Jonah Poole told a Maryland judge he believed he deserved whatever punishment came his way. The 19-year-old was sentenced Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole for brutally beating, kidnapping and burning alive his former employer, 67-year-old Edward Koza, whose body was found bound with duct tape inside his own flaming truck at Tropic Bay Water Gardens in Davidsonville.
Background
Edward Koza ran a garden center and koi pond business called Tropic Bay Water Gardens on West Central Avenue in the small unincorporated community of Davidsonville, approximately 15 miles southwest of Annapolis. In the weeks leading up to his death, Koza had reported that hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash had been stolen from his home. Investigators later learned that Koza suspected his former employee, Jonah Poole, as the burglar responsible for the theft.
On May 24, 2025, authorities discovered Koza's body inside a burning truck in the Tropic Bay Water Gardens parking lot. His arms, hands and mouth were bound with duct tape in his own vehicle. Police documented obvious signs of struggle at the scene—items broken and knocked over—with additional evidence including a knife and a bloody koi rock, according to court filings.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby BP gas station showing a man and woman arriving at the parking lot in Koza's truck before it became fully engulfed in flames. A separate video captured on Poole's own cellphone showed the defendant pouring gasoline into the vehicle, tossing an empty gas can inside, then lighting paper towels hanging from the driver's side windows.
The Investigation
Poole was arrested and charged with first-degree murder along with related offenses including kidnapping, arson and armed robbery. His girlfriend, 19-year-old Kylee Alyssa Dakes, was also implicated in the killing. Court documents allege Poole and Dakes returned to her home after the murder and exchanged messages via Snapchat, with Poole writing that "it went so well."
In March, Poole pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree murder. Assistant State's Attorney Marot Williamson detailed Koza's injuries during proceedings, noting bruises around his eyes, a fractured nose and severe thermal injuries sustained before being burned alive in the truck he once drove.
Judge Cathleen Vitale of Anne Arundel Circuit Court presided over Friday's sentencing. While she stated she would have imposed life imprisonment without parole had it not been for the plea agreement, Vitale said she searched for any reason to avoid a life sentence entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Edward Koza, 67, was found dead May 24, 2025 inside his burning truck at Tropic Bay Water Gardens in Davidsonville, Maryland
- Police discovered his arms, hands and mouth bound with duct tape; he had been beaten and burned alive
- Investigators allege Poole stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from Koza's home before the killing
- Surveillance footage and cellphone video evidence placed Poole at the scene pouring gasoline into the victim's truck
- Poole pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in March 2026
- Judge sentenced him to life in prison with parole eligibility, recommending a treatment-focused maximum security facility due to his age
What's Next
Poole has been ordered to forfeit approximately $215,000 stolen from Koza and a $15,000 truck purchased with additional stolen funds to the victim's estate. His girlfriend Kylee Alyssa Dakes, whose case was separated after Poole's plea deal, has pleaded not guilty to her involvement and is scheduled to stand trial in December 2026.
The defendant addressed the court during his allocution before sentencing concluded. "I think I deserve whatever I get," Poole said. "I hope God can forgive me, because I don't think I deserve it from anyone else."
The case remains under investigation by the Anne Arundel County Police Department with prosecution handled by the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney's Office.