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The Girlfriends is back with a new season and this time I'm telling you the story of Kelly Harnett. Kelly spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't comm. As she fought for her freedom, she taught herself the law.
Podcast Host
He goes oh God. Harnett Jailhouse Lawyer and became a beacon.
Podcast Host 2
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Podcast Host
God, but I had nothing but faith in her. I think I was put here to save souls by getting people out of prison.
Podcast Host 2
The Girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ian Pfaff
I'm Ian Pfaff, the creator and host of the Uncle Chris podcast. My Uncle Chris was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Podcast Host
So what happened at Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.
Podcast Host 3
There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.
Podcast Host
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Podcast Host 3
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Amy Robach
Hey there, folks. It's July 28th, and a manhunt is underway for a double murderer who killed a couple while they were on a hike with their two young children. Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. This is a shocking story about a double murder. The detail about the kids now makes this just horrific in an all new way. And to think that person right now is on the run.
Podcast Host
He is on the run. There is a massive manhunt underway in northwest Arkansas. This happened at a state park, Devil's Den State park in northwest Arkansas. It's about, what, 30 minutes from Fayetteville.
Amy Robach
So if anybody knows northwest Arkansas, the Ozarks, all that mountainous region up there. But yeah, there's a lot of this terrain, but it's beautiful and people go.
Podcast Host
Hiking and, yeah, gorgeous hiking. I mean, for anyone who's listening, who has, I mean, I love hiking, grew up hiking, took my kids hiking. It's a safe place. You feel peace, you feel calm. You're surrounded by nature. So this is just a horror movie, truly a horror movie.
Amy Robach
Right. Isn't that part of it? You kind of get away from people.
Podcast Host
Correct. And you know, this is an area and it's. We'll talk about it. But part of the details, part of the problem with getting the word out about what had happened was there is no cell phone service in these rugged areas. And so. But that is part of the, the draw and the beauty. You're not hooked on your device. You're not getting those emails or those annoying texts. You're with your family. Or your, with your dog, you're with your, you know, by yourself, just experiencing nature and being removed from all the chaos. And this was a Saturday afternoon, a beautiful day to hike with your family. I, I would feel so safe and.
Amy Robach
I think it's again your family. This was 2, about 2:30 in the afternoon, all this going on and the kids are 7 and 9. Like imagine the horror. Now 7 and 9 year olds were with him and still no explanation. Again, we don't have a lot of details from the police, but no explanation and I can't make sense of that. Maybe we never will. We always try to make sense. But why, why attack these folks? And the kids are there and then the kids end up unharmed.
Podcast Host
Yes. And we, we haven't gotten a lot of details but there was a report from one of the local affiliates there who said the kids ended up somehow some way at the visitor center which is pretty remarkable. I don't know if someone guided them there, if they found their way back there. But when the 911 call was made from the visitor center to police, they said I've got two kids here and they say their parents have been attacked and they're missing. And so we do and we did get that little bit of detail. But the kids were completely unharmed, scared as you can only imagine.
Amy Robach
Yeah, you can only imagine. Again, I don't know how far, I'm curious would be curious to know at some point how much ground they had to cover. Wow. Like how far they had to go and how far they had to run. And if they made it back to the visitor center then all likelihood they didn't see anybody on there because they would have stopped, of course they would have seen. So how far did they have to go to make their way back?
Podcast Host
I mean it's just they have talked about this particular area where they were as rugged and steep and thick. So. And again no cell phone service. But the victims, we should say who they were because I mean this is just gutting. And if you go online you'll see their Pictures everywhere. But 43 year old Clinton David Brink and 41 year old Kristen Amanda Brink and their family is speaking out. They're asking for privacy but they're also calling those two parents heroes. They said they died protecting their children. We don't know the details, we don't know if their family was given any of those details but certainly that statement would suggest, and they knew them well, that they of course would have done anything for their children. The actual specific statement is this, the family is Asking for privacy during this very difficult time as they grieve and learn how to navigate this new reality. I mean, how shocking, how scary they continue that they ask if anyone has information at all that will help in the investigation to please contact the proper authorities immediately. Clinton and Kristen died heroes protecting their little girls. And they deserve justice. They will live, they will forever live in all of our hearts.
Amy Robach
You can only imagine that that's exactly had to be when they realized they were being assaulted, attacked or whatever it was. The first thought was to make sure the kids are okay.
Podcast Host
Probably tell your kids to run.
Amy Robach
Probably yelling, run, run, run, run, run.
Podcast Host
That's what you would do.
Amy Robach
Yeah, it's just instinct. In that case, who knows? We will probably never get the details. I don't know whose responsibility it is to talk to these kids, to have to talk them through this incident so you can get information and then maybe go catch this person who is on the run. It's just horrific.
Podcast Host
I have chills from head to toe thinking about, I mean, how much I love being in the woods and I've run alone in the woods. We love the rail trail in Arkansas. I don't know how if it's probably pretty close to this area. We like a flat trail. We're not into the rugged terrain, so to speak. But you and I both love that peacefulness of running, walking, hiking in the woods and feeling like you're one with nature. This is just horrific to think someone was lying in wait. But we do have a description of the suspect for anyone who's listening. And police have asked, and you just heard the family make that plea as well, that if you took pictures in the area, if you had videos, a lot of folks pulling out their cell phone. Go back and look, see if you see anything suspicious. But anyone matching this description, a white man with medium build, dark pants, dark ball cap and sunglasses, A white long sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled up, a black backpack. And they specifically pointed out that the man had fingerless gloves. We can only assume this description came from the little girls. They were the two who we know saw this assailant. And apparently they believe he was driving a black four door sedan, perhaps a Mazda. And they said that they. I believe the license plate had duct tape or electrical tape over it, disguising the license plate, but it suggests planning. Right. So a lot of folks are trying to figure out was this a random act of violence, was this a targeted killing? But you know, it's tough to know obviously right now, but we're starting to get some details about who this couple was. And they had just moved to the area from Montana. They believe that she was a nurse. She graduated with an associate degree in nursing according to the college's website. So you know, everyone seemed like this was a sweet family of four who had just moved and she was a nurse. And that's, that's all the details we really have at this point.
Amy Robach
Well, obviously the, it seems like so much detail about the suspect down to the sleeves being rolled up. That's what they believe he looked like at the time. Who knows what he looks like now? Who knows where he is right now? The Devil's Den is closed. All trails are closed right now. It's scary to think it's there. There's always killers among us. You could argue, right? It's always somebody you don't know. But to know that the person who did this is out there somewhere is terrifying for people in that region. He's in the woods somewhere possibly. And who is this guy? What was the purpose? Was this targeted? Is this random? And he's going to be doing more random stuff like this. It's terrifying for a community.
Podcast Host
It absolutely feels like you're watching a real life horror movie. And so we mentioned the, the first call, the 911 call with the little girls in the visitor center was around 2:30. So a lot of folks have been pointing to the timeline how much time lapsed between that first call and police alerting the public. But reporters in the area started to get tips that there was a big police presence in that state park area about two hours later, around 4:30. But it wasn't until 8:40 that night that the Arkansas State Police were able or they actually released the first warning that a massive manhunt was underway, that a double murderer was on the loose. That was about six hours after that first call. And some folks have been upset about.
Amy Robach
That, as well they should. We are talking about the police actually have a heads up and knew that there was a threat to the community running around and you let that thing go for six hours.
Podcast Host
Six hours.
Amy Robach
Even if we're talking, let's go down to five. Let's go four. Go three. Go to one is too much. As soon as you know this threat is out there, you've got to let the community know. But however folks, would you believe the police there in Arkansas say they have a very good valid reason as to why it took so long to get the word out.
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Again, quince.com TJ Kelly Harnett spent over.
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A decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.
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I'm 100% innocent.
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While behind bars, she learned the law from scratch.
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He goes, oh God. Harnett jailhouse lawyer.
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And as she fought for herself, she also became a lifeline for the women locked up alongside her. You're supposed to have your faith in.
Podcast Host
God, but I had nothing but faith in her.
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So many of these women had lived the same stories.
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I said, were you a victim of domestic violence?
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And she was like, yeah, but maybe Kelly could change the ending.
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I said, how many people have gotten other incarcerated individuals out of here? I'm going to be the first one to do that.
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This is the story of Kelly Harnett, a woman who spent 12 years fighting not just for her own freedom, but her girlfriend's too.
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I think I have a mission from God to save souls by getting people out of prison.
Podcast Host 2
The girlfriends, jailhouse lawyer. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Host
Welcome back, everyone, to this episode of Amy and tj, where we are talking about this frightening manhunt that is going on right now in northwest Arkansas after a man killed a couple, a married couple, 41 and 43 years old, and attacked them right in front of their two daughters who were ages 7 and 9. The family was on a hike on a beautiful Saturday in the Ozark Mountains on a popular hiking trail, and the little girls ended up at the visitor center. 911 was called immediately, but it took six hours before an alert. A bulletin went out to the rest of the area, to the residents who live nearby that there was a double murderer on the loose. And folks are not too happy about that massive delay. But the police say there was a reason.
Amy Robach
Yeah, it's just rugged up here. I mean, they really say as far as it took them a while to find the spot in this rugged terrain, like we mentioned earlier, the communications are not so great, cell phone signals and all that stuff. But to figure out where they needed to be and then interview enough people around to even piece together what exactly had happened, that took them a while. And then to relay that information back out, I. That's six hours. That's tough.
Podcast Host
It's a long time. I actually have the exact quote from Arkansas State Police. They said the location is in remote rural Arkansas. It took time for our special agents to arrive on the scene, locate witnesses, conduct interviews, and collaborate information so we could release the appropriate information.
Amy Robach
That's six hours. I mean, you, you. I don't know. It's hard to criticize. I don't know exactly what they were going through. It's just for. No, I don't. I don't care. Six hours is a long time. If you're actually telling me we didn't know we had a murderer on the loose until right before we put that statement out. That means you all are terrible investigators. If it took you six hours to piece it together.
Podcast Host
And they're saying they wanted to have all the information correct before disseminating it. But the reality is that obviously Is a crucial time to the point where they've actually asked. I mean, I don't know this area specifically, but there must be enough residents or enough homes near and around the state park that they have absolutely asked anyone who has a home near this state park to look at their surveillance footage, their door cam videos, whatever people might have around their homes for surveillance to see if they could go back in this time and see if they see anything suspicious, anyone matching the suspect's description. But the point being is if there were enough people that they're asking for that help, it's just concerning that those people weren't given enough opportunity to be warned that a armed and dangerous man is on the loose.
Amy Robach
A weatherman gives you a heads up about a tornado. Yeah, you alert the public to a threat when you know there is one. Now if it took them six hours to figure it out again, that I will give them that benefit of the doubt. My apologies for calling you bad investigators, but if they're telling me. But what's a, what's a reasonable lapse robes between when we knew there was a killer on the loose and when we told the public?
Podcast Host
I mean I think 30 minutes at the most. I mean at the most, I think you get it out, whatever you have to try and get people to be vigilant, to be able to protect themselves, to bring your kids indoors. You think you want your kids playing around in the yard on a Saturday afternoon? If you know a killer is on the loose, you absolutely do not. So you know, you would have many or all of the folks who live in that area would have operated differently and probably changed their behavior knowing that that was possible. Also the fact that they had a description of the car. Look, once it's gotten away, it could be anywhere. And to say it's a black four door sedan, possibly a Mazda with its license plate covered by tape, that's tough. That's really tough. But maybe if it had been given out immediately, perhaps it would have been a little bit easier, who knows.
Amy Robach
And in that area, pictures, they even asking people with homes to check their door cams and all these things, they at this point, I mean are there only witnesses a 7 and 9 year old or who else is around could have seen them or heard something or maybe other people have a description of somebody else they saw on the, on the trail?
Podcast Host
Correct?
Amy Robach
I don't know.
Podcast Host
I mean you have to think that if he were hiking or he were around and he was dressed in all black with hat and a sunglass like you do, I Mean, I am a pretty avid hiker. You do see some folks on the trail that sometimes feel a little suspicious. You remember them. I mean, I have had my heart pound a little bit thinking, is that guy here to hike or is he doing what? I've always been in a group. I was never alone. But you have your, you, you definitely have your senses heightened and you're looking around, especially when you know there aren't a lot of other folks. But I would imagine this is a. They say this is a popular hiking area in the Ozark National Forest. They say it's a popular tourist destination. They've got caves and rock formations and cabins and whatnot.
Amy Robach
Yeah, get in there.
Podcast Host
Yeah, it's, it's a big, big like granted, of course you're in the great outdoors, so there's a lot of space in between people. But it would not be hard to believe that other people saw someone matching that description and probably helped maybe fill in the holes. The little girls. Can you imagine the trauma of that moment? You're seven, you're nine. All of a sudden we don't know the scenario. But somehow, some way this man in black is attacking your parents. And then your parents are probably screaming, run, run, run. The adrenaline, the fight or flight to remember details would be incredibly difficult in that stressful situation, especially when you're that young.
Amy Robach
When you're that young, you're not supposed to have to worry about any of this. If you're a family of four at 2:30 in the afternoon walking in a public trail, you shouldn't have to worry about this either. This story will continue to update you on. We are sure there will be updates from police, whatever they are. We'll hop back on and certainly and hopefully Romes when they catch whoever this person is.
Podcast Host
Yes, but our hearts go out to the family and the friends and the people who loved Clinton and Kristen Brink and certainly we hope that there will be justice for the two of them. Thank you for listening to us. I'm Amy robach along with TJ Holmes. Hope you all have a wonderful evening. Legendswithaz.com is a 100% free to play social casino and sportsbook where you can spin the reels, make game predictions and even play live blackjack without leaving your couch.
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The Girlfriends is back with a new season, and this time I'm telling you the story of Kelly Harnett. Kelly spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit. As she fought for her freedom, she taught herself the law.
Podcast Host
He goes oh God. Harnett Jailhouse Lawyer and became a beacon.
Podcast Host 2
Of hope for the women locked up alongside her. You're supposed to have your faith in.
Podcast Host
God, but I had nothing but faith in her. I think I was put here to save souls by getting people out of prison.
Podcast Host 2
The Girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ian Pfaff
My Uncle Chris was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Podcast Host
So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.
Podcast Host 3
There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.
Podcast Host
Left behind to drown.
Podcast Host 3
Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.
Podcast Host
Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.
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Danielle Robaix
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Podcast Host
This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Host/Authors: Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes
Release Date: July 28, 2025
Duration: Approximately 28 minutes
Source: iHeartPodcasts
In this gripping episode, hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes delve into a harrowing case unfolding in northwest Arkansas. The episode, titled "Urgent Manhunt Underway For Hiking Couple Double Murderer," explores the tragic double murder of Clinton David Brink and Kristen Amanda Brink, who were attacked while hiking with their two young daughters.
On a serene Saturday afternoon, the Brink family embarked on a hike at Devil's Den State Park, located about 30 minutes from Fayetteville in the picturesque Ozark Mountains. Renowned for its rugged terrain and breathtaking landscapes, the park is a favorite spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
Amy Robach opens the discussion with the shocking news:
"It's a shocking story about a double murder. The detail about the kids now makes this just horrific in an all new way." ([03:41])
At approximately 2:30 PM, while enjoying the trails, the Brink family encountered a violent assailant. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the tragic deaths of Clinton and Kristen Brink. Miraculously, their 7 and 9-year-old daughters managed to escape the chaos and found refuge at the park's visitor center.
Podcast Host reflects on the irony of the setting:
"It's a safe place. You feel peace, you feel calm. You're surrounded by nature. So this is just a horror movie, truly a horror movie." ([04:29])
Despite the fear and trauma, the children remained unharmed, adding a deeply emotional layer to the tragedy.
Clinton and Kristen Brink are described as dedicated parents who tragically lost their lives protecting their daughters. Their family has requested privacy during this unimaginably difficult time but has also lauded the Brinks as heroes.
Family Statement:
"Clinton and Kristen died heroes protecting their little girls. They deserve justice. They will live, they will forever live in all of our hearts." ([08:01])
The hosts emphasize the parents' instinctual reaction to ensure their children's safety amidst the attack.
A massive manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the suspect, described based on the limited information provided by the children. The suspect is identified as a white male with a medium build, wearing dark pants, a dark ball cap, sunglasses, a white long-sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled up, and fingerless gloves. He was last seen driving a black four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda, with the license plate obscured by tape—a detail suggesting premeditation.
Suspect Description:
"A white man with medium build, dark pants, dark ball cap and sunglasses, a white long sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled up, a black backpack, and fingerless gloves." ([06:25])
The vehicle's description further complicates the search, as the obscured license plate makes identification challenging.
One of the most contentious aspects of this case is the six-hour delay between the initial 911 call and the public alert about the manhunt.
Timeline:
Community Reaction: Many listeners express frustration over the delay, questioning the police response time and the potential risks posed by not alerting the community sooner.
Podcast Host:
"They have a massive manhunt underway... some folks have been upset about that massive delay." ([11:20])
Police Explanation: The Arkansas State Police cited the "remote rural" location and the need to gather accurate information before releasing an alert. They aimed to ensure that the details shared were correct to avoid disseminating misinformation.
State Police Statement:
"The location is in remote rural Arkansas. It took time for our special agents to arrive on the scene, locate witnesses, conduct interviews, and collaborate information so we could release the appropriate information." ([20:30])
The community is left grappling with a sense of vulnerability, especially given the idyllic nature of the hiking trail where the attack occurred. The fear that a potentially armed and dangerous individual remains at large has heightened anxiety among locals and visitors alike.
Amy Robach:
"It's scary to think someone was lying in wait. But we do have a description of the suspect for anyone who's listening." ([10:31])
Discussion highlights include the challenges of hiking alone in vast wilderness areas and the rare but terrifying possibility of encountering a premeditated aggressor.
Robach and Holmes critique the six-hour delay in alerting the public, debating what a reasonable response time should be in such emergencies. While acknowledging the police's need for accurate information, they argue that public safety might necessitate a quicker alert to enable residents to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures.
Amy Robach:
"Six hours is a long time. If you're actually telling me we didn't know we had a murderer on the loose until right before we put that statement out." ([20:56])
Podcast Host:
"I think 30 minutes at the most... you have to let the community know as soon as you know this threat is out there." ([22:09])
The police are urging the public to assist in the manhunt by reviewing surveillance footage from the area, noting any suspicious activities, and providing any information that could aid in apprehending the suspect. Given the suspect's potential mobility and the vast area involved, community assistance is deemed crucial.
Public Appeal:
"If you took pictures in the area, if you had videos, a lot of folks pulling out their cell phone. Go back and look, see if you see anything suspicious." ([10:31])
There is also a focus on the emotional toll on the young survivors, questioning who will support and counsel them through this traumatic experience.
The episode underscores the profound tragedy that has struck the Brink family and the surrounding community. Hosts Robach and Holmes emphasize the urgency of the manhunt, the importance of community vigilance, and the hope for justice and closure for the victims' loved ones. They commit to providing updates as the investigation progresses and the suspect remains at large.
Amy Robach:
"We'll hop back on and certainly and hopefully when they catch whoever this person is." ([24:38])
Amy Robach [03:41]:
"It's a shocking story about a double murder. The detail about the kids now makes this just horrific in an all new way."
Podcast Host [04:29]:
"It's a safe place. You feel peace, you feel calm. You're surrounded by nature. So this is just a horror movie, truly a horror movie."
Family Statement [08:01]:
"Clinton and Kristen died heroes protecting their little girls. They deserve justice. They will live, they will forever live in all of our hearts."
Suspect Description [06:25]:
"A white man with medium build, dark pants, dark ball cap and sunglasses, a white long sleeve shirt with sleeves rolled up, a black backpack, and fingerless gloves."
Podcast Host [11:20]:
"Some folks have been upset about that massive delay."
State Police Statement [20:30]:
"It took time for our special agents to arrive on the scene, locate witnesses, conduct interviews, and collaborate information so we could release the appropriate information."
Amy Robach [20:56]:
"Six hours is a long time. If you're actually telling me we didn't know we had a murderer on the loose until right before we put that statement out."
Podcast Host [22:09]:
"You have to let the community know as soon as you know this threat is out there."
Amy Robach [24:38]:
"We'll hop back on and certainly and hopefully when they catch whoever this person is."
This episode of Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present offers a comprehensive and emotionally charged exploration of a devastating crime and its broader implications on community safety and law enforcement responsiveness. Through detailed discussions and poignant reflections, listeners gain a profound understanding of the incident's gravity and the ongoing quest for justice.