A Hawaii man accused of carrying out a series of deadly attacks that left three elderly men dead on the Big Island is now facing multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder. Authorities announced the charges days after his arrest following an extensive manhunt that gripped communities across eastern Hawaii.
According to the Hawaii Police Department, 36-year-old Jacob Baker of Pahoa has been formally charged in connection with the deaths of three elderly men. In addition to the murder counts, Baker faces numerous other criminal charges, including burglary, theft, criminal property damage, and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Authorities said Baker is being held without bond on the murder charges. Investigators consider the allegations among the most serious homicide cases to occur on Hawaii’s Big Island in recent years.
The charges stem from a violent series of incidents that unfolded over two days in the rural Puna district. Police identified two of the victims as 69-year-old Robert Shine and 69-year-old John Carse. The identity of a third victim, a 79-year-old man, has not yet been publicly released.
Investigators said all three victims were discovered dead at separate residences in or near Pahoa. Robert Shine’s body was found partially submerged in a cement pond, while the unidentified 79-year-old victim was discovered only a short distance away. John Carse’s body was later located approximately 19 miles from the other crime scenes, indicating the attacks occurred across a significant area of eastern Hawaii.
Following the killings, law enforcement agencies launched a large-scale search involving local officers, state authorities, and federal partners. Officials warned residents that Baker should be considered armed and dangerous as investigators worked to track his movements.
The manhunt ended Thursday when authorities received reports of surveillance footage showing a man resembling Baker in the nearby community of Kalapana. Witnesses told police they observed a man behaving suspiciously and repeatedly ducking out of sight whenever vehicles approached the area.
Police eventually traced the suspect to a property near a vacant lot. According to Reed Mahuna, officers located Baker hiding inside a small cave and took him into custody without major incident.
Despite the charges, investigators have released few details about what may have motivated the killings. Chief Mahuna said authorities have not identified any clear connection among the three victims other than the fact that two of them lived relatively close to one another.
Police have also not publicly disclosed what evidence specifically linked Baker to the crimes, citing the ongoing investigation. Detectives continue to process evidence, conduct interviews, and reconstruct the events that led to the deaths.
The case has generated significant concern throughout Hawaii, particularly in the rural communities of eastern Big Island, where residents were on edge during the days-long search. With Baker now in custody and facing multiple homicide charges, authorities say the investigation remains active as prosecutors prepare for what is expected to be a closely watched criminal case.
