Hawaii police on urgent hunt for armed suspect tied to 3 deaths on the Big Island
Authorities in Hawaii are continuing an urgent manhunt for a suspect they say may be connected to the deaths of three men found on the Big Island earlier this week.
Police identified the suspect as 36 year old Jacob Daniel Baker, whom officials described as extremely dangerous during a public news conference on Wednesday.
Investigators believe Baker is responsible for or connected to all three killings, which unfolded across the rural Puna District on Hawaii Island’s eastern coast.
The alarming series of deaths has shaken local residents as law enforcement agencies deploy additional resources throughout the area in an effort to locate the suspect.
Three men were found dead over two days
According to Hawaii Police Department officials, the victims were discovered between Monday and Tuesday in separate incidents across the Puna District.
Two of the men were publicly identified as 69 year old Robert Shine and 69 year old John Carse. Authorities said the third victim, a 79 year old man, had not yet been publicly named pending family notification.
Autopsy findings revealed different causes of death for the victims.
Shine died from strangulation, according to investigators. Carse suffered fatal sharp force injuries. The unidentified 79-year-old victim was found with blunt force trauma injuries.
Police have not publicly shared additional details about how the deaths may be connected, though officials said investigators are confident Baker was involved in all three cases.
During the news conference, Police Chief Reed Mahuna said the known connection between two of the victims was their close physical proximity.
According to Mahuna, Shine and the unidentified victim lived only a few hundred feet apart.
Authorities warn the suspect may be armed
Investigators have urged the public to remain cautious while the search continues.
Police Capt. Jeremy Scott Lewis warned that Baker should be considered armed and highly dangerous. Officials have not released information regarding possible weapons or where the suspect may currently be located.
Law enforcement agencies have concentrated much of the search effort within the Puna District, where authorities believe Baker may still be hiding.
Mahuna also publicly urged the suspect to surrender peacefully in order to avoid additional violence.
The police chief said officials hope Baker contacts authorities directly and turns himself in before anyone else is harmed.
Robert Shine was first discovered Monday night
Shine was the first victim located during the investigation.
Authorities said officers responded Monday evening to a residential area in Pāhoa, where Shine’s body was discovered partially submerged inside a man made pond.
Initially, investigators reportedly believed a medical emergency may have contributed to the death. However, an autopsy later determined the case was a homicide.
The discovery stunned neighbors and family members familiar with Shine, who was described as a dedicated farmer deeply connected to the local community.
His daughter later spoke publicly about the emotional devastation caused by his death, describing feelings of disbelief and overwhelming sadness.
Neighbor recalls unsettling encounter after body discovery
One local resident told Hawaii news station KHNL that he encountered Baker shortly after authorities recovered Shine’s body.
According to the neighbor, the suspect appeared agitated and repeatedly shouted statements referencing Shine’s death.
The witness described the interaction as alarming and confusing, saying much of what Baker said did not appear coherent.
Investigators have not confirmed whether the encounter is directly tied to evidence in the case.
Other victims were found in separate locations
The investigation quickly expanded after two additional deaths were discovered Tuesday. The unidentified 79 year old victim was found Tuesday afternoon after officers responded to another home in Pāhoa, later that evening, authorities discovered Carse’s body approximately 19 miles away after receiving a request for a welfare check.
The separate locations intensified concerns among residents throughout the rural district, where many communities are isolated and heavily wooded.
Officials have not yet disclosed whether the victims personally knew one another or whether the suspect had direct relationships with them.
Community remains on edge during ongoing manhunt
As the search continues, residents across the Big Island remain anxious about the ongoing investigation.
The Puna District, known for its rural landscapes and quiet residential communities, has now become the center of a major police operation involving multiple agencies and extensive patrol efforts.
Authorities continue urging the public not to approach Baker if spotted and instead immediately contact law enforcement.
Police have not announced any arrests related to the investigation as of Thursday.
The manhunt remains active.