HONOLULU, HI - A suspect wanted in connection with the murders of three men in Hawaii was arrested on Tuesday, May 26, after a massive manhunt that lasted a span of several days.
The alleged killer, 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker, was arrested "without incident" on various charges, including second-degree murder, burglary and theft, KOMO News reported.
Police said Baker was seen on surveillance footage hiding in a vacant lot in the Kaimu area of Kalapana when witnesses reported him repeatedly ducking as traffic passed. "Officers and detectives responded to the area and conducted a search, ultimately locating Baker concealed within a small cave on the neighboring property," the Hawai'i Police Department (HPD) said in a statement.
"It was a citizen who saw something, said something and helped bring this manhunt to a safe conclusion," HPD Police Chief Reed Mahuna said at a press conference. He did not provide further details on the evidence in the case connecting Baker to the three murders, but added they are confident "the suspect here is responsible or involved in all three homicides."
Police identified the first victim as 69-year-old Robert Shine, who was found at a residence partially submerged in a cement pond. Another victim, a 79-year-old man who has not yet been identified, died from apparent blunt-force injuries.
The third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, was found about 19 miles from Shine's residence. An autopsy determined he died from sharp-force trauma.
Baker has a lengthy criminal history. Court records reviewed by the Associated Press show Baker has appeared in roughly 20 cases over the past two decades, many involving traffic infractions. Additional court records obtained by CNN revealed that two women sought temporary restraining orders against Baker days before the bodies were discovered, with one alleging he threatened her life.
A police spokesperson said officers were "not notified" of the restraining-order applications. The petitions were denied the same day two of the victims were found.
Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals Service, joined state Department of Law Enforcement sheriffs and Department of Land and Natural Resources DOCARE officers in the search for Baker.
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