A man linked to the murders of three individuals was taken into custody on Thursday following a significant manhunt that unsettled local residents on Hawaii Island.
Jacob Baker, 36, from Pahoa, Hawaii, is facing charges of murder, robbery, and others, as announced by the police, who noted the extensive resources utilized during the investigation, including support from state and federal agencies. They characterized him as “armed and extremely dangerous.”
Authorities suspect Baker’s involvement in the killings, two of whom were men found at separate locations—a 79-year-old near a cement pond and another man, aged 69, about 20 miles away.
The incidents unfolded over a brief period in a mostly rural and remote area of the island, which covers over 4,000 square miles, the largest in the Hawaiian chain.
Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna stated during a press briefing that they received a tip about Baker hiding in the grass while observing passing cars.
Law enforcement later discovered him concealed in a small cave and took him into custody.
One local resident, Deborah Davis, recounted driving home when she noticed a police officer pursuing a man along the road, making her think, “this must be him.”
She watched as Baker darted into a grassy area and then into the jungle. Shortly after, a group of officers emerged with a shirtless Baker in handcuffs. Davis commented on the officers’ exuberant behavior, with high-fives and exclamations of celebration.
“They were genuinely pleased,” she remarked. “I was just so thankful; I got emotional.”
No clear motive has been established yet, although investigations indicated Baker’s connection to all three victims. Mahuna did not disclose how police identified Baker as a suspect or what evidence linked him to the murders.
Interestingly, there was no discernible connection among the victims, aside from the fact that two of them resided near each other.
Allegations of Intimidation and Harassment Against Baker
The murders occurred shortly after two women sought temporary restraining orders against Baker, alleging threats and harassment at his agricultural property.
One had been staying there while the other co-owned the property. However, the judge dismissed both requests due to a lack of substantial evidence.
One woman claimed Baker threatened numerous guests, forcing them to either leave or terminate their stays. She even referred to a video allegedly showing one of the threats, although the link appeared to be inactive or incorrect.
The other woman accused Baker of trespassing, threatening her and a disabled man, and attempting to unlawfully occupy the property.
Baker, who has represented himself in numerous previous cases over the past two decades—many of which were traffic-related—did not have an attorney listed.
Three Bodies Found in a Span of Two Days
Police identified the first victim as Robert Shine and the third as John Kurth. The name of the 79-year-old victim has not yet been released. Autopsy results showed Shine died from strangulation, while Kurth suffered from “sharp force trauma.”
On Monday night, authorities discovered Shine in a cement pond at his home.
The next day, they found the 79-year-old deceased, apparently due to blunt force trauma, around midday. Later that evening, police were requested to investigate a welfare check about 30 miles away, where they found Kurth dead.
Stephen Shafer mentioned that Baker previously grew fruit on his ex-wife’s property in Puna and would climb coconut trees for her, but after some time, she sought a restraining order against him due to feeling threatened.
Shafer wasn’t privy to the specifics of their issues, but other community members expressed concerns over Baker without going into details.
Donald Hiatt, a friend of two of the deceased men and Schaefer’s ex-wife, noted that Baker had vacated the cabin on the property months prior.
“He seemed off,” Hiatt remarked. “There was a lot of mess around.”
He added that Baker had recently returned, claiming “squatter’s rights” and had threatened Schaefer’s ex-girlfriend, prompting Hiatt to suggest she seek legal protection.
Puna, known for its affordable land, is a mostly rural yet rapidly developing area that has seen lava flows devastate whole communities in the past.
Concerns Among Residents
Tiffany Edwards-Hunt, a resident of Puna, expressed that many locals felt anxious before Baker’s arrest, noting an unusual police presence in the area.
“It’s true; some people live in makeshift homes, covered in blue tarps,” she explained, highlighting the area’s poverty.
Even though Puna is only about 27 miles from Hilo, the main city in eastern Hawaii, the rough dirt roads can make it feel farther away.
“There’s a sort of lawlessness in those remote parts,” Hunt concluded.
