Hawaii Island police have launched a manhunt for 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker of Pahoa, naming him a suspect in three homicides in the Puna area. Baker is considered armed and extremely dangerous, and authorities are urging residents not to confront him under any circumstances. The investigation is active and unfolding, and officials say additional information will be released as it becomes available. Anyone who sees someone matching Baker's description is asked to call 911 immediately.
Police Investigating Suspicious Deaths
Detectives report that officers discovered two elderly men at separate Pahoa homes on May 25 and May 26, one in the 14-0000 block of Papaya Farms Road and another in the 14-300 block of Papaya Farms Road. Autopsies were scheduled for May 27 to determine the causes of death, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The Area I Criminal Investigation Section is leading the case, and police are asking anyone with information to contact Detectives Daniel Tam or Joseph Picadura, call the department's non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311, or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300, where tips may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.
Suspect Named
Hawaii News Now reported that police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Jacob Daniel Baker of Pahoa and said he is wanted in connection with three homicides in the Puna area. The outlet quoted authorities describing Baker as "armed and extremely dangerous" and repeated warnings that members of the public should not approach him.
Recent Enforcement In Puna
The alert follows months of weapons- and drug-related enforcement work in Puna, including a March ghost-gun arrest in Nanawale Estates, according to a ghost-gun arrest in Pahoa. Police briefings and local coverage have highlighted how officers have been active across rural subdivisions where long response times and thick vegetation can make searches more challenging.
How To Report Tips
Police again stressed that anyone who spots Baker should not approach him and should call 911 right away. For non-emergency information or tips, contact the Hawaiʻi Police Department at (808) 935-3311 or Detectives Daniel Tam and Joseph Picadura at the numbers listed in the department's release. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, according to the police statement.
Officials say more details will be released as the investigation moves forward. Residents are encouraged to monitor updates from police and local news outlets for verified information.
