The couple who lost their lives while shielding their young daughters during a hiking trip at a well-known park had recently relocated to a different state for a fresh beginning, according to a neighbor.
Clinton, 43, and his wife Cristen Brink, 41, were found dead along a remote walking trail in Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas on Saturday.
Arkansas State Police reported that the Brinks family were on a hike with their daughters, aged 7 and 9, when they were assaulted by an unknown man.
Investigators said the two young girls were not injured in the attack and are safely in the custody of relatives.
“Clinton and Kristen bravely gave their lives to protect their daughters and they deserve justice. Their memories will live on forever in our hearts,” expressed the Brink and Osgood families in a statement.
Shyanne Marie told The U.S. Sun she saw the Brinks and their daughters the morning of July 26 as they left their home in Prairie Grove, about 17 miles north from where their bodies were found, and headed on their trip.
“We seen them Saturday morning, leaving their house. They waved at us and our kids and went about their day,” Marie said.
‘FRESH START’
Marie said she broke down in tears after learning her neighbors, who had just moved next door to her from South Dakota less than two weeks ago, were killed.
“I cried because I honestly couldn’t believe it. We had just talked to them, so honestly it was hard to believe,” the neighbor added.
“My heart hurts so bad for their little girls, they didn’t deserve this. I couldn’t imagine at 9 and 7 watching my parents murdered in front of me.
“They had just moved next door a week ago, maybe a little over, and their kids played with my kids.
“We were good friends with the neighbors who lived there before them so when they moved in we wanted to introduce ourselves to them and meet our new neighbors.”
Marie added, “They also had a dog and so do we. So we bonded over that first.
“My boyfriend has had a brief conversation with them, they stated how they moved here from South Dakota.
“They had a 7 and 9-year-old girls and that they were just trying to start their life off fresh.
“We live in such a good, quiet town we’ve not ever had anything happen like this in so long, especially so close to home.”
‘UNDENIABLE LOVE’
A former co-worker of the Brinks told The U.S. Sun she was saddened when her colleagues decided to move to Arkansas earlier this month to be closer to family, but was hoping that they would reunite in the future.
“Clint’s oldest daughter recently was married and I know they wanted to be closer to family. They didn’t have family out here in Rapid [City],” the distraught ex-colleague said.
The family friend, who asked to remain anonymous, said she and the Brinks spent years working together at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The couple were both in the medical field – Clint worked as a nurse aide, while Cristen was a nurse on the floor, the family friend said.
“They weren’t just co-workers, they were good friends. Their young daughters played with our granddaughters and the Brinks were neighbors with both my sons,” the former co-worker told The U.S. Sun.
“The love for their girls and each other was undeniable. Their belief in God was always a topic of conversation and they were proud of their faith.
“What I saw on a day-to-day basis was the heart felt compassion they each poured into every patient they cared for. This is what made it easy to like them and want to get to know more about them.”
“They really were genuinely good hearted people and had such a strong faith and deep love for each other.”
The heartbroken ex-co-worker added, “When they moved, I was saddened, but had hopes our paths would cross again one day because the nursing world is small.
“But now that hope and opportunity has been taken and there are no words because they didn’t deserve this and now those sweet girls are without their loving parents. My heart is broken for them.”
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect believed to have stabbed the couple.
“Two children are there. They advised that their parents were assaulted. One was possibly stabbed. The parents are missing,” someone said, according to police audio obtained by CBS affiliate KFSM-TV.
One responder heading toward the scene radioed that they heard “yelling calling for help.”
The suspect was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark pants, a dark baseball cap, sunglasses, a black backpack, and fingerless gloves, authorities said.
Arkansas State Police said the male suspect was believed to be driving a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with tape over the license plate.
