PĀHOA, HAWAII — A remote, tight-knit community on Hawaii's Big Island is reeling after a multi-day manhunt culminated in the arrest and formal charging of a 36-year-old local man in connection with a chilling triple homicide.

Jacob Daniel Baker, a resident of Pāhoa, was formally charged on Saturday with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, alongside nearly a dozen property and theft offenses. Baker remains jailed without bond ahead of his first scheduled court appearance on Monday, June 1, 2026.

The tragedy unfolded across the rural Puna district, an area famous for its lush tropical landscapes, volcanic terrain, and off-grid, free-spirited lifestyle. The sense of tranquility was shattered over a 48-hour span as police discovered the bodies of three elderly men.

Over a 48-hour span, police discovered three elderly homicide victims across Hawaii's Big Island. On Monday, May 25, 69-year-old Robert Shine was found strangled and partially submerged in a cement pond at a Pāhoa residence. The following midday, an unnamed 79-year-old man was found dead from blunt force injuries just 400 to 500 feet away. Later that Tuesday night, a welfare check at a separate property roughly 19 miles (31 kilometers) away revealed the third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, who had succumbed to sharp force trauma.

As news of the interconnected deaths spread, local residents hunkered down, canceling community events out of fear for public safety. An island-wide search was quickly launched, drawing in significant resources from both state and federal law enforcement agencies. Authorities described Baker as "armed and extremely dangerous".

The breakthrough came on Thursday afternoon, May 28, in the Kaimu area of Kalapana, approximately 10 miles from the initial crime scene.

A sharp-eyed witness reported seeing a man matching Baker's description hiding in a vacant lot, repeatedly ducking down as passing traffic approached. Private video surveillance confirmed the sighting, catching footage of the suspect fleeing to an adjacent lot. Responding officers swarmed the property and located Baker hiding inside a small cave, taking him into custody without further incident.

Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna stated that investigators are confident Baker acted alone and is responsible for all three deaths. However, a clear motive remains elusive. Aside from the first two victims living in close proximity to each other, detectives have found no prior personal or professional connections among the three deceased men.

In the wake of the arrest, community members revealed that Baker had been a source of escalating tension in the weeks leading up to the murders. He had previously traded physical labor—climbing coconut trees—for lodging on a local fruit farm. After he was asked to leave due to erratic behavior, he reportedly returned to claim "squatter's rights".

Shockingly, court records reveal that just days before the killings, two local women filed applications for temporary restraining orders against Baker, alleging that he had trespassed, stolen property, and threatened to kill multiple women staying at the farm. A judge denied both applications, citing a lack of proof of immediate harassment.

In addition to the multiple murder charges, prosecutors have formally tacked on counts of burglary, auto theft, criminal property damage, and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Legal records indicate Baker has been involved in 20 other minor legal cases over the past two decades—mostly traffic infractions—where he consistently chose to represent himself without an attorney.