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CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Man charged in killing of Maryland business owner also accused of vandalizing school
One of two suspects charged in the murder of a Maryland business owner is also being accused of vandalizing a school, according to charging documents. Jonah Michael Poole, 18, who is also facing murder, assault, and arson charges in relation to the murder of Edward Stephen Koza in early June, has also been charged with hate crime, vandalism, and harassment charges. On May 15, Anne Arundel County police responded to the Summit School in Edgewater for a report of vandalism and a hate crime that occurred. Police spoke with Director Dr. Joan McCarthy when they arrived. A swastika and derogatory phrases about sexual orientation had been spray-painted on the exterior of the gym building, as well as the main school building, police said. Video surveillance provided to officers showed a white male dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt with a tan shirt wrapped around his head arrive on the scene around 1:00 a.m. that morning before spray-painting buildings. Murder of Anne Arundel County business owner Human remains of Koza, who owned the Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center in Davidsonville, were found in a burned vehicle in a parking lot on May 24. Around 9:25 p.m., officers responded to a fully engulfed vehicle fire in the parking lot of a business in the 600 block of West Central Avenue in Davidsonville. The vehicle was extinguished before the remains were found, according to police. Poole, along with 18-year-old Kyle Dakes, was taken into custody at a Harwood home on May 31. Officers said a crime scene inside the garden center was discovered, which indicated signs of a struggle. Police allege Poole and Dakes assaulted Koza, put him in his truck, and drove the truck to a gas station to buy gas as a fire accelerant. They then allegedly returned the truck to the store and lit it on fire before fleeing the scene, police said. Koza was found with his arms, hands, and mouth taped. Poole worked for Koza at the Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center briefly in 2024, police confirmed. Poole charged in burglary of restaurant Days before the murder, on May 18, police said Poole allegedly broke into Pirates Cove restaurant in Galesville, caused about $6,000 in damage, and stole more than $11,000 from the safe. Police said Dakes' was working at the restaurant until May 13. Koza's home was also burglarized just a day before the restaurant break in, according to police. Police said Poole and Dakes both attended Southern High School. Both Poole and Dakes are facing first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree murder, and arson.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen couple accused of trapping Maryland man inside his own car, lighting it on fire
The Brief A teen couple has been charged with murder after 67-year-old Edward Koza was found bound and killed in a burning truck outside his Davidsonville garden store. A Bass Pro Shops hat left at the scene and surveillance footage from a gas station and store helped police identify 18-year-olds Jonah Poole and Kylee Dakes. Investigators believe the suspects attacked Koza, drove around in his truck to buy gas, then returned to set the vehicle on fire. ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. - After police found a person dead in a burning car in front of a small business, investigators say a Bass Pro Shops baseball cap left at the scene led them to two suspects – a teen couple. What we know On Saturday, May 24, Anne Arundel County authorities responded to the Tropic Bay Water Gardens in Davidsonville, Maryland, in response to a pickup truck on fire in the parking lot. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found the remains of a person in the back seat of the vehicle. Officials believe the victim to be 67-year-old Edward Stephen Koza, owner of the Tropic Bay Water Gardens – and the car he was killed in. Investigators found that Koza's hands and arms were bound with tape and his mouth taped over. Koza also suffered blunt force trauma to his head, according to the autopsy. His death has been ruled a homicide. Officials say there was a smell of gasoline from the burning car and the victim, and the melted spout for a plastic fuel container was found in the backseat. They also found a Bass Pro Shop baseball hat on the ground near Koza's car – which investigators say appeared to be new. Inside the shop, which sells supplies for gardens and garden ponds, investigators found signs of a struggle, with things knocked over and broken. Jonah Michael Poole and Kylee Alyssa Dakes — both 18 years old — are charged with first-degree murder, assault, and arson. Detectives say they are boyfriend and girlfriend. Timeline Investigators say that Koza would operate in the store from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., but would remain at the store after closing. They believe that on the evening of May 24, Koza was alone in the store by himself from 5:00 p.m. until he was attacked in the store. Police say this surveillance video from a Davidsonville gas station not far from the murder scene helped them track down the alleged killers. Surveillance video from a BP Gas Station on West Central Avenue in Davidson captured Koza's vehicle around 9 p.m. The car was seen pulling into the lot, and a woman exited from the passenger seat and walked into the store. The driver appeared to be a man wearing a flannel shirt and a "Bass Pro" baseball hat, per officials. Detectives were able to identify the man and woman in the video as Kylee Alyssa Dakes and her boyfriend, Jonah Michael Poole. Investigators believe that Dakes and Poole attacked Koza around 5:30 p.m. before putting him into the backseat of his truck and drove around, likely to the BP Station to purchase gasoline which may have been used to start the fire. The couple then returned to the Tropic Bay parking lot, set the vehicle on fire with Koza in the rear passenger seat and then fled the scene in their red Lincoln. The red Lincoln was captured on surveillance video earlier in the day on May 24 near Arundel Mills Mall. Video from the mall surveillance captured the red Lincoln pulling up and parking in the Bass Pro parking lot. Poole and Dakes exited the car and walked into the Bass Pro Shop until around 2:30 p.m. Video from inside the store shows Poole selecting several flannel shirts and a Bass Pro Shop baseball cap and purchase the clothing. Jonah Poole, 18, and Kylee Dakes, 18, are seniors at Southern High School in Anne Arundel County. They have been charged with First and Second Degree Murder, First and Second Degree Assault, Conspiracy to Commit First and Second Degree Murder, and Arson. Poole is also charged in the burglary of the popular Pirates Cove restaurant in Anne Arundel County — a week before the break-in and murder at Tropic Bay Water Gardens. What we don't know The cause of death and motive in Koza's death remain under investigation. "We just don't know the motive right now, so we're still looking into that. We're trying to ascertain exactly what led up to this — why they were there in the area, there at this business. We know there was evidence of a struggle inside of the business and ultimately surveillance footage shows suspects in the area. Based on the totality of the circumstances of our investigation, we feel very strongly that they are responsible for the murder of the victim, Mr. Koza, in this case," said Justin Mulcahy of the Anne Arundel County Police Department. The Source Information in this story comes from court documents from Anne Arundel County..
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two charged in connection with body found in burning car in Anne Arundel County
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — Two 18-year-olds were arrested Saturday after human remains were found in a burning Anne Arundel County car on May 24, according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Detectives investigating after human remains found inside burning car Police say Jonah Michael Poole, of Davidsonville, and Kylee Alyssa Dakes, of Harwood, were charged with first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first and second-degree murder, and arson. The Office of the State Medical Examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide, but the male victim has not been identified. Shortly before 9:30 p.m. on May 24, officers received reports of a vehicle fire in the 600 block of West Central Ave. in Davidsonville, where a car was found engulfed in flames in a parking lot. After the fire was extinguished, human remains were found inside the passenger compartment, police say. The incident remains under investigation, and detectives request that anyone with information call (410) 222-4731. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700 or contact Crime Stoppers at 866-7LOCKUP or online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
