Hawaii Man Charged with Multiple Murders on Big Island

A man from Hawaii has been charged with murder following the deaths of three men on the Big Island. The Hawaii Police Department announced that Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, faces one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder.

Authorities arrested Baker after a manhunt lasting several days. Police worked with the Hawaii County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to file the charges.

The first-degree murder charge involves the intentional or knowing killing of two or more people. The three counts of second-degree murder relate to the deaths of the three victims. A motive for these killings has not been disclosed by authorities.

Baker also faces charges of burglary, car break-in, auto theft, and other crimes. His bail for the murder charges is set at no bail, making him ineligible for release on these charges.

Baker was apprehended in Kalapana after being found hiding in a small cave. He was wanted in connection with three killings in the Puna District, which is a rural area on the island’s east coast. Victims identified include Robert Shine, 69; John Carse, 69; and a 79-year-old man whose name remains undisclosed pending family notification. Shine was discovered at a residence on Papaya Farms Road in Pāhoa.

An autopsy indicated that Shine died from strangulation. The 79-year-old victim was found with suspicious injuries at another residence on the same road. Carse was found 19 miles away, with an autopsy indicating sharp-force trauma as the cause of death.

The victims had no known connection other than their proximity, with Shine and the unidentified man living only 400 to 500 feet apart. The investigation continues as officials seek to understand the events leading up to these tragic deaths.

Baker is scheduled for his initial court appearance in Hilo District Court on Monday. Attorney information for Baker was not immediately available.