WEST FORK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The FBI has joined the Arkansas State Police in the search for the suspect accused of killing two people at Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday.
State Police say Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, of Prairie Grove, were killed while hiking with their two school-age daughters at the park on Saturday afternoon. The Brink family had recently moved to the area, according to Prairie Grove’s mayor.
In a statement to Nexstar’s KNWA/KFTA on Monday, a spokesperson for the FBI said that while Arkansas State Police remains the lead in the investigation, the agency’s Little Rock office has provided “additional manpower and specialized resources.”
ASP described the suspect as a white male of medium build.
The man was last seen wearing dark pants, a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a dark ballcap, sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and carrying a black backpack.
He was reportedly driving a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with the license plate obscured by electrical or duct tape. The vehicle was seen heading toward a park exit and may have traveled on State Highways 170 or 220.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis said the agency is working closely with ASP and has increased law enforcement presence in all state parks.
The Arkansas State Parks’ website says that all trails at Devil’s Den State Park are closed until further notice. The park’s rugged terrain, thick vegetation and lack of cell service have complicated the search efforts, according to officials.
Authorities are asking park visitors to review any cellphone, GoPro or camera footage from Saturday for possible images of the suspect. Residents near the park are also urged to check home security or game camera footage. Anyone with information about the suspect or his whereabouts should call ASP Troop L at (479) 751-6663.
According to State Police, the Brinks’ daughters, ages 7 and 9, were found physically unharmed.
Hiland Dairy confirmed to the Associated Press that Clinton Brink had transferred from its parent company, Prairie Farms Dairy, from South Dakota, and was scheduled to start his job as a driver delivering milk in the Fayetteville area on Monday. The family had also previously lived in California and Montana, according to reports.
“Clinton and Cristen died heroes protecting their little girls, and they deserve justice,” the Brink family said in a statement provided to ABC News. “They will forever live in all of our hearts.”