Suspect In Three Puna Murders Caught

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A manhunt that had the community of Puna on the Big Island on edge came to an end on Thursday afternoon as dozens of police officers emerged from a heavily wooded area with the suspect shirtless and emaciated in handcuffs. 

Jacob Baker is accused of killing three men over three days. Baker had lived and worked at Josana’s Organic Garden in Pāhoa until two months ago. He returned last Thursday and neighbors say Baker’s behavior was becoming increasingly erratic and aggressive, leading two women to file temporary restraining orders against him on Friday that were denied on Tuesday — after at least two of the men were already dead. 

By Wednesday the Hawaiʻi Police Department launched an island-wide manhunt for Baker, with federal and state officials joining the search on Thursday.

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Deborah Davis, a 65-year-old Seaview resident, witnessed the capture while driving along Kalapana-Kapoho Road near the third victim’s home. She was returning home at about 2:45 p.m. after running errands in Pāhoa when she crested a hill to see several police cars along the road and a crowd of more than a dozen officers in the street. 

Suddenly, a man ran from the side of the road toward her car then dove into a driveway and disappeared into the woods, chased by several officers. 

“I knew, oh my God, this could be the guy,” she said. “They could be getting the guy.” 

About 10 minutes later, Davis heard a chorus of chee-hoos, and a shirtless Baker emerged from the trees, handcuffed and flanked by half a dozen officers. 

Police Chief Reed Mahuna said at a press conference Thursday afternoon that they received a tip from a witness who saw Baker hiding in a field along the road near the third victim's home, 20 miles from the first two murders.

Witnesses told police Baker was seen ducking as traffic passed. Surveillance footage confirmed the sighting and captured Baker fleeing onto an adjacent property. Officers and detectives responded and conducted a search. The suspect was found hiding in a small cave. He did not have any weapons, Mahuna said.

Baker was charged with murder in the second degree as well as five other charges.

Davis and others across the community in Puna are breathing a sigh of relief. 

“When I drove through, there were probably 30 cops,” she said, her voice cracking as she fought back tears. “I was just thanking them all and crying. This is a very special community down here.”