Latest news with #Davidsonville
CBS News
20-06-2025
- 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.
CBS News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Police working to authenticate video in homicide investigation of Maryland business owner
Anne Arundel County police are working to authenticate a video to determine if it's part of a homicide investigation where a business owner was tied up and set on fire in his truck. Police say two 18-year-olds were arrested after 67-year-old Edward Stephen Koza, the owner of Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center in Davidsonville, was found dead in a burned car in the parking lot. Jonah Poole and Kylee Dakes are facing first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree murder, and arson. They were supposed to have been at Southern High School's graduation this week. The video circulating on social media appears to show a young man matching Poole's description in the charging documents lighting a truck on fire. "Nobody deserves to die that way," Koza's neighbor told WJZ. During a court hearing Monday, Poole and Dakes were ordered to be held without bail. What happened? Anne Arundel County police say Poole and Dakes went to the Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center around closing time on Saturday, May 24, where the owner, Koza, was alone inside. Officers said the couple attacked Koza, tied him up, put him in his pickup truck, drove it to a nearby gas station to purchase gas, went back to the garden center, and set the truck on fire with Koza inside. After the vehicle fire was extinguished, investigators found Koza's body on the passenger side. "You have your whole life ahead of you, and you just threw it away for a couple of dollars?" Anne Arundel County resident Danielle Schline said. Anne Arundel County residents were stunned by the vicious crime in their small Davidsonville town. "This was not just a simple robbery or burglary," said Andrew Griffith. "They went pretty far." Suspect allegedly stole $11k from 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. The restaurant said in a statement that Dakes was an employee there until May 13. People familiar with Poole believe he was a previous employee of Koza's at Tropic Bay, but WJZ is working to confirm that. An Anne Arundel County Public Schools newsletter that celebrates AVID seniors said Dakes was planning to attend Notre Dame of Maryland to study radiology and had received more than $200,000 in scholarships.
CBS News
01-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Anne Arundel County 18-year-olds charged after human remains found in burned-out vehicle
Two 18-year-olds were arrested in Anne Arundel County for their role in human remains being found inside a burned-out vehicle, according to Anne Arundel County police. Jonah Poole and Kylee Dykes were taken into custody at a home in Harwood on Saturday, May 31. They are facing first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree murder, and arson. On May 24, officers responded to a fully engulfed vehicle fire in the parking lot of the Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center on West Central Avenue in Davidsonville. After the fire was put out, human remains were found on the passenger side, according to police. Investigators have determined the death to be a homicide. The Medical Examiner's Office is working to identify the man. Anne Arundel County police spokesperson Justin Mulcahy told WJZ that investigators were going to look for surveillance video and talk with possible witnesses. "We're going to talk to anybody who may have frequented that business," Mulcahy said. "Anybody in the area of that business within the 24 hours leading up to this incident – if you have information, reach out to us. Certainly, any surveillance footage would be part of the investigation as well, or anything we can gather to assist our case right now." Residents react to the investigation The death investigation sent shockwaves through the Davidsonville area of Anne Arundel County. Pete Best told WJZ he was playing a gig at the restaurant next door when police were investigating. "My wife called and asked me if I heard what happened. I was just shocked," Best said. "It doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would happen in a small town." Best told WJZ that murders and vehicle fires don't happen where they live. "These kinds of things happen on TV, and then you go, 'Wow, I can't believe it's right around the corner,'" Best said. "It kind of puts you on your heels a little bit for sure." Anne Arundel County murders As of Thursday, May 29, police have responded to seven homicide victims in Anne Arundel County in 2025, according to the Anne Arundel County crime data. There were two at this point in 2024. Police investigated a total of 10 homicides in Anne Arundel County in 2024.
Fox News
29-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Peaceful Maryland community upended after human remains found in burnt vehicle
Print Close By Peter D'Abrosca Published May 29, 2025 A chilling discovery made over Memorial Day weekend in the quiet town of Davidsonville, Maryland, a short ride from the state's upscale Eastern Shore, has confounded the community. On the night of May 24, Anne Arundel County Police and fire crews responded to a vehicle fire in the parking lot of 600 West Central Avenue in the tiny town, according to a press release. Davidsonville is located 25 miles east of Washington, D.C., in the Annapolis area. POLICE TAKE DOWN STABBING, ARSON SUSPECT AT MARYLAND'S NATIONAL HARBOR After extinguishing the engulfed vehicle, police say they found human remains inside. They are treating the death as "suspicious" and working to identify the victim as well as the cause of the vehicle fire. The human remains were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. MARYLAND FUNERAL HOME MASS SHOOTING LEAVES AT LEAST 1 DEAD, 9 INJURED Anne Arundel County police spokesman Justin Mulcahy told WJZ News that police are investigating people who were in the area of the business around the time of the car fire, and those who frequented the store. He also asked the public to come forward with information. "Certainly, any surveillance footage would be part of the investigation as well, or anything we can gather to assist our case right now," he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital reached out to Anne Arundel County Police. Print Close URL
CBS News
27-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Human remains found inside burned car has Anne Arundel residents "shocked"
Anne Arundel County residents were shocked to learn that human remains were found in a burned vehicle in a parking lot last weekend. Police continue to investigate after responding to a fully engulfed vehicle fire outside the Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center on West Central Avenue in Davidsonville. Once the fire was put out, the remains were located on the passenger side, according to police. "My wife called and asked me if I heard what happened. I was just shocked," said Davidsonville resident Pete Best. "It doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would happen in a small town." Anne Arundel County police are calling this a suspicious death investigation. The body was taken to the medical examiner for an autopsy and identification. "That certainly changed our investigation from what appeared to be an initial vehicle fire to a suspicious death investigation," said Anne Arundel County police spokesperson Justin Mulcahy. "That's where we're at right now." Unsettling discovery The circumstances are chilling and unsettling for residents. Best said he was playing a gig at the restaurant next door to Tropic Bay at the time of the discovery. "These kinds of things happen on TV, and then you go, 'Wow, I can't believe it's right around the corner," Best said. "It kind of puts you on your heels a little bit for sure." The Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigations Unit is looking into the cause of the vehicle fire while detectives work to piece together who the victim is and how they ended up in that burning car. Mulcahy hopes witnesses or surveillance video will help crack the case. "We're going to talk to anybody who may have frequented that business," Mulcahy said. "Anybody in the area of that business within the 24 hours leading up to this incident – if you have information, reach out to us. Certainly, any surveillance footage would be part of the investigation as well, or anything we can gather to assist our case right now." Anne Arundel County murders As of Friday, May 23, police have responded to six homicide victims in Anne Arundel County in 2025, according to the Anne Arundel County crime data. There were two at this point in 2024. Police investigated 10 total homicides in Anne Arundel County last year.
