A manhunt is underway after a husband and wife were killed while hiking with their young daughters in a remote Arkansas park, police say.
Clinton Brink, 43, and Cristen Brink, 41, of Prairie Grove were found dead on a walking trail at Devil's Den State Park in northwestern Washington County, the Arkansas State Police Department said in a statement Sunday.
Police were notified of the suspected double homicide around 2:40 p.m. Saturday. The park is nestled in the remote and rural settings of the Lee Creek Valley, where police described the terrain as “rugged, vegetation is thick, and there is no cellphone service.”
Less than an hour into the search, police heard cries for help, according to a live radio feed reviewed by 5 News. Authorities said the victims were already deceased by the time officers located them.
The couple, who authorities said had recently moved to the area, was hiking with their young daughters, ages 9 and 7, when they were attacked. The girls were not harmed and have since been safely reunited with relatives.
The suspect is described as a white male of medium build, who investigators believe was wearing a long-sleeved shirt with turned-up sleeves, dark pants, a dark ballcap, sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and carrying a black backpack.
Police said he was seen driving a four-door sedan, which may have been a Mazda, with a taped-over license plate towards the park’s exit. The vehicle may have been travelling on State Highway 170 or State Highway 220 near the park.
Arkansas State Police Department Col. Mike Hagar said that authorities are continuing to “pursue the man responsible for this heinous crime.”
“We are using all available resources to apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice,” he added.
The suspect’s motive for the attack was not immediately clear.
In a statement to ABC News, the victims’ family asked for privacy as they grieved the loss of the couple.
“Clinton and Cristen died heroes protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice,” they said. “They will forever live in all of our hearts.”
A GoFundMe campaign set up by the family to cover the Brinks’ funeral costs and support had raised more than $2,700 by Monday morning.
The couple has left behind their three daughters, including two who police found at the scene, the family said.
“Their lives were stolen senslessly and cruelly,” the fundraiser read. “We want this individual caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
As of Sunday, the area was cordoned off with police asking visitors to share any images that might help identify the suspect.
Local residents have been asked to review their security and game camera footage.
“I never thought anything like this was going to ever happen,” one parkgoer told CBS affiliate KTHV.
Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said police have increased law enforcement presence at state parks.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred at Devil’s Den State Park. Our hearts are with the victims’ loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” he said in a statement Sunday.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she was in close contact with the authorities as they work to apprehend the suspect.
“We are praying for the family and friends of the victims, and know that law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice,” she said on X late Sunday evening.
