(BIVN) – The Hawaiʻi Police Department held a news conference on Thursday following the arrest of 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker, the suspect in three Puna-area homicides and the target of a law enforcement manhunt over the last few days.
During the news conference, Hawaiʻi County Police Chief Reed Mahuna detailed how Baker was caught, hiding in a cave, in the Kaimū-Kalapana area of lower Puna.
Baker is the suspect in the murder of three individuals over the last few days in Puna. Two of the victims have been positively identified, and their names released by police on Thursday: 69-year-old Robert Shine, who was found dead at a residence on Papaya Farms Road on Monday, and 69-year-old John Carse, who was found dead Tuesday evening on Kalapana Kapoho Beach Road.
A third victim was found dead on Papaya Farms Road on Tuesday afternoon.
The following is a transcript from the press conference (excluding the questions and answers):
Chief Reed Mahuna, Hawaiʻi Police Department: Thank you. Thank you all for joining us. Today, at approximately 2:38 p.m. in the Kaimū Cove, Kaimū-Kalapana area, Hawaiʻi Police Department officers received information that the possible suspect had been observed hiding within a grassy area in a field.
Witnesses reported observing the male party ducking down as passing traffic approached. Investigators subsequently obtained video surveillance footage that corroborated these observations. The surveillance footage also captured the suspect fleeing from the initial property onto an adjacent property. Officers and detectives responded to the area and conducted a search, ultimately locating the suspect concealed within a small cave on the neighboring property.
The suspect, identified as Jacob Baker, male, 36, was taken into custody without incident. The suspect, Jacob Baker, at this time has been arrested for the following offenses: murder in the second degree, burglary in the first degree, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle in the first degree, theft in the first degree, criminal property damage in the fourth degree, theft in the fourth degree, and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the first degree.
First and foremost, I want to thank our community. It was a citizen that saw something, said something, and helped bring this manhunt to a safe conclusion. That partnership between law enforcement and the people we serve is what keeps Hawaiʻi Island safe. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to our local, state, and federal partners whose coordination and support were critical throughout this operation. We are especially grateful to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hawaiʻi Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Marshals Service, the Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, and Kauaʻi Police Departments, the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Defense, Homeland Security Investigations, and DOCARE, and all other agencies that assisted or stood ready with assets should we need them. Their willingness to respond, to share resources, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us reflects the strength of our law enforcement ʻohana across this state.
To the men and women of the Hawaiʻi Police Department, mahalo. You worked long hours under intense pressure in every, in very challenging terrain and difficult conditions. I am impressed every single day with your dedication and your courage, and today is no exception. Most importantly, our thoughts are with the victims and their families. They are the ones who have suffered the greatest harm. Behind every investigation, every search, and every arrest are real people whose lives have been forever changed. We will continue to do everything that we can to ensure that we support them and seek justice on their behalf. We need to also ensure that their voices are heard as this case moves through the criminal justice system.
Our goal from the beginning was clear: to locate and arrest this suspect as quickly as possible and to do it with keeping our officers and our community safe. Today, because of the combined efforts of our partners, the vigilance of our residents, and the hard work of our officers, we are able to accomplish that mission without further harm. The investigation will continue and we will work closely with the prosecutors as this case moves forward. For now, I want the people of Hawaiʻi Island to know that we hear your concerns. Your safety is our top priority and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect this community. Mahalo nui to everyone who played a role in bringing this incident to a safe resolution. Like to turn it over to the mayor.
Mayor Kimo Alameda, County of Hawaiʻi: Thank you, Chief. It is true this event was very unsettling. I couldn’t sleep last night, me and many others. And that’s why I extend my deepest gratitude to the officers, investigators, and all supporting agencies who have been working around the clock to find this suspect. This was truly all hands on deck. And I also like to thank the public for staying alert and for sharing tips that aided in this investigation. To our island ʻohana, please be reassured that we will do everything in our power to protect our residents and to ensure that every person in our community feels safe. I know this tragedy deeply impacted our community and we ask that you keep the family and friends of the victims in your thoughts and in your prayers. Today represents an important step forward towards justice and healing for everybody. We are so thankful again for the continued commitment and persistence shown by our investigators and we respect the ongoing investigation as the privacy of those affected also matter as well. The chief will open it up for questions. Mahalo.
