Two 18-year-old Anne Arundel County residents, Jonah Michael Poole of Davidsonville and Kylee Alyssa Dakes of Harwood, have been charged with murder in the death of Edward Koza, owner of Tropic Bay Water Gardens in Davidsonville, Maryland. Koza’s body was discovered on May 24 after allegedly being attacked in his store, bound, and then burned in his pickup truck. According to charging documents, the suspects restrained Koza, covered his mouth with tape, and drove him in his truck before dousing it with gasoline and setting it ablaze with him inside. The investigation revealed signs of a struggle at Koza’s business, including broken items and blood. Surveillance footage showed Dakes purchasing gasoline shortly before the truck was set on fire. Investigators linked Poole to the crime scene through license plate readers, as he drove a red Lincoln sedan that was spotted near the business around the time of the incident. A social media video under investigation appears to show a male and female discussing setting a pickup truck on fire. Both suspects were ordered held without bond and are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 25. They face charges including first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy, assault, and arson.
