Davidsonville Murder Suspect's Competency Settled By Judge

DAVIDSONVILLE, MD — A Davidsonville man, 18, accused of killing a business owner was on Tuesday found mentally competent to stand trial, reports said.

Jonah Michael Poole and his girlfriend, 18-year-old Kylee Alyssa Dakes of Harwood, are charged with murder in the May 24 death of Edward Stephen Koza, 67, of Annapolis. The couple is accused of kidnapping Koza, who owned Tropic Bay Water Gardens in Davidsonville, before setting his truck on fire with him in the back seat.

Poole is also accused of spray-painting a swastika on an Edgewater school and burglarizing a Galesville dock bar and stealing over $11,000 from the restaurant in the weeks before Koza's death.

Poole previously tried to fire his public defenders and instead represent himself in court. Poole said he is "not subject to any statutes or codes." He claimed his estate is what is charged with murder and that he has "no nexus with that entity."

"I move to have these cases dismissed because the state does not hold any title over my natural body, therefor the courts lack personal Jurisdiction of my flesh and blood," he wrote in court documents this summer. "I am to be reffered to as a natural human living man, created by god living in the kingdom of earth. I was not created by the Legislative branch of any government, therefor I am not subject to any statutes or codes. I do not consent to participate in any proceedings foreign to the republic of Maryland."

Judge Stacy McCormack on Aug. 14 ordered Poole to undergo a psychological exam at the Maryland Department of Health.

The Capital Gazette said McCormack's ruling this week means that Poole can indeed stand trial in all three of his cases.

Poole was represented by private attorney David Fischer during the competency hearing, the Capital Gazette reported.

"The judge made the ruling, and we respect the judge's decision," Fischer said, according to WBAL-TV.

The Capital Gazette said Fischer is only representing Poole for the murder charges temporarily. Fischer will likely represent Poole for the hate crime and burglary charges, the newspaper said, noting that McCormack hasn't yet ruled on Poole's petition to fire his public defender.

Patch contacted Fischer and the Maryland Office of the Public Defender for clarification. We will update this story if either replies.

Dakes appeared in court shortly after Poole and waived her right to be tried within 180 days of her first court appearance, the Capital Gazette reported.

"She's a really sweet kid, she's smart, she's caring, she's popular," said Dakes' attorney, Andrew Jezic, according to WBAL. "She had a full scholarship to go to Notre Dame in Baltimore, and her family's behind her 100%. She has a tight-knit family, she was raised well, she's a sweet person. We're going to plead not guilty, and at trial, we have a lot to say about her innocence, and we're looking forward to it."

Online court records show that Dakes' trial is scheduled for June 8 through June 22, 2026. Dakes and Poole both have a status conference on Nov. 12.

Related:

• Murder Suspect Tries To Fire Lawyers, Judge Questions His Competency
• Murder Suspect Vandalized The Summit School Days Before Davidsonville Killing: Police
• Davidsonville Murder Suspect Burglarized Dock Bar Where His Girlfriend Worked: Police
• Davidsonville Murder Suspect Worked For Victim, Break-In Reported Before Death: Police
• Video Of Burning Truck Investigated In Business Owner's Homicide
• Man Found In Davidsonville Vehicle Fire Was Annapolis Resident: Police