The police in Arkansas on Tuesday released a photo of a “person of interest” they hoped to question in connection with the killing of a married couple who were attacked on Saturday afternoon while hiking with their young daughters in a remote section of Devil’s Den State Park.
The image of the man was taken by another hiker, said Nick Genty, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police. “He could have been captured in the background of someone’s photo,” Mr. Genty said.
The release of the picture came one day after the police circulated a sketch of a person they believe to be the same man, based on witness interviews with hikers who were in the state park that afternoon. The police have not revealed how the couple were killed, and Mr. Genty said that they had yet to determine if the attack was random or targeted.
The man, described by the police as a man of medium build, was last seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark pants, a dark baseball cap and sunglasses. He carried a black backpack, wore fingerless gloves and may have been injured during the attack, according to the police.
Witnesses told investigators that the man was seen leaving the area in a black, four-door sedan — possibly a Mazda — with its license plate covered with electrical or duct tape. He was reportedly driving toward either State Highway 170 or State Highway 220, police said.
The police declined to say if the concealed license plate might suggest premeditation or an intent to evade identification.
The victims, identified as Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, had recently moved from Miles City, Mont., to Prairie Grove, Ark., which is about 17 miles north of the state park.
The family was attacked while hiking on a trail in a remote area of the park that has limited cell service, the police said. The couple had been hiking with their two daughters, who are 7 and 9. The girls were not injured in the attack.
The police declined to say whether anyone intervened to help the family. The couple’s bodies were found near the walking trail.
The children are now in the care of family members.
The couple’s family released a statement on Monday, urging anyone with information to come forward.
“Please contact the proper authorities immediately,” the statement reads. “Clinton and Cristen died heroes, protecting their little girls and they deserve justice.”
Mark Walker is an investigative reporter for The Times focused on transportation. He is based in Washington.
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