DAVIDSONVILLE, Md., June 2, 2025 — Anne Arundel County police have arrested two 18-year-olds in connection with the homicide of Edward Stephen Koza, a 67-year-old Annapolis man whose body was found in a burned vehicle at Tropic Bay Water Gardens on May 24. The suspects, identified as Jonah Michael Poole of Davidsonville and Kylee Alyssa Dakes of Harwood, face charges of first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit murder, and arson.
The incident began at 9:25 p.m. on May 24, when police and fire personnel responded to a vehicle fire in the parking lot of Tropic Bay Water Gardens at 600 West Central Avenue. After extinguishing the flames, authorities discovered human remains in the passenger compartment. The remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy and identification. On May 31, the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, though the cause of death remains pending. Initial reports described the case as a suspicious death investigation.
On Saturday, May 31, police took Poole and Dakes into custody at a residence in Harwood. The arrests followed an investigation by the Anne Arundel County Criminal Investigations Division and the Fire & Explosives Investigations Unit. On June 2, authorities identified the victim as Koza, the owner of Tropic Bay Water Gardens, where the vehicle fire occurred. Police charging documents confirmed Koza’s connection to the business.
“That is crazy and very sad,” said Brett Murray, a customer at Tropic Bay Water Gardens, which was closed on Saturday. “Sorry to hear that, all the way around for everybody involved.” Murray also expressed sympathy for the victim’s family and the families of the suspects, stating, “Whoever it is, just sending healing love to any of the family and even the two young kids because their families are going through it too, I’m sure, so it’s just sad all the way around.”
The investigation remains active, and police are seeking additional information from the public. Authorities have provided a contact number, 410-222-4731, for anyone with details related to the case. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7LOCKUP.
The homicide marks the seventh in Anne Arundel County in 2025, compared to two at this point in 2024, according to county crime data. The discovery of Koza’s body in the torched vehicle has shocked the Davidsonville community, with residents expressing disbelief at the violence in their small town. The motive and circumstances leading to Koza’s death remain under investigation, as detectives continue to piece together the events.