park day of attack Devils Den is located near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. In addition to images from the park the day of the attack, police are asking local residents to review any security or game camera footage for unusual activity or images matching the vehicle. Devils Den is known for its hiking trails and rock formations and is a short drive from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Walmart's Bentonville headquarters. Trails remained closed at the park on Tuesday. Rangers stepped up patrols at the park following the attack.
