Teen gets life sentence for murder of Maryland garden centre owner in Davidsonville

Jonah Poole, 19, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Stephen Koza, whose body was found tied up in a burning truck. A second suspect, Kylee Dakes, also faces charges.

Life sentence handed to teenager over Davidsonville garden centre killing

A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Maryland garden centre owner, cbsnews.com reports, citing Anne Arundel County court officials.

Jonah Poole was convicted in the 2025 killing of 67-year-old Stephen Koza, who owned Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center in Davidsonville. Under a plea deal, Poole will be eligible for parole. He was also ordered to forfeit money stolen from Koza.

Koza's body was discovered on 24 May 2025, tied up and burned inside a pickup truck parked in the lot of his business. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when officers arrived on scene.

Inside the garden centre, investigators found evidence of a struggle. Detectives determined that Koza was attacked around closing time, bound, and placed in the back of the truck. Poole and a second suspect, Kylee Dakes, then drove Koza around in the vehicle before returning to the business and setting it on fire, police said.

Dakes, who was in a relationship with Poole at the time, was also arrested and charged in connection with the murder. The pair had been due to graduate from Southern High School just a few weeks after the killing took place.

Poole had worked for Koza at Tropic Bay Aquatic Garden Center in 2024, according to detectives.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)