Teen lovers arrested in shocking murder of 67-year-old Maryland business owner, whose body was found in torched car
Jonah Poole and Kylee Dakes — 18-year-old high school seniors who are dating — were arrested in Harwood Saturday, a week after the body of Poole's one-time boss Edward Koza's body was found in the flaming remains of his pickup truck outside his gardening supply store.
The 67-year-old had been violently beaten over the head and his hands and mouth had been bound and taped, investigators discovered after dousing the flames. Cops believe Koza was assaulted while inside the store, Tropic Bay Water Gardens — where Poole worked briefly a year ago, according to Fox 45 — before the pair forced him into the back of his pickup.
Advertisement
3 Kylee Dakes and Jonah Poole, both 18, were arrested Saturday for the brutal May murder of Koza
Investigators also found a discarded Bass Pro Shops hat at the scene, and after canvassing surveillance footage from nearby businesses, got a hit when they saw Poole wearing a similar cap at a nearby gas station and driving Koza's truck.
Poole was with his girlfriend Dakes at the station the evening of the murder, footage showed, and the two were seen smiling as they bought gasoline police believe was used to torch the car.
Advertisement
And Koza — possibly alive — was in the back of the truck the whole time, according to police.
The couple then returned to Tropic Bay and allegedly torched the truck, fleeing in a red Lincoln while the flames still burned, according to Fox 5.
3 Edward Koza, 67, was found dead in his torched car
x/AACOPD
3 Koza's store, Tropic Bay Water Gardens, where his body was found in his torched pickup truck out front
fox5dc
Advertisement
'Caller reported it looked like someone threw something into the truck before it caught fire,' an emergency dispatcher said after a witness called in the fire to 911.
Cell phone records also place Poole at the scene of the crime, and leaving just after.
Exactly what motivated the teens to allegedly kill remains unclear, but Poole is also facing charges for a burglary at a nearby restaurant that happened just a week before Koza's murder.
Advertisement
'It's shocking. I can't believe any 18-year-old could do such a thing,' a neighbor of Koza's told CBS News. 'Eighteen years old, just graduated high school? It just makes no sense.'
Poole and Dakes are both charged with first-degree murder, arson, and assault.
'Sad for them that they ruined their lives,' a Harwood resident told Fox 45. 'But I think they deserve what they get and hopefully they get the maximum.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Thieves smashed into car to steal bike from Travelodge car park
THIEVES smashed into a car to steal a bike from a Travelodge car park. It was reported that between 6pm on Friday, August 15 and 3am on Saturday, August 16, two offenders smashed into a van on Lifeboat Quay in Poole. The rear window was reportedly smashed while the van was parked in the car park near the Travelodge. A white Giant Reign bicycle was stolen while another bicycle was left propped against the van. Police are now investigating the incident and urge any witnesses to report information with the reference number 55250121702. A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: 'Officers investigating the theft from a motor vehicle are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.' Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at or by calling 101, quoting the relevant reference number. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Father's murder in Lincoln Park still unsolved nearly two decades later
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — On Aug. 16, 2006, 31-year-old Andre Mahan, a father of two and a custodian with the San Diego Unified School District, was fatally shot inside the family's apartment at Creekside Villas in Lincoln Park. Investigators have not identified a suspect or determined a motive in the case. 'It hurts like it happened today,' said his widow, Essie Mae Horne, who was home with their 18-month-old son and 7-year-old daughter when the shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. Horne recalled hearing a loud noise that she thought was a car backfiring. Moments later, she said she saw a teenage boy standing in her doorway with a gun. Police seek answers nearly 3 decades after woman's body found in El Cajon 'There was a young light-skinned Black male, looked to be 13 or 14 years old, standing in my doorway facing me with his arm up — and he fired,' Horne said. The bullet missed her but struck Mahan, who collapsed in the kitchen. Horne said her husband tried to speak as blood came from his mouth and nose, but he died within minutes. Their daughter, Dominique, who was still a young child at the time, later wrote a poem about her grief. Horne said her son, who was too young to remember his father, still wonders who he was. In the years since, Horne has launched a nonprofit called TWEEN-SWAG — which stands for 'Together We Elevate Each Other in our Neighborhood Simply With A Lot of Grace' — to support families coping with gun violence. She continues to hope someone will come forward with information about the killer. 'If anybody who came here August 16, 2006, to kill my husband and try to kill me, please say something,' she said. Authorities said anyone with information about the case can contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers. A $1,000 reward is being offered. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent walks out for taped interview with FOX 5
The Brief Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid abruptly ended a taped interview with FOX 5 on Monday. Reid declined to address questions on ICE policy, a 2021 abortion investigation, and taxpayer-funded security. FOX 5 informed Reid of the topics in advance during a pre-interview discussion at John R. Lewis High School. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid cut her interview with FOX 5 short Monday, appearing unwilling to discuss certain topics as students headed back to class. Interview cut short What we know Topics FOX 5 sought to discuss included: FCPS policy on ICE agents appearing at schools, the Virginia State Police investigation into an alleged 2021 abortion matter at Centerville High School and parent frustrations that taxpayer dollars would be paying for private security for the Superintendent. This was not a secret to Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid spoke with FOX 5 Reporter Stephanie Ramirez prior to their interview, who informed the Superintendent about what our station was wanting to discuss. Ramirez had been covering Fairfax County Public Schools' first day back to school since 5:15 a.m. Monday, interviewing different guests throughout the morning shows. The station had an interview with Dr. Reid booked at a county high school for 9 a.m. The Superintendent and her team arrived about an hour early at our team's location at John R. Lewis High School in Springfield, Virginia. READ MORE: Fairfax County to add metal detectors at middle and high schools Topics flagged early It was there, about 30-40 minutes ahead of the slated interview, that a discussion was had with the Superintendent and a member of the FCPS communications team. They were informed of the topics wanted to be discussed live — and the topics wanting to be discussed in a taped interview to air at a later time. Since the Superintendent had arrived so early, an offer was made to do the taped portion before the 9 a.m. live hit. Dr. Reid responded that she thought it would be better to conduct the taped portion after her 9 a.m. live hit. Ramirez and Dr. Reid did discuss new updates for the school year, including the expanded cell phone policy and newly installed metal and weapons detectors at school entrances. Title IX dispute She also addressed the Department of Education's Title IX dispute with FCPS and other northern Virginia school districts. "I want to be clear that we believe we're following Virginia and federal law in this case," said Dr. Reid during the live interview, "And I also want to be really clear for our students, our staff and our families that we're going to provide a safe and supportive and inclusive school environment for each and every one of our students, including our transgender and gender expansive students." Asked about the FCPS response to the Department of Education and whether FCPS could lose funding, she replied, "So we did respond to the Department of Education last week, on Friday. And I also sent a note out to our community and our families in the community on Friday. So, we expect to have continuing conversations with the Department of Education, but we also believe that the federal funds, which have been approved by Congress, will continue to flow." When that time arrived for the taped interview, Dr. Reid abruptly announced she had to leave. She would not take any more questions and continued to claim she had a meeting to get to. The FCPS Spokesperson with Dr. Reid said there was a "communication error" and offered to work with FOX 5 on possibly booking an interview with the Superintendent at a later time. Monday, August 18, marks the first day of school for Prince William County, Alexandria City, Falls Church, and Fairfax County Public Schools—Virginia's largest school system, with over 181,000 students. In addition to the updates Dr. Reid discussed, FCPS is rolling out new bus technology that provides GPS routes to drivers, tracks bus locations in real time, and monitors which students board each bus, among other changes. The Source Information in this article comes from Fairfax County Public Schools. Solve the daily Crossword
