Honolulu – In a quiet, lush triangle of lava fields and coconut groves on the Big Island, three men were found dead in a matter of days, sparking a police investigation that quickly turned to arrest. Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, has been charged with first‑ and second‑degree murder in the killings of Robert Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69.
The victims were discovered in the remote Puna community. Shine lay partially submerged in a cement pond on Monday; Morse was found the next day a few hundred feet away; and Carse was recovered late Tuesday, 19 miles from the other bodies. Police say the men had no known connection other than living near one another.
Baker was arrested on Thursday, after a two‑day manhunt that ended at a secluded cabin in Puna. Authorities say he had been living in the area for months, working‑for‑lodging with ex‑wives and neighbors in exchange for cottage stays. According to local resident Stephen Shaffer, Baker had grown up in the community and had no formal legal representation during prior traffic infractions.
He came back claiming ‘squatter’s rights’ and threatened people he worked with, Donald Hyatt, a friend of Shaffer’s ex‑wife and of two of the men killed, told the police. Baker also allegedly claimed rights to the cabin and used force to coerce members of the community.
In addition to murder charges, Baker faces felony charges of burglary, auto theft, and criminal damage to property. The Hawaii Police Commissioner, Reed Mahuna, states that although investigators have found no connections among the victims besides proximity, Baker’s history of harassment and self‑representation in prior court cases has made him a suspect in the killings.
The police have yet to confirm a motive. Two women filed for temporary restraining orders against Baker prior to the deaths, but a judge denied the requests for lack of evidence. Investigators suspect that fear of retaliation or property disputes may have played a role, but the case remains under full investigation.
Authorities have scheduled Baker’s first court appearance for Monday and have not confirmed whether he has legal counsel. The Puna community, known for its off‑grid, cooperative living, now faces heightened vigilance as the inquiry continues.
This tragedy has left residents uneasy amid a vibrant yet isolated environment where people trade labor for hay. As the investigation unfolds, agencies are hopeful that the motive and any additional suspects will come to light, bringing closure to the affected families and the broader community.
The victims were discovered in the remote Puna community. Shine lay partially submerged in a cement pond on Monday; Morse was found the next day a few hundred feet away; and Carse was recovered late Tuesday, 19 miles from the other bodies. Police say the men had no known connection other than living near one another.
Baker was arrested on Thursday, after a two‑day manhunt that ended at a secluded cabin in Puna. Authorities say he had been living in the area for months, working‑for‑lodging with ex‑wives and neighbors in exchange for cottage stays. According to local resident Stephen Shaffer, Baker had grown up in the community and had no formal legal representation during prior traffic infractions.
He came back claiming ‘squatter’s rights’ and threatened people he worked with, Donald Hyatt, a friend of Shaffer’s ex‑wife and of two of the men killed, told the police. Baker also allegedly claimed rights to the cabin and used force to coerce members of the community.
In addition to murder charges, Baker faces felony charges of burglary, auto theft, and criminal damage to property. The Hawaii Police Commissioner, Reed Mahuna, states that although investigators have found no connections among the victims besides proximity, Baker’s history of harassment and self‑representation in prior court cases has made him a suspect in the killings.
The police have yet to confirm a motive. Two women filed for temporary restraining orders against Baker prior to the deaths, but a judge denied the requests for lack of evidence. Investigators suspect that fear of retaliation or property disputes may have played a role, but the case remains under full investigation.
Authorities have scheduled Baker’s first court appearance for Monday and have not confirmed whether he has legal counsel. The Puna community, known for its off‑grid, cooperative living, now faces heightened vigilance as the inquiry continues.
This tragedy has left residents uneasy amid a vibrant yet isolated environment where people trade labor for hay. As the investigation unfolds, agencies are hopeful that the motive and any additional suspects will come to light, bringing closure to the affected families and the broader community.
