Suspect held in
North Shore deathA homeless man allegedly told
other homeless people that he
killed the victim
Honolulu police have arrested a homeless man suspected of killing a 61-year-old North Shore resident last week.
Police discovered the body of Percy Baker at his Sunset Beach home at 58-038 Kamehameha Highway on June 2 after his employer became concerned when he did not show up for work. Baker's vehicle was also discovered missing.
Police sources said the suspect, a 40-year-old man, and the victim were known to hang out together often and might have been romantically involved.
Police said they learned about the suspect after other homeless people in the area said the suspect told others that he had killed Baker.
Autopsy results show that Baker died from several stab wounds to the chest. Police have recovered several knives from the crime scene, but none have been linked to the killing.
When police first discovered the body, they said that the stab wounds were not apparent because the victim had partially decomposed.
Neighbors believe Baker might have been dead for as long as five days before his body was found in a bedroom.
One of Baker's neighbors became suspicious when a friend who had employed Baker as a handyman called and said he had not shown up to do a job. The neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she knocked on Baker's front door. When no one answered, she said she opened the door and was hit by "a terrible smell."
Police arrested the suspect for two outstanding warrants Thursday at 1 p.m., at 58-021 Kamehameha Highway, down the street from Baker's home.
Police later rearrested the suspect for suspicion of second-degree murder about an hour and a half later while he was in custody at the Wahiawa police station.
Police recovered Baker's vehicle earlier this week, according to a source.
Police have not said if they arrested the people who were in Baker's vehicle or if they are suspected of being involved in his death.