A Hawaii man accused of killing three people was arrested after a passerby spotted him hiding in a grassy field and alerted police, ending a days-long manhunt.
Suspect Arrested After Manhunt
Jacob Daniel Baker, 36, was arrested on May 28 in Kalapana, Hawaii. Police said he was found hiding in a field and would duck down whenever vehicles passed by.
Authorities launched a large search operation after Baker became a suspect in the deaths of three men in the Puna area.
Three Men Found Dead
The investigation began on May 25 when police discovered the body of Robert Shine, 69, partially submerged in a cement pond. An autopsy later determined he died from strangulation.
The following day, officers found the body of a 79-year-old man with suspicious injuries at a nearby residence. His identity has not yet been released.
Later that same day, police found the body of John Carse, 69, about 19 miles away from the first two crime scenes. Authorities said Carse died from sharp force trauma.
Charges Filed
Baker has been charged with:
- One count of first-degree murder
- Three counts of second-degree murder
- First-degree burglary
- Auto theft
- Property damage offences
- Unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle
Police said the first-degree murder charge relates to the alleged killing of multiple victims.
Additional Details
Reports indicate that two women, including Baker’s ex-wife, had sought restraining orders against him just days before the alleged killings, claiming he threatened and harassed them. The requests were denied due to insufficient evidence.
Baker is being held without bail on the murder charges and is scheduled to appear in court on June 1.
