Hawaii Man Charged With Murder After Three Men Found Dead in Rural Big Island Community

A man accused of killing three people in a remote Hawaii community has been formally charged with multiple criminal counts, including first-degree murder, as authorities continue to piece together a case that has unsettled residents in the Puna district.

Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, of Pāhoa, Hawaii, was charged on May 30 with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The first-degree murder charge specifically relates to the intentional or knowing killing of two or more people, police noted, while the second-degree counts apply to each of the three victims. Baker also faces multiple charges of theft, burglary, criminal property damage, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.

Baker is being held without bond on the murder charges, and police said he will not be eligible for release even if he posts bail for the property-related offenses. His first court appearance is scheduled for June 1.

The charges stem from a dayslong manhunt across the Big Island after the bodies of three men were discovered in the rural, close-knit Puna region, known for its off-grid lifestyle and free-spirited vibe, according to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority. Residents described a somber mood as many hunkered down in their homes while police searched for the suspect, and several community events were canceled or postponed over public safety concerns, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.

Police began investigating what they initially described as two “suspicious deaths” of elderly men in Puna on May 25 and 26. On May 27, a third body was found, prompting an island-wide search. Authorities said Baker was considered “armed and extremely dangerous” and urged the public not to approach him. The search involved federal and state agencies, and police increased patrols throughout the area, according to Police Chief Reed Mahuna.

During a May 27 news conference, Capt. Jeremy Scott Lewis detailed the timeline: The first victim, 69-year-old Robert Shine, was found partially submerged in a cement pond at a residence around 8 p.m. on May 25. At first, foul play was not suspected, but an autopsy later determined Shine died of strangulation. The second victim, 79-year-old Chitta Morse, was discovered at about 12:40 p.m. on May 26 at another residence, with blunt force trauma. Police have not officially released Morse’s name pending family notification, but neighbors and local media identified him. The third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, was found at about 10 p.m. on May 26 during a welfare check; his cause of death was sharp force trauma, according to autopsy results.

The first two deaths occurred within about 400 to 500 feet of each other, Lewis said, while the third was roughly 19 miles away. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, and while the victims had no known connection—aside from two living near one another—police said they are “confident” Baker is linked to all three killings.

Baker was arrested on May 28 after a witness spotted him and surveillance footage captured him hiding in a vacant lot in the Kaimu area of Kalapana. According to police, the footage showed Baker ducking down as cars passed, and officers later found him hiding in a small cave on an adjacent property.

Court records obtained by local media reveal that two women filed temporary restraining orders against Baker just three days before the first victim’s body was found, citing concerns about his aggressive behavior. Both orders were denied by a judge, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported. Baker had prior police contact, Mahuna said, though he did not elaborate.

The case has sent shockwaves through the Puna community, which is home to many residents who value its isolation and rural character. “These are a tragic series of events,” Mahuna said at the news conference. “Our thoughts are with those who are grieving at this time.”

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man charged with murder in deaths of 3 men on Hawaii’s Big Island