Man Accused of Committing Three Homicides in 48 Hours Has Been Arrested in Hawaii

The man from Hawaii who allegedly committed three killings within a 48-hour period has finally been arrested by the Hawaii Police Department following a massive search operation. The department announced the man’s arrest on May 28.

The man who allegedly committed three homicides within 48 hours has been identified as 36-year-old Jacob “Jake” Daniel Baker of Pahoa, Hawaii. Baker was apprehended and arrested without incident at about 2:45 p.m. local time, according to a statement posted by the Hawaii Police Department on social media.

During a press conference, officials said Baker was found hiding in a small cave after a resident reported seeing him in the neighborhood. Police said he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and several other offenses. Authorities had earlier described Baker as armed and extremely dangerous.

Mahuna said “officers worked long hours under intense pressure in very difficult and challenging terrain,” and thanked local, state and federal partners for assisting with the search. He also said the department’s thoughts are with the victims’ families and that the investigation will continue.

Hawaii Police Department Chief Reed Mahuna and Mayor Kimo Alameda credited the public with helping lead to Baker’s arrest after the department received a tip that he had been spotted in a neighborhood. Authorities also thanked the other agencies involved in the search for Baker. “It was truly all hands on deck,” Alameda said.

“Over the past 48 hours, our island has experienced three separate homicides in the Puna district, all of which we believe are connected and involved a single suspect,” the Hawaii Island Police Chief Reed Mahuna said at a news conference held prior to the arrest of Baker. Hawai'i Island is also known as the Big Island.

“We have mobilized significant resources and personnel to address this situation swiftly and thoroughly,” the chief said. “Bringing this suspect into custody without anyone further being harmed is the No.1 priority,” he added at the same press conference, which was held prior to the arrest.

The first death was discovered on the evening of May 25th, when an officer responded to a home in Pahoa and found a 69-year-old man partially submerged inside a cement pond, the police said. The victim was identified as Ribert Shine, who had been strangled to death, and the pathologist’s final ruling is pending standard toxicology results.

On May 26th, officers responded to a home just 400 to 500 feet away from the first victim and found a 79-year-old man dead from apparent blunt force trauma, police said. The victim’s name has not been released pending next of kin notification, the police said.

On the night of May 16th, a third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, was found dead about 19 miles away from the first two locations, according to the police. An autopsy found he died as a result of a sharp force trauma, and the pathologists' final ruling is also pending toxicology results, the police said.