[ "HONOLULU – A quiet, off‑grid community in Hawaii’s Puna district was rocked last week when police announced that a 36‑year‑old man, Jacob Daniel Baker, had been charged with the murders of three men in a secluded part of the island’s Big Island. The charges, consisting of first‑ and second‑degree murder, came after a two‑day manhunt that ended with Baker’s arrest.
The victims – Robert Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69 – were found in three separate locations: Shine in a partially submerged cement pond, Morse a few hundred feet away, and Carse on a property 19 miles from the others. Police have yet to reveal a motive; the only connection outside living proximity appears to be that Morse and Carse shared a block.
Baker remains in pre‑trial jail without bond, with his next court appearance set for Monday. Authorities report that he also faces counts of burglary, auto theft and criminal damage, stemming from reports that he had stolen a vehicle and damaged property during the investigation.
Puna, located amid lush jungle and barren lava fields, is known for a community that trades labor for lodging. A resident, Stephen Shaffer, says Baker worked on his ex‑wife’s coconut grove in exchange for a place to stay. Shaffer, and an associate named Donald Hyatt, later claimed that Baker had returned to their home and threatened Shaffer’s ex‑wife.
Two days before the killings, court documents show that two separate women had requested temporary restraining orders against Baker, alleging harassment. Both applications were denied by a judge citing insufficient evidence. Baker, who has been involved in 20 other cases over two decades—mostly traffic infractions—had no attorney in many and represented himself.
Chief Reed Mahuna of the Hawaii Police Department announced that investigators have found no overarching motive or connection among the victims beyond geography. We are treating this as a flat‑level incident, but the community is left in a state of heightened caution, he said.
The killings have unsettled residents of the Puna valley, a community that prides itself on its off‑grid, communal lifestyle. We now have to confront the fact that people we trusted were possibly dangerous, said inmate volunteer Kalo Ka‘papapa.
Civitas is following the story and invites the local community to share additional information, local context, or calls for compassion and fair justice in this volatile situation, while ensuring transparency and community‑driven reporting." ]
The victims – Robert Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69 – were found in three separate locations: Shine in a partially submerged cement pond, Morse a few hundred feet away, and Carse on a property 19 miles from the others. Police have yet to reveal a motive; the only connection outside living proximity appears to be that Morse and Carse shared a block.
Baker remains in pre‑trial jail without bond, with his next court appearance set for Monday. Authorities report that he also faces counts of burglary, auto theft and criminal damage, stemming from reports that he had stolen a vehicle and damaged property during the investigation.
Puna, located amid lush jungle and barren lava fields, is known for a community that trades labor for lodging. A resident, Stephen Shaffer, says Baker worked on his ex‑wife’s coconut grove in exchange for a place to stay. Shaffer, and an associate named Donald Hyatt, later claimed that Baker had returned to their home and threatened Shaffer’s ex‑wife.
Two days before the killings, court documents show that two separate women had requested temporary restraining orders against Baker, alleging harassment. Both applications were denied by a judge citing insufficient evidence. Baker, who has been involved in 20 other cases over two decades—mostly traffic infractions—had no attorney in many and represented himself.
Chief Reed Mahuna of the Hawaii Police Department announced that investigators have found no overarching motive or connection among the victims beyond geography. We are treating this as a flat‑level incident, but the community is left in a state of heightened caution, he said.
The killings have unsettled residents of the Puna valley, a community that prides itself on its off‑grid, communal lifestyle. We now have to confront the fact that people we trusted were possibly dangerous, said inmate volunteer Kalo Ka‘papapa.
Civitas is following the story and invites the local community to share additional information, local context, or calls for compassion and fair justice in this volatile situation, while ensuring transparency and community‑driven reporting." ]
