Puna community on edge as manhunt continues Thursday on Big Island for suspect in triple homicide

The islandwide search for triple murder suspect Jacob “Jake” Baker continued overnight and into Thursday morning, leaving many in the Puna District where the homicides occurred days earlier on edge and on high alert.

Residents of the area and beyond expressed fear, unease, anger, frustration, grief and deep concern as the 36-year-old Baker, who police say is armed and extremely dangerous, was still on the lam — and could be anywhere on the Big Island.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Hawai‘i Island Police Chief Reed Mahuna said catching Baker was the department’s top priority with the force focused on the manhunt. But for those in the rural area of the island who have known about the deaths, and some of the gruesome details, since Tuesday, it has been nerve-racking.

“OMG,” wrote Leila Kunishige in a post thread on Facebook. “Please post that he’s been caught. High anxiety level, damn!”

Darlene Jamil added: “So scary!”

Family members and friends of the victims — Bob Shine, 69, Chitta Morse, 79, and an unidentified 69-year-old man — are left with only photos and memories.

The only suspect in the cases, according to police, is Baker, who people have described on social media and in interviews as agitated, delusional, hyped up, gone, sick, twisted, dangerous and unstable.

Two women were so fearful of him, and his alleged death threats, that they petitioned the court on Monday to issue a temporary restraining order on Baker. The judge denied both petitions for lack of evidence.

On Wednesday night, call after call could be heard on police scanners asking law enforcement to checkout possible sightings Baker in multiple locations.

Some speculated where Baker could be holed up and even whether he’s still alive, with false reports on social media circulating about him dying by suicide or being cornered by police. One commenter urged people to check their boats.

Sightings of Baker were reported Tuesday in Kalapana and during the day Wednesday in and near subdivisions south of Leilani Estates and at 7-Eleven in Pahoa in Puna, with another possible sighting as far away as Ali‘i Drive in Kailua-Kona.

Baker is described as 5-foot-9, about 190 pounds, Asian, with short black hair and a tattoo on his left cheek, just below his eye that says “La Flaquitas,” which translates to “The skinny girls” or “The thin ones.”

The meaning of singular “la flaquita” depends heavily on context, with it sometimes used as a nickname or term of endearment among friends, family or romantic partners similarily to “babe.” It also can be used as a casual way to get someone’s attention, like “Hey, girl.”

Eerily, under the circumstances Baker is being sought, the phrase also is a popular nickname in Mexico referring to the skeletal figure Santa Muerte, or Our Lady of Holy Death.

While some people on social media suggested taking justice into their own hands if they spot Baker, the police urge people to call 9-1-1.

During the press conference Wednesday, the police provided only the most basic details of the murders to preserve the integrity of the investigations. At the time, police said the motive for the murders was not known.

But some of the details have been reported by witnesses on social media and to news outlets.

Police said the first victim was found partially submerged in a cement pond on Monday just before 8 p.m. and it wasn’t immediately clear if it was an accident or a murder. Don Hyatt, a friend of the victim whom he said was Shine, was found in the catchment tank in his front yard.

In that rural area of Puna, many people live off the grid and have their own water source.

The second victim, Morse, lived only about 400 to 500 yards away from Shine, with both residences near Papaya Farms Road. He was discovered just after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and police said it was immediately apparent he was murdered due to blunt force trauma injuries.

A person employed by Shine told the Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald he was going to tell Morse about his neighbor’s murder, but instead found the disfigured body of Morse, an organic fruit farmer, on a bed surrounded by 55-gallon barrels, his face mutilated and with several fingers missing. The employee, who was not identified, said he initially thought he found a “butchered animal.”

The third victim, another 69-year-old man, was found dead later Tuesday just before 10 p.m. when officers made a welfare check at his home 19 miles away on Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road.

No other information was reported about the injuries the third man suffered. Like the first two men, an autopsy will determine his exact cause of death.

The first two murders were discovered after Baker allegedly attacked the family and dogs of Sarah Elizabeth during the late afternoon on Monday at her home on a communal living property on Papaya Farms Road, where he had been staying for several nights.

“He seemed agitated, delusional and hyped up,” Elizabeth posted on social media. “He was speaking all kinds of nonsense Spanish. He was yelling, ‘Bob is dead,’ over and over multiple times as he was getting … beat for kicking one of our dogs, and trying to start a fight.”

She said Baker fled the property after she pepper sprayed him.

Victims of that alleged attack told the Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald they went through Baker’s left-behind possessions and found a notebook full of “sick, violent, paranoid stories,” including threatening rape and physical violence. They say they gave Baker’s belongings to police the next day.

Information in Baker’s belongings led the people to check on Shine. When they couldn’t find him, they called police. That set off the chain of events that would later lead to the discovery of Morse’s body the next day.

“He was just such a vibrant member of the community, everybody knew him, and he was always instrumental in creating community and wanting to bring people together and share in the joys of life, and music, and poetry, and literature,” Shine’s daughter Anon Shine told Honolulu media outlet KHON2.

She said her dad focused less on money and more on community, love and helping people in need.

“He was just trying to embody unconditional love in this very conditional world,” Anon Shine told KHON2.

Baker was reportedly evicted from housing at Josanna’s Organic Garden, also located on Papaya Farms Road, after living there for about a year. He then started to ask people in the neighborhood if he could stay with them for a few days. Josanna’s owner, Janelle Honer, had tried to get a temporary restraining order against Baker on Monday because she said he threatened her life and the lives of others on her farm.

Morse, who lived in the area more than 30 years, took Baker in for a few days but later kicked him out, with Baker ending up at the communal living property next door to Shine’s home, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke with other local media.

Michael Leroux, a 53-year-old Florida man who has been doing work trade and staying for about the past week and a half at Josanna’s Organic Garden, said he met Baker while he was at the farm. Leroux’s cottage is near where the suspect was staying there.

“It’s been very eerie going to sleep at night,” Leroux said in an email to Big Island Now.

Baker allegedly stole a pickup truck from another Papaya Farms Road home after murdering Morse and fled to the Kalapana area before killing his third victim later that day. Instagram user @_.jacob.m._ wrote in a comment thread that the truck was stolen from his uncle’s house at the bottom of Papaya Farms Road. He added that dogs also were taken.

“Truck was dumped in Kalapana/Kaimū area,” he wrote. “Someone broke into my good friend’s house [@maikaiii] last night same area. He wasn’t home but came home to cops searching the perimeter and clearing his house. … So insane, lock your doors and if you have elderly neighbors watch their backs and make sure everyone in your community stays safe.”

Baker is known to the community and the police. He has been in trouble with the law before.

The Hawai‘i State Judiciary website shows his record includes traffic violations along with driving under the influence and open container charges; but he has no prior violent offenses in the state.

Mahuna during Wednesday’s press conference extended his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the three victims: “These are a tragic series of events, and our thoughts are with those who are grieving at this time.”

The fear among the community is palpable while Baker remains at large, with some people saying on social media they fear going outside.

“Lock your doors and be aware of your surroundings!,” wrote Ambronette Rivera in a comment in a post thread. “Check up on your [‘ohana] and friends! Be safe all!”

Mahuna said at the press conference: “I also want to reassure the residents of this community that public safety remains our top priority. We are increasing patrol presences in the affected areas and coordinating closely with our partners to ensure the community is kept absolutely safe.”

Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda reiterated Mahuna’s comments about public safety, saying it is also the county’s highest priority: “I also ask everyone to remain alert and vigilant.

He and police officials urge anyone with information about the three murders or Baker’s whereabouts to contact Detective Duane Rapoza at 808-961-2383 or via email at Duane.Rapoza@hawaiipolice.gov or Detective Sy Keltner at 808-961-2384 or via email at Sy.Keltner@hawaiipolice.gov.

They can also call the police department’s nonemergency line at 808-935-3311.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call the islandwide Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.