HONOLULU – In a tragic event that has shaken a remote Hawaiian community known for its unique and communal lifestyle, a 36-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection to the deaths of three individuals.
On Saturday, the Hawaii Police Department announced that Jacob Daniel Baker faces charges of both first- and second-degree murder. He remains in custody without the possibility of bail, as confirmed by authorities on Sunday, with his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday. It remains uncertain whether Baker has legal representation at this time.
The charges follow Baker’s arrest after an extensive manhunt across Hawaii’s Big Island. The pursuit began when the bodies of three victims were found in the rural Puna community, an area celebrated for its lush tropical scenery and the free-spirited nature of its residents.
The first victim, Robert Shine, aged 69, was discovered on Monday, partially submerged in a cement pond, as reported by police officials. The following day, a second victim, identified by friends as 79-year-old Chitta Morse, was found just a few hundred feet from the initial site.
Later on Tuesday, police located the third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, on a property approximately 19 miles (31 kilometers) away from the initial crime scene. This series of tragic discoveries has left the community in shock as they process the loss of their members.
Police found the third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, late Tuesday at a property 19 miles (31 kilometers) from where the other two bodies were located.
Police have not given a suspected motive for the killings. Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna has said investigators found no connections among the victims other than that two of them lived near each other.
In addition to the murder charges, Baker also faces counts of burglary, auto theft and criminal damage to property.
The killings left residents on edge in Puna, a community set amid lush jungle and barren lava fields where people seeking to live off-grid commonly trade work for lodging.
Puna resident Stephen Shaffer said that Baker had worked for his ex-wife, climbing coconut trees on land where she grows fruit, in exchange for a place to live. After several months, Shaffer said, his ex-wife sought a restraining order against Baker, saying she felt threatened by him.
Donald Hyatt, a friend of Shaffer’s ex-wife and of two of the men killed, said Baker left the cabin where he had been living months ago. Hyatt said that Baker recently returned claiming “squatter’s rights” and threatened Shaffer’s ex.
Just days before the killings, two women had requested temporary restraining orders against Baker, saying he had threatened and harassed them, according to court records. A judge denied both applications, saying there was not enough proof of harassment.
Court records showed Baker named in 20 other cases in the past two decades, many of them traffic infractions. In most of those cases, Baker had no attorney and represented himself.
