logo
What to know about the fatal attack of a married couple at Devil's Den park in Arkansas

What to know about the fatal attack of a married couple at Devil's Den park in Arkansas

Independent3 days ago
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 Devil's 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 Devil's 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 Devil's 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
Devil's Den is a 2,500-acre state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital.
Devil's 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 Devil's 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.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Federal agency opens probe into former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith
Federal agency opens probe into former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Reuters

Federal agency opens probe into former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith

Aug 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal agency has opened a formal investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw two criminal probes into President Donald Trump following his first term in the White House. The Office of Special Counsel confirmed to Reuters that it was investigating whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, a law prohibiting federal employees from using their position for political activity. The decision follows a request for a probe by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican. The OSC is an independent agency that probes the conduct of federal employees, but it does not have the authority to bring criminal charges. It is different from the type of Special Counsel's office previously overseen by Smith, who was appointed by the Department of Justice to pursue criminal cases. The OSC's investigation, which was first reported by the New York Post, is the latest in a series of actions taken by Trump and his allies against their perceived political enemies. Smith, who resigned from his post in January following Trump's election victory, could not immediately be reached for comment. Earlier this week Cotton accused Smith of aggressively pursuing his cases against Trump with the aim of hurting his presidential campaign, calling Smith "a political actor masquerading as a public official" in a series of posts on X. "That's why I've asked this unprecedented interference in the 2024 election be immediately investigated by OSC," Cotton wrote on X. A former war crimes prosecutor, Smith brought two criminal cases against Trump: one accusing him of illegally retaining classified material and another related to Trump's attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, an effort that sparked the January 6, 2021, assault, opens new tab on the U.S. Capitol. Neither case went to trial, having been delayed and buffeted by a series of legal challenges, including a ruling by the Supreme Court's conservative majority that granted former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution. Smith dropped both cases after Trump won the election, citing a longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, but issued a report in January saying the evidence he gathered would have been enough to convict Trump at trial. Trump denied wrongdoing and assailed the prosecutions as politically motivated attempts to damage his campaign.

Scary photos show bomb wrapped in cellophane found in Cali man's bedroom as his messages to ISIS revealed
Scary photos show bomb wrapped in cellophane found in Cali man's bedroom as his messages to ISIS revealed

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Scary photos show bomb wrapped in cellophane found in Cali man's bedroom as his messages to ISIS revealed

Shocking photographs show what appears to be a homemade bomb wrapped in cellophane, reportedly recovered from the bedroom of a California man accused of supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, was arrested Friday morning and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization - a felony offense that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. His arrest comes after federal agents with the FBI 's Joint Terrorism Task Force recovered knives and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device inside his Long Beach home. According to officials, the bomb-like device, discovered in his bedroom, was packed with ball bearings, wrapped in cellophane, and wired with red and black electrical cords. The horrifying discovery came as investigators also uncovered disturbing messages Villanueva, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from the Philippines, exchanged with individuals he believed to be ISIS fighters. According to court documents, the 28-year-old used social media to communicate with two individuals who identified themselves as ISIS fighters. During these communications, Villanueva discussed his desire to support ISIS, and offered to send money to the ISIS fighters to support their terrorist activities, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He expressed a desire to join their ranks, writing, 'It's an honor to fight and die for our faith. It's the best way to go to heaven,' and later adding, 'Someday soon, I'll be joining.' Villanueva also allegedly told one of the individuals that he possessed the lethal weapons - a bomb and knives - which authorities later recovered from his home on the 3000 block of Caspian Avenue. Prosecutors added that the Long Beach resident sent a total of 12 payments, amounting to $1,615, over a five-month span using Western Union, to two intermediaries who accessed the funds overseas. 'Villanueva is alleged to have financially supported and pledged his allegiance to a terror group that targets the United States and our interests around the world,' Patrick Grandy, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said. 'Thanks to the proactive efforts by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI and our partners safely arrested Mr. Villanueva today and prevented further support and spreading of ISIS ideology.' Villanueva was also found to have asked one of the individuals back in February if the money he sent would 'cover your equipment and your weapons'. 'Supporting a terrorist group, whether at home or abroad, is a serious risk to our national security,' Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. 'We will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies.' Following his arrest, Villanueva's neighbors expressed shock at his 'unexpected' behavior, describing their neighbor as quiet and unassuming. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal authorities 'will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies' 'I don't know what to think. It's kind of scary,' Heliodoro Becerra, a neighbor of Villanueva's told KTLA. 'You see your neighbors, but you don't see what they're doing inside their house.' Although federal authorities allege Villanueva believed he was speaking with ISIS fighters, some experts warn that he may have been communicating with undercover agents. 'There is nothing in the criminal complaint that makes it clear he was actually talking to ISIS,' Hal Kempfer, a retired Marine intelligence officer, told KTLA. 'He could very well have been talking to law enforcement working undercover online.' Still, Kempfer emphasized the continued risk posed by individuals self-radicalizing from their homes. 'You probably wouldn't notice a neighbor who is self-radicalizing online at night,' he said. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin S. Scott of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force continues to investigate. Villanueva appeared in a Los Angeles court after his Friday arrest, where he was ordered to be held without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for August 15 at the Roybal Federal Building. ISIS, also known as ISIL or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is a Sunni jihadist group with a particularly violent ideology that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims, according to

Win a copy of No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan in this week's Fabulous book competition
Win a copy of No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan in this week's Fabulous book competition

The Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Sun

Win a copy of No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan in this week's Fabulous book competition

THIS debut crime novel is a gripping, gritty read. DCI Liz Field is tasked with investigating two connected murders – one victim was a famous psychologist and the other his former patient who was part of a groundbreaking study he oversaw 15 years ago. With pressure coming at her from all sides, Field must find the killer before they strike again. . . 10 lucky Fabulous readers will win a copy of this new novel in this week's book competition. To win a copy, enter using the form below by 11:59pm on August 16, 2025. For full terms and conditions, click here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store