A Hilo judge has hit the brakes on the criminal case against Jacob Daniel Baker, ordering a formal mental-health competency evaluation after defense attorneys raised red flags about how engaged he was in court. Baker is accused of killing three older men in separate incidents in Puna in late May, a string of deaths that set off an islandwide manhunt.
At a June 1 hearing, Judge Jeffrey Hawk called the killings “particularly brutal and heinous” and granted the defense request for a court-ordered fitness evaluation. He appointed a three-member panel of examiners to determine whether Baker understands what is happening in court and can help his attorneys, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. That move temporarily freezes the criminal case while the panel does its work.
What a 704 Evaluation Does
Under Hawaiʻi law (HRS §704‑404), a judge can stop proceedings and appoint three qualified examiners, who may be psychiatrists, licensed psychologists or qualified physicians, to independently evaluate a defendant’s fitness to stand trial. The examiners review medical and police records, interview the defendant and file written opinions that the judge uses to decide if the case can move forward, as detailed in the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.
Why the Process Can Slow Cases
The 704 process is designed to protect a defendant’s constitutional rights, but in practice it operates in a system that is stretched thin. Honolulu Civil Beat reports that roughly 1,400 such evaluations are ordered statewide each year while about 16 examiners handle most of that workload. The three experts assigned to Baker are expected to submit their reports by Aug. 4.
Lawmakers have tried to sweeten the deal by doubling compensation to $2,000 per exam, but the roster of willing evaluators has not noticeably grown. The state’s FY2025 report also notes continuing capacity strains at Hawaiʻi State Hospital, where many of these defendants end up, according to the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health.
Next Steps in Baker's Case
The Hawaiʻi Police Department says Baker faces multiple charges that followed a high-profile, islandwide search, and officers warned the public not to approach him while he was on the run. The investigation remains active, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department.
Baker is scheduled to return to Hilo District Court on Aug. 11, Hawaii News Now reports. Prosecutors have told the court they may seek tougher penalties because the victims were older than 60, according to the Associated Press.
Legal Stakes
If the examiners conclude Baker is not fit to proceed, the court can order him to receive treatment at Hawaiʻi State Hospital while clinicians attempt to restore his competence. If he is later found not guilty by reason of insanity, that verdict typically leads to commitment rather than a quick walk out of the courthouse.
State law and hospital oversight documents spell out how records, diagnoses and risk assessments shape decisions about detention, restoration and conditional release. The Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes and the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health outline the legal framework and data that guide those outcomes.
