A 19-year-old man has admitted that he killed Edgewater koi pond store owner Edward Steven Koza, whose body was discovered inside his burnt pickup truck in May.
Jonah Michael Poole, of Davidsonville, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder at a hearing in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon. Judge Cathleen M. Vitale set his sentencing for June 26.
The terms of Poole’s plea agreement were not immediately clear. First-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
David Fischer, Poole’s attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment.
A spokesperson for Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess, whose office is prosecuting the case, declined to comment.
Poole was arrested along with his high school girlfriend, Kylee Alyssa Dakes, and charged with murder, arson and kidnapping in the May 24 death of Koza, 67.
Dakes, also 19, is scheduled to stand trial in June.
Authorities said Poole and Dakes attacked Koza at his store, Tropic Bay Water Gardens, on the evening of May 24. They accused the pair of beating Koza, binding his arms, covering his mouth with tape and taking him for a ride in his pickup truck. Then, the authorities said, the pair doused the vehicle in gasoline and set it ablaze.
On the day of Koza’s killing, prosecutors said, “cell phone location analysis, surveillance videos, and witnesses place Dakes and Poole together throughout the day from about 12:19 p.m. to shortly before 10 p.m. when they both arrive at Dakes’ home.” They were also captured by security cameras at various locations together, including the Bass Pro Shop at Arundel Mills Mall, authorities said.
At 9:31 p.m. on the day of Koza’s killing, Dakes started a video using Poole’s phone, prosecutors wrote in court papers. The clip showed Poole pouring gas into Koza’s truck and throwing the gas can inside. Then Poole held a lighter to paper towels hanging from the driver’s window and set the truck ablaze.
When they returned to Dakes’ home in Harwood after the killing, the couple exchanged messages on Snapchat, according to court documents. In one message, Poole wrote that “it went so well.”
Four days later, Poole messaged Dakes again and referenced Koza, who went by Steve.
“we forgot to shoot steve’s turkey,” he wrote, followed by a burning cigarette emoji.
It remains unclear what motivated Poole, who briefly worked for Koza. Text messages from October 2024 outlined in court records show Poole’s employment unraveled quickly.
“Hey Jonah! Where are you???” Koza texted, according to court documents.
“you think i wanna be at your lames ass store all day?” Poole responded. “you just love bossing kids around because your girl is cheating on you and using you for your money.”
After a text including an expletive, Koza said, “Obviously, idiot, you’re fired!”
Koza had suspected Poole of breaking into his home May 12, weeks before the killing, and stealing $500,000 in cash.
Prosecutors said Poole at one point bragged about having $300,000 in a cooler and, on May 27, he purchased a pickup truck with $27,000 cash.
Authorities said that was after Poole broke into Pirates Cove Restaurant in Galesville on May 18 and stole $11,000. And that was only about three days after Poole allegedly spray-painted a swastika and “other derogatory phrases about sexual orientation” at the Summit School in Edgewater, according to court documents.
Poole faces burglary and related charges stemming from the alleged break-in at Pirates Cove.
He is also charged with hate crimes for in the vandalism incident.
Both of those cases are pending, with trials scheduled for July and May, respectively.
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