Pahoa man charged with first-degree murder in triple homicide

The 36-year-old Pahoa man suspected of killing three men in Puna this week was charged today with first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and other charges

After conferring with county prosecutors, Hawaii island police also charged Jacob Daniel Baker with first-degree burglary, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, fourth-degree property damage, and two counts of fourth-degree theft. He has being held without bail.

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Baker faces a life sentence without parole. The first-degree murder charge can be used when a person knowingly or intentionally kills two or more people.

After a two-day, multi-agency manhunt, Baker was found Thursday hiding in a cave in the Kaimu area of Kalapana near where one of the victims was found earlier in the week. Witnesses saw him in a field repeatedly ducking as passing traffic approached.

The victims have been identified as Robert “Bob” Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and John Carse, 69.

The bodies of Shine and Morse were found Monday night and midday Tuesday, respectively, on two properties within 500 feet of one another in the Papaya Farms Road area of Pahoa. Carse was found Tuesday night about 19 miles away at his home off Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road.

Baker is scheduled to make his initial appearance Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court.