DAVIDSONVILLE, Md., June 5, 2025 — Two 18-year-olds, Jonah Michael Poole and Kylee Alyssa Dakes, face murder charges in the death of Edward Stephen Koza, 67, owner of Tropic Bay Water Gardens. Koza’s body was found in his burning pickup truck outside his business at 600 West Central Avenue on May 24, 2025. Anne Arundel County police have uncovered new details in the case, pointing to a violent attack and arson.
At 9:25 p.m. on May 24, police and firefighters responded to a vehicle fire in the parking lot of Tropic Bay Water Gardens. After extinguishing the flames, authorities discovered Koza’s remains in the back seat, his hands and mouth bound with tape. An autopsy confirmed he died from blunt force trauma to the head. A melted fuel container and the smell of gasoline indicated the fire was deliberately set, according to police charging documents.
Investigators identified Poole and Dakes, both seniors at Southern High School, through a Bass Pro Shops baseball cap found near the burned vehicle. Surveillance footage from a nearby BP gas station captured the pair in Koza’s truck around 9 p.m. that night. Earlier that day, the couple was recorded at a Bass Pro Shops store, where Poole purchased a flannel shirt and a hat matching the one left at the scene. License plate readers and additional footage also placed their red Lincoln at the business around closing time.
Police believe the suspects attacked Koza inside his shop around 5:30 p.m., likely during or after closing hours. Evidence of a struggle was found inside Tropic Bay Water Gardens, including knocked-over items, a blood-filled plastic bag, and a displaced decorative rock, which may have been used in the assault. The couple allegedly bound Koza, placed him in his truck, drove to the BP station to purchase gasoline, and returned to the business to set the vehicle ablaze before fleeing in their Lincoln.
Poole and Dakes were arrested on May 31 at a residence in Harwood and charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit murder, and arson. Both were denied bail during court hearings on June 2. Poole faces additional charges for a burglary at Pirates Cove restaurant in Galesville on May 18, where he allegedly caused $6,000 in damage and stole over $11,000 from a safe.
The motive for Koza’s murder remains under investigation. Police have not disclosed whether robbery was the primary intent, though charging documents suggest it as a possibility. A video circulating on social media, allegedly showing an individual setting the truck on fire, is being authenticated by homicide detectives as part of the ongoing probe.
Koza, an Annapolis resident, founded Tropic Bay Water Gardens in 2001, specializing in koi ponds, aquatic plants, and garden decor. The business, a staple in Davidsonville, was known for its 22 indoor ponds and annual koi festivals. Koza’s LinkedIn profile indicates he previously worked in sales for AT&T from 1980 to 2002 and held a bachelor’s degree from Muskingum University in Ohio. His death, the seventh homicide in Anne Arundel County in 2025, has shaken the community.
Residents expressed shock at the violence in their small town. “Nobody deserves to die that way,” a neighbor told WJZ. Another local, Danielle Schline, remarked, “You have your whole life ahead of you, and you just threw it away for a couple of dollars?” The investigation continues, with police urging anyone with information to contact detectives at 410-222-4731.
