A 36-year-old Hawaii man was arrested after an extensive manhunt for his connection to three separate homicides. Authorities found him hiding inside a cave, ending the search.
Jacob Baker faces multiple serious charges following the investigation, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.
Manhunt and Arrest
Police tracked Baker after surveillance footage showed a man resembling him in a vacant lot. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect duck each time traffic passed. Footage showed Baker moving onto an adjacent property, where authorities eventually discovered him inside a small cave.
He was arrested and charged with:
- Second-degree murder
- First-degree burglary
- First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle
- First-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
- Fourth-degree criminal property damage
- Theft
The Victims
On May 25, 69-year-old Robert Shine was found dead. While there were initially no signs of foul play, police later determined he had been strangled.
The following day, authorities discovered two more bodies: a 79-year-old man with suspicious injuries (identity not yet released) and 69-year-old John Carse, who died from sharp force trauma, according to autopsy results.
Police Chief Reed Mahuna did not provide details on how Baker was linked to all three homicides.
Background on the Suspect
Court documents referenced by KOMO show that two women had recently sought restraining orders against Baker, with one claiming he threatened her life. Baker has reportedly appeared in approximately 20 legal cases over the past two decades.
The investigation into the homicides is ongoing.
