Authorities in Hawaii have charged Jacob Daniel Baker, a 36-year-old man, with the murder of three individuals in a remote community known for its eclectic, communal lifestyle. According to the Hawaii Police Department, Baker faces charges of first- and second-degree murder, as announced in a news release on Saturday.

Baker remains in jail without bond, with his first court appearance scheduled for Monday. It is unclear if he has legal representation. The charges followed Baker’s capture after a manhunt on Hawaii’s Big Island, where the victims were discovered in the rural Puna community, known for its tropical scenery and free-spirited residents.

The first victim, Robert Shine, aged 69, was found on Monday, partially submerged in a cement pond. The second victim, a 79-year-old man identified by friends as Chitta Morse, was discovered on Tuesday a few hundred feet away. Police located the third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, on Tuesday at a property 19 miles from where the others were found.

Police have not disclosed a motive for the killings. Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna noted that investigators found no links among the victims other than the proximity of their residences. Baker also faces charges of burglary, auto theft, and criminal damage to property. The murders have unsettled residents in Puna, a community within a lush jungle, and barren lava fields where individuals often work for lodging off-grid.

Stephen Shaffer, a Puna resident, mentioned that Baker had previously worked for his ex-wife by climbing coconut trees in exchange for accommodation. Shaffer’s ex-wife later pursued a restraining order against Baker due to feeling threatened. Donald Hyatt, a friend of Shaffer’s ex-wife and two of the victims, reported that Baker had left his cabin months ago but recently returned, claiming ‘squatter’s rights,’ and threatened Shaffer’s ex-wife.

In the days leading up to the murders, two women filed for temporary restraining orders against Baker, citing threats and harassment. A judge denied both requests, indicating insufficient evidence of harassment. Court records show Baker involved in 20 prior cases over two decades, mostly traffic-related, where he often represented himself.