Police in Hawaii have filed murder charges against a 36-year-old man following the deaths of three individuals in an isolated area known for its alternative, community-oriented way of life.
Jacob Daniel Baker faces charges including first- and second-degree murder as of Saturday, according to a statement from the Hawaii Police Department.
Baker was being held without bail as of Sunday, with authorities scheduling his initial court hearing for Monday. No information was available regarding legal representation for Baker.
The murder charges were filed two days following Baker’s capture after law enforcement conducted a search across Hawaii’s Big Island, where three victims were discovered in the remote Puna area, recognized for its lush environment and unconventional residents.
Authorities discovered Robert Shine, 69, on Monday, partially immersed in a concrete pond. A second victim, identified by acquaintances as Chitta Morse, 79, was located Tuesday several hundred feet from the first discovery.
The third victim, John Carse, 69, was found by police late Tuesday at a location 19 miles (31 kilometers) away from where the other two bodies were discovered.
Authorities have not revealed a potential reason for the deaths. Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna stated that investigators discovered no links between the victims except that two resided close to one another.
Beyond the murder charges, Baker is also facing accusations of burglary, vehicle theft and property destruction.
The deaths created anxiety among Puna residents, an area situated within dense jungle and barren volcanic rock where individuals seeking independent living frequently exchange labor for housing.
Local resident Stephen Shaffer explained that Baker had performed work for his former spouse, scaling coconut palms on property where she cultivates fruit, receiving accommodation in return. Following several months, Shaffer noted, his ex-wife pursued a protective order against Baker, stating she felt intimidated by his behavior.
Donald Hyatt, an acquaintance of Shaffer’s former spouse and two of the deceased men, reported that Baker departed the cabin where he had been staying months earlier. Hyatt mentioned that Baker had recently returned asserting “squatter’s rights” and made threats against Shaffer’s ex.
Days prior to the deaths, two women had sought emergency restraining orders against Baker, claiming he had made threats and engaged in harassment, court documents show. A judge rejected both requests, determining insufficient evidence of harassment existed.
Court files revealed Baker’s involvement in 20 additional cases over the past two decades, primarily traffic violations. In the majority of these instances, Baker lacked legal counsel and defended himself.
