A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of three individuals on the Big Island of Hawaii. Jacob Daniel Baker faces multiple charges, including first- and second-degree murder, and is being held without bond.
Charges and Arrest
Baker was taken into custody without incident on Thursday, May 28, 2025, after a multi-agency search. He was found hiding in a small cave in a grassy area. He has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, as well as burglary, auto theft, and criminal property damage. Baker is scheduled for his first court appearance on Monday. It is not known if he has legal representation.
Victims and Causes of Death
The bodies of three men were discovered in the Puna community between Monday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 26, 2025.
- Robert Shine, 69, was found on Monday partially submerged in a cement pond on Railroad Avenue in Pāhoa. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.
- Chitta Morse, 79, was found on Tuesday on Papaya Farms Road, approximately 400-500 feet from the first victim’s residence. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. Some reports initially withheld his name pending family notification.
- John Carse, 69, was found on Tuesday at a property on Kalapana Kapoho Beach Road, approximately 19 miles from the other two bodies. The cause of death was sharp force trauma.
Police have stated they believe Baker is responsible for all three deaths. No firearm was used in the killings.
Investigation and Motive
Police have not disclosed a suspected motive or the specific evidence linking Baker to the crimes. Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna stated that investigators found no connections among the victims beyond two of them living near each other. Authorities were assisted in the investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Prior Restraining Order Requests
On Friday, May 23, 2025, two women filed requests for temporary restraining orders (TROs) against Baker in the Third Circuit Court.
- Janelle Honer wrote that Baker threatened her life.
- Angelia Romero-Hanson wrote that Baker threatened to kill women on the farm where she was staying.
Both applications were denied on Tuesday, May 27, by Judge Michelle Kanani Laubach due to a finding of insufficient evidence. The court was closed for the Memorial Day weekend prior to acting on the requests. Police stated they were not notified of the filings.
Background on the Suspect
According to court records and community members, Baker had been living in a cabin at Josanna's Organic Garden in Pāhoa for approximately 1.5 years in exchange for lodging. He was asked to leave two months prior to the killings. He returned on Thursday, May 22, looking for his dogs and became upset when they had been taken to the Humane Society. An eviction notice was posted on Saturday, May 24.
Baker was known to police and the community prior to the killings. He has been named in 20 other court cases over the past two decades, mostly traffic infractions, and in most of those he had no attorney. Two temporary restraining orders filed against him by women in the days before the killings were denied. Acquaintances reported a change in his behavior over the preceding six months, describing him as more erratic. Neighbors also reported erratic behavior in the days before the homicides.
Sequence of Events
- Thursday, May 22: Baker returned to the property where he previously lived, looking for his dogs.
- Friday, May 23: Two women filed for restraining orders against Baker.
- Saturday, May 24: An eviction notice was posted for Baker.
- Sunday, May 25: Baker attempted to stay at a neighbor’s home but was refused.
- Monday, May 25: Baker allegedly stole a neighbor’s truck. The body of Robert Shine was found at approximately 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 26: The body of Chitta Morse was found at approximately 12:30 p.m. The stolen truck was recovered abandoned near where the third body would later be found. The body of John Carse was found at approximately 10 p.m. The restraining order requests were denied.
- Wednesday, May 27: An islandwide manhunt began. Police issued a public notice.
- Thursday, May 28: Baker was arrested without incident.
Community Response
Some residents expressed concern about an insufficient police presence in the Puna district and the delayed public notification. A group of residents organized patrols to assist in watching for the suspect. Following the arrest, some community members expressed relief.