Two 18-year-olds were arrested after the remains of a Maryland business owner were found inside a burned vehicle on May 24, according to Anne Arundel County Police. 

Jonah Poole and Kylee Dakes were taken into custody at a home in Harwood on Saturday, May 31. Both are facing first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree murder, and arson. 

"It's extremely unusual, I think, for Anne Arundel County, especially this type of crime or any crime of this magnitude – this heinous type of crime," said Anne Arundel County police spokesperson Justin Mulcahy.     

Body found in burning vehicle 

Officers found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames when they responded to 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 of the vehicle, according to police. 

The body was identified as 67-year-old Edward Stephen Koza of Annapolis, the owner of the store where the vehicle was found, according to police records. 

Officers said a crime scene was discovered inside the garden center that indicated signs of a struggle.

Police claim 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. The suspects then returned to the truck to the store, and lit it on fire before fleeing the scene. 

According to police documents, Koza was found with his arms, hands, and mouth taped. 

According to police, surveillance video captured Poole wearing a Bass Pro Shop hat, which was left at the scene. 

"It's shocking. I can't believe any 18-year-old could do such a thing," Koza's neighbor told WJZ. "Eighteen years old, just graduated high school? It just makes no sense."

During a court hearing Monday, Poole and Dakes were ordered to be held without bail. 

Poole and Dakes attended Southern High School.

Residents react after body found

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 May 29, police have responded to seven homicide victims in Anne Arundel County in 2025, . There were two at this point in 2024.

Police investigated a total of 10 homicides in Anne Arundel County in 2024.

• Anne Arundel County