Latest news with #CristenAmandaBrink
New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
Man Arrested in Killing of Arkansas Couple
A man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the deaths of a couple who were attacked last week while hiking with their two young daughters in a state park in Arkansas. The man, James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, Ark., was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon and charged with two counts of capital murder, the Arkansas State Police said in a news release. It was not immediately clear whether or not Mr. McGann had a lawyer. The maximum punishment for capital murder in Arkansas is life in prison or the death penalty. The authorities identified the victims as Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, who they said had recently moved to Prairie Grove, Ark. The couple were hiking on Saturday with their two daughters at the park in northwest Arkansas when they were attacked, according to the Arkansas State Police. The police did not give further details on how the couple died. The Brinks' daughters, who are 7 and 9, had not been injured and were with family members, the police said in a statement on Sunday. The state police received reports of 'a double homicide at the park' on Saturday afternoon, and shortly afterward found the couple's bodies on a walking trail. The police recruited local residents and park visitors for help in their search for the killer, requesting any cellphone videos, photos, security footage or other materials from the day of the killings. On Tuesday, the authorities released a photo of a man facing away from the camera and wearing all black, a backpack and baseball cap, whom they described as a 'person of interest.' The photo, the police said, was taken by another hiker. The authorities have not released any further information about the killing or a possible motive. Col. Mike Hagar of the Arkansas State Police said that additional details would be released later. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas said that while no news could heal the harm done to the Brink family, the arrest had brought some comfort to the state.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man, 28, arrested in deaths of couple hiking in Arkansas State Park
July 30 (UPI) -- A 28-year-old man has been arrested in the deaths of a couple hiking at a northwest Arkansas state park, state police said Wednesday night. James Andrew McGann, of Springdale, Ark., was arrested and faces two counts of capital murder, the state agency said in a news release. He was apprehended at 4:57 p.m. CDT while getting a haircut, KHBS reported. Authorities didn't reveal whether there was a link between the suspect and the victims. Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were killed at Devil's Den State Park near Fayetteville in Washington County on Saturday afternoon, state police said. The couple, who recently moved to Prairie Grove from another state, were hiking with their daughters, 7 and 9, who were not injured. They are safe and in the custody of relatives, police said. "I'm extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our Agents put forward in bringing justice to this family," ASP Col. Mike Hagar said. "The collaboration between State Police, other state and local law enforcement agencies, and our federal partners has been second to none. Because of their hard work and investigative skill, we were able to take a monster off the streets, and bring relief to those two precious girls, and the rest of our citizens." On Tuesday, a photo showing the back of a person of interest and a composite sketch were released. The suspect was described as a White male with a medium build and short hair who was wearing a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, dark pants and a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, according to the state agency. There was a description of his vehicle: a black sedan that was possibly a Mazda. It had tape over its license plate while at the park. The 2,500-acre park is in a remote and rural area, including rugged terrain with thick vegetation and no cellphone service. The park includes several trails and 20 miles for horseback riding. The park is in Lee Creek Valley of the Boston Mountains, which are part of the Ozarks. It was selected as a state park in the 1930s, and developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work relief program established during the Great Depression. Police were dispatched at 2:40 p.m. local time Saturday. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday in a statement on X: "No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend's crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State. "Let there be no mistake -- we do not tolerate violent crime in Arkansas. If you target innocent people, law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice."
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Arrest made after parents slaughtered in front of their children at Arkansas Devil's Den State Park
A 28-year-old Arkansas man was arrested on Wednesday in the killings of a married couple in front of their children at Devil´s Den State Park over the weekend, officials said. Arkansas State Police arrested James Andrew McGann, 28, from Springdale and charged him with two counts of capital murder. Police did not mention a possible motive. 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. The search for the man who killed the hikers at a state park in northwest Arkansas had entered its fifth day Wednesday. Many details about the attack remain unclear. The Brinks 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.
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Arrest made in the killing of a couple hiking in Arkansas with their young daughters
A man has been arrested in connection with the deaths of a married couple attacked and killed while hiking with their two young daughters at a state park in the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas State Police announced on Wednesday. James Andrew McGann, 28, was arrested at a Springdale, Arkansas, business and faces two counts of capital murder, police said. The deaths of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, are being investigated as a double homicide after their bodies were found Saturday on a walking trail in Devil's Den State Park in northwest Arkansas, state police said, without saying how they were killed. The couple had been hiking with their two young daughters. The Brinks' daughters, ages 7 and 9, weren't harmed and are safe with relatives, police said. Law enforcement presence was increased at state parks across Arkansas in response to the killings. CNN is working to determine whether McGann has an attorney. Police in Arkansas had released a photo and a sketch of a man seen Saturday in the Devil's Den State Park and said they wanted to question him in connection with the deaths. They also asked the public to watch out for a medium-build White male who may have driven a Mazda near the park and to send them any photos or videos from the area that day. On Saturday afternoon, 'Washington County received a call from the visitor center,' police audio captured by says. 'Two children are there. They advised that their parents were assaulted. One was possibly stabbed. The parents are missing.' The Brinks had recently moved from another state to Prairie Grove, a small town in northwest Arkansas near the Oklahoma border, according to police. Their family has asked for privacy. 'Clinton and Cristen died heroes, protecting their little girls and they deserve justice. They will forever live on in all of our hearts,' relatives said in a Monday statement. The killings happened in a part of 2,500-acre Devil's Den State Park with thick vegetation and no cell phone service, police said. The park is known for its rugged natural scenery, with waterfalls, caves and rock formations. The couple's bodies were found on the Devil's Den Trail, audio from first responders indicates. The 1.5-mile loop of 'moderate' difficulty is one of 11 trails in the park, and its trailhead is close to the park's visitor center. While searching the trail, first responders heard shouts, scanner audio indicates, though it's not clear from whom. 'I hear yells calling for help. We're walking down,' a first responder says. 'Try to relay to the office that we found the victims down here,' a first responder says. 'They're on the lower Devil's Den Trail. … I think I see you right there. I've got two bodies down here.' This is a developing story and will be updated.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
What to know about the fatal attack of a married couple at Devil's Den park in Arkansas
This undated image provided by the Arkansas State Police on July 29, 2025 shows a man whom investigators are asking the public to help identify in connection with a double homicide at Devil's Den State Park. (Arkansas State Police via AP) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — 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 kilometres) 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. Andrew Demillo, The Associated Press
