A judge has ordered a mental fitness examination for Jacob Baker, the 36-year-old man charged with murdering three elderly men on Hawaii's Big Island. Prosecutors have described the killings as 'especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel' in court documents, which also seek a harsher sentence due to the victims being over 60 years old.
Court Proceedings
Baker appeared in court on Monday, where the judge granted a defense request for a mental fitness evaluation. The criminal complaint alleges that the murders were of 'exceptional depravity.' The victims include Robert Shine, 69, whose body was found submerged in a cement pond; Frederick Morse, 79, discovered dead in his bed with several severed fingers; and John Carse, 69, found face-down in dirt under corrugated roofing material with severe injuries.
Details of the Killings
According to police, Shine had fractured ribs and other injuries and was strangled before being placed in a concrete fishpond. Carse's autopsy revealed cuts to his face, severed neck muscles, a broken jaw, and other injuries. Morse was found in his bed with mutilated fingers. The bodies were discovered in the remote Puna community, known for its jungle-like terrain and off-grid residents.
If convicted, Baker could face life in prison without parole if a jury agrees he knew the victims were elderly or that the killings were especially heinous. Without the enhancement, parole would be possible.
Investigation Details
A probable cause document reveals that a woman told police she drove Baker to a store in Hilo, where he purchased a knife and brass knuckles. During the drive, he allegedly said he would 'shank all the rapists in Pahoa and anyone who messed with him' and spoke about the island being full of rapists and pedophiles, stating he wanted to 'chop them up with machetes.' The woman described him as erratic, aggressive, and hyperverbal, noting he referred to himself using the Spanish word for hitman. He also got a tattoo under his left eye at a tattoo shop.
Baker is being held without bail. A report on his mental fitness is due by August 4, with a court hearing scheduled for August 11.
