MD Homicide Victim Reported Home Break-In; Police Look For Link To Death

DAVIDSONVILLE, MD — One of the teenagers accused of killing a Davidsonville store owner briefly worked at the victim's shop, police told Patch on Wednesday.

Officers also said the victim reported that his home was burglarized days before his killing.

Jonah Michael Poole of Davidsonville and Kylee Alyssa Dakes of Harwood, both 18, are charged with murder in the death of Edward Stephen Koza, 67, of Annapolis.

The boyfriend and girlfriend are accused of assaulting Koza at his business, Tropic Bay Water Gardens, and kidnapping him in his own pickup truck. Koza's body was found May 24 in the backseat of his burning car, which was parked outside his shop. Court papers say his arms were bound, and his mouth was taped over.

Officers said Poole worked at Tropic Bay Water Gardens for about two weekends, roughly a year ago.

Poole and Dakes were both seniors this year at Southern High School, an Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesperson told Patch.

The duo is being held without bond at the Jennifer Road Detention Center in Annapolis, so they did not attend Monday's commencement ceremony. Separate judges both ruled the couple cannot speak to each other during the investigation.

Patch requested a comment from the attorneys for each suspect. Neither defense team has responded.

School Responds To Students' Arrests

Southern High School Principal Angela Hopkins sent an email to families on Saturday acknowledging that day's arrests.

"As police have stated publicly, the investigation into this matter is still ongoing," Hopkins wrote in the email. "As such, our school is not able to provide any further information regarding the case. That information must come from police."

Related: Man Found In Davidsonville Vehicle Fire Was Annapolis Resident: Police

Hopkins did not identify the students by name, but she urged anybody with information to come forward.

"I feel that it is important, however, that you are made aware of such a serious situation that involves members of our school community," the principal said. "Since this is an ongoing investigation, I also feel it is important that anyone with information that could be of assistance in this case please contact police."

Social media users have circulated a video that they claim shows the suspects setting the victim's car ablaze. The Anne Arundel County Police Department confirmed Tuesday that it is trying to validate the authenticity of the video.

The video seems to show a male raising a lighter to a wet paper towel hanging out of a pickup truck's window.

"It better light the whole thing," the male says in the video.

"I f------ hope," a female responds.

Related: Video Of Burning Truck Investigated In Business Owner's Homicide

The principal offered resources to students struggling with the news.

"Please know that our school counselors will be available ... to speak with any student who has a need to discuss their feelings," Hopkins said. "If your student requires those resources, please simply have them ask any staff member."

For after hours help, students can call the Anne Arundel County Crisis Warmline at 410-768-5522. That service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Victim Was Salesman-Turned-Entrepreneur

Koza's LinkedIn says he founded Tropic Bay Water Gardens, located at 600 W. Central Ave., in July 2001. The shop specialized in koi fish, ponds and yard decor.

The store was closed during business hours on Tuesday when a Patch reporter went to the site. The front gate was locked shut. A no trespassing sign was posted on the front door.

Before starting his business, Koza worked in sales for AT&T from 1980 to 2002. His coverage areas included Baltimore and Arlington, Virginia. He also worked for the Philadelphia office and New York offices in Albany and Buffalo, his LinkedIn says.

Koza's profile noted that he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio in 1980. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Koza's Facebook page says he attended North Allegheny Senior High School.

Police told Patch that Koza reported a burglary to his residence on May 12. Officers are still investigating if there is a connection between the homicide and the burglary.

Suspect Lives With Grandparents

Court records say Poole lives with his grandparents in the Kings Retreat neighborhood. That's located a mile and a half from the crime scene.

Poole's case file says he has lived there for at least 15 years. He is not paying rent, and he doesn't have any dependents. He is unemployed.

Poole is 5-foot-7 and weighs 140 pounds.

Surveillance video was compared with Poole's driver's license photo and a recent prom picture to identify him as a suspect. The security footage shows Poole purchasing a hat that afternoon that matches a baseball cap found beside the victim's burning car, charging documents say.

Past As Girl Scout

Dakes is from Harwood, 8 miles away from Poole's house. She lives with her mother in an unnamed development off Solomons Island Road, her file says, noting that she has resided there for at least 15 years.

Court documents say Dakes is unemployed, has no dependents and is not paying rent.

Dakes stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall. She weighs 209 pounds.

Patch found a Facebook profile for a woman from Harwood bearing the same name as Dakes' mother. That page frequently posts photos of a Kylee Dakes who resembles the suspect.

Patch contacted that Facebook user to confirm she is the suspect's mother. We also requested a comment. She has not replied.

The profile says that Dakes was a Girl Scout who sold cookies and participated in car wash fundraisers.

That Dakes is also seen posing by a yard sign reading "2021 Southern Middle School Congratulations!"

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This map shows the area where the Anne Arundel County Police Department said it found the victim.