PUNA — Jacob Baker was arrested in Puna, Hawaii, in connection with the deaths of three men found in separate locations. The victims included a 69-year-old man found partially submerged in a cement pond, a 79-year-old man discovered a few hundred feet away, and a third 69-year-old man located about 19 miles from the other two.
Police identified the first victim as Robert Shine and the third as John Carse. Friends identified the 79-year-old man as Chitta Morse, though official identification was pending as of Friday. Baker remained jailed on suspicion of murder, burglary, and other charges, though prosecutors had not yet filed formal charges.
Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna said investigators had not found any connections among the victims, other than that two of them lived near each other. “Investigators had not found any connections among the victims, other than that two of them lived near each other,” Mahuna said.
Mark Wyatt and Richard Valdez alerted police on Thursday after their surveillance system captured footage of Baker on their property, located about a half-mile from Carse’s home. Surveillance videos showed Baker, shirtless and barefoot, walking with a dog and lying on the ground as cars passed, apparently trying to avoid detection. “He was ducking from the traffic, so it was pretty obvious that he was trying to avoid being found,” Valdez said.
Authorities arrested Baker a short distance away after locating him in a small cave. Wyatt believed Baker had been hiding in a makeshift campsite on a bluff overlooking the ocean, where he had used stolen couch cushions and charcoal, covering the area with palm fronds from coconut trees.
Court records show Baker had repeated run-ins with police over the past two decades, including 20 cases—many for traffic infractions—in which he typically represented himself. No attorney was listed for him following his arrest.
Baker had previously lived on property owned by Janelle Honer in Puna, where he traded labor—climbing and trimming coconut trees—for living accommodations, a common arrangement in the area. He left months ago but recently returned, claiming squatter’s rights and threatening Honer. The slayings occurred days after two women sought temporary restraining orders against Baker for alleged threats and harassment at a farm; a judge denied the requests due to insufficient evidence.
Friends described the victims as longtime members of Puna’s off-grid community. Shine was remembered by drummer Donald Hyatt as joyful and spirited: “He was dancing like he loved life. Bob had a permanent smile. Always in good spirits.” Morse, who had lived in Puna for 40 years, maintained a fruit forest and followed a strict raw-food diet. A memorial for the three men was planned for Saturday near Honer’s property.