Teen couple accused of beating, killing business owner, and setting his car on fire with him inside

ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. (TCN) -- A teen couple stands accused of attacking a man at his business, killing him, and setting his vehicle on fire with him inside.

On the night of May 24, the Anne Arundel County Police Department and fire personnel responded to West Central Avenue, where they discovered a car fully engulfed in flames in a parking lot outside a business. After the fire was extinguished, officials found a deceased man, later identified as 67-year-old Edward Koza, in the passenger seat.

According to WTTG-TV, Koza’s hands and arms were bound, and his mouth had been taped shut. Officials allegedly noticed the smell of gasoline coming from the vehicle and located a melted spout for a plastic fuel container in the back seat. They also reportedly discovered a Bass Pro baseball hat at the scene that seemed new.

Koza’s death was ruled a homicide, and investigators determined he suffered blunt force trauma to his head. Police said his exact cause of death is still under investigation.

According to WTTG, Koza, who owned the Tropic Bay Water Gardens, was inside the store alone when he was attacked. Per court papers reviewed by WBAL-TV, Koza was bound, robbed, and killed with a rock inside his business.

Police obtained surveillance video from a nearby gas station that reportedly showed Koza’s car pull up. A woman was allegedly seen exiting, and the driver appeared to be a man wearing a flannel shirt and Bass Pro baseball hat. Investigators were able to identify 18-year-old Jonah Poole and 18-year-old Kylee Alyssa Dakes as the primary suspects in the case. WTTG reports they are boyfriend and girlfriend.

Shortly before the alleged attack, the couple reportedly went to the Arundel Mills Bass Pro Shop to purchase a change of clothes and the hat, which were found at the scene.

Dakes and Poole allegedly attacked Koza before placing him in his vehicle and driving to a gas station to buy gasoline that may have been used to start the fire. Investigators believe the couple then drove back to the Tropic Bay Water Gardens parking lot, where they set the car on fire with Koza inside and then fled in their vehicle.

On May 31, authorities arrested Poole and Dakes on charges of first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first- and second-degree murder, and arson.

According to WBFF-TV, Poole had previously worked at Tropic Bay Water Gardens for two weekends approximately a year ago.

In a statement, Justin Mulcahy of the Anne Arundel County Police Department reportedly said, "We just don’t know the motive right now, so we’re still looking into that. We’re trying to ascertain exactly what led up to this — why they were there in the area, there at this business. We know there was evidence of a struggle inside of the business and ultimately surveillance footage shows suspects in the area. Based on the totality of the circumstances of our investigation, we feel very strongly that they are responsible for the murder of the victim, Mr. Koza, in this case."

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