Husband and Wife, Clinton and Cristen Brink, Found Dead After Hiking with Their Two Daughters

Radio chatter captured the tense moments leading up to the discovery of the couple's bodies along a trail in the state park. What happened has left a community shaken and authorities urgently searching for answers.

A hike meant for family bonding ended in tragedy on Saturday afternoon, July 26, when a couple, Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were killed on a trail at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas.

They were attacked and murdered while hiking with their two daughters, ages seven and nine. The children were not harmed and are now safe with relatives, according to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety.

The Brinks, who had recently relocated to Prairie Grove, were discovered deceased along a trail around 2:40 p.m. In the charged moments leading up to the tragic discovery at Devil's Den State Park, radio chatter among police officers revealed the urgency of the situation.

One officer asked which part of the park to respond to and was given directions. The officer mentioned sweeping the trail alongside a maintenance worker, noting they had first aid kits and were attempting to locate the family.

A different voice on the radio said she could hear cries for help as they hiked down. Then came a chilling update from the officer, "Try to relay to the office that we found the victims down here; they're on the lower Devil's Den trail. Uh, just a couple of minutes. I think I see you right there, I've got two bodies down here."

Shortly afterward, authorities confirmed the deaths of the Brinks. Arkansas State Police's Criminal Investigation Division is now leading a homicide investigation into the killings.

Authorities are searching for a suspect described as a white male of medium build. He was last seen wearing a dark ballcap, sunglasses, dark pants, and a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

The suspect was also carrying a black backpack and wearing fingerless gloves. He was reportedly seen leaving the area in a black, four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with its license plate obscured by electrical or duct tape.

The attack occurred in a remote and heavily wooded area of the park where there is no cellphone service, making the investigation particularly challenging.

Law enforcement has cordoned off that section of the park and is asking anyone who visited the area on Saturday to check for any photos or videos that may contain images of the suspect. Residents living near the park are also urged to review footage from security or game cameras for anything unusual.

Arkansas State Police strongly advises against posting any potential evidence on social media, warning that doing so could compromise the investigation. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to call ASP Troop L at (479) 751-6663.

In a statement issued Sunday, July 27, Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, expressed, "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."

Shea noted that additional law enforcement presence has been deployed across state parks. Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar also addressed the public, thanking citizens and media outlets for their help. "We are using all available resources to apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice," he said.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also spoke out, saying she was deeply saddened by the tragic events and confirmed that her office is working closely with law enforcement and park officials as the search for the suspect continues.

"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 vowed.

The investigation remains active, with state police working in coordination with local, state, and federal agencies to follow every lead. The tragedy at Devil's Den State Park is one of several recent cases that have left communities reeling. Just two months earlier, in Dalton, Georgia, authorities uncovered another disturbing scene.

Around 6 p.m. on Friday, May 23, Dalton police were dispatched to perform a welfare check on a woman whose co-workers reported she had not been seen or heard from for several days.

Officers knocked on the door of the woman's residence but received no response. They were eventually let in by apartment staff and immediately discovered the woman's body with a gunshot wound to the head.

She was identified as 35-year-old Rebeca Nicole Akins. Detectives were then notified, and they began investigating. They found surveillance footage dated Wednesday, May 21, showing the suspect leaving the premises around 6 p.m.

As the investigation progressed, they tracked the man's car to another apartment complex on 1805 Shadow Lane. As they awaited a search warrant for a unit in the complex on Saturday morning, police saw a man approaching that same unit and opening it with a key.

The man came back outside and called 911 to report two dead bodies, who would be identified as 33-year-old Cindel Mae Rhoden and 37-year-old Kevin Andrew Akins. Police later learned that the person who dialed emergency services was Cindel's father.

Upon reviewing this scene, investigators determined that Kevin shot and killed Cindel before turning the gun on himself. Kevin was married to Rebeca, while also in a relationship with Cindel, who was five months pregnant.

In an updated police report, preliminary findings also revealed that Kevin first murdered his wife, Rebeca, at her residence on 1320 Murray Avenue during the early morning hours of May 21, before heading to Cindel's to kill her and himself.

Following her passing, Rebeca's younger sister, Emily Landen, created a GoFundMe page. "On May 23rd we received the worst news we could possibly receive. My older sister Nicole was tragically taken away from us by the man she had loved for over half of her life. This has broken all of us beyond words. That is all I will say on that matter," Emily began.

She went on to explain that Rebeca had been with Kevin for 20 years, and "all of her financials were tied up in his." Emily said Rebeca was listed in Kevin's life insurance policy and, given the nature of their deaths, her family was unsure how that would impact their ability to cover funeral costs.

"We want to give her a service that she deserved, celebrating her kindness, her happiness, and her unwavering love. We cannot take on this burden alone, but we do not want our situations to prevent her having the service she deserves," Emily wrote.

She added that she wanted to celebrate the life Rebeca lived and the friends she made along the way. Her family plans to raise $18,000 and, as of this writing, they have collected $1,640.

Cindel's family also launched a GoFundMe campaign, led by a woman named Ashley Barker. The campaign description revealed that Cindel was already a mother to two daughters by the time she was expecting a baby boy with Kevin.

Her son would have been born this September. Cindel posted a photo of her ultrasound in March of this year, with the caption, "Coming in September 2025."

In the description of her family's GoFundMe, Ashley described Cindel as a woman devoted to her work as a single mother trying to navigate life.

"Cindel was in a relationship with a man who was married to his estranged wife and she fell victim of manipulation [sic]," Ashley said of Cindel's relationship with Kevin, whom she accused of "taking the coward's way out."

"Cindel was more than just a victim of this tragedy she was kind, full of life, and a devoted mom doing her best for her girls. Her daughters are now in the care of family, but they need help [sic]," she continued.

Unfortunately, Cindel didn't have life insurance. Ashley said the funds raised will provide for Cindel's funeral, her daughters' basic needs, and securing a more stable future for them.

"We believe in the power of community and hope you'll stand with us during this time. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers," Ashley concluded. Cindel's family aims to raise $20,000; as of this writing, they have collected $3,041.