ANNAPOLIS, MD – Two teenagers from Anne Arundel County are facing serious charges, including arson and murder, in the death of a local business owner. Jonah Michael Poole and Kylie Alyssa Davis, both 18, were arrested after the gruesome killing of Edward Stephen, 67, a Davidsonville business owner, on May 24. The two, reportedly in a relationship, were supposed to graduate from Southern High School in Harwood the day of their arrest.
Court documents reveal the horrific details of the crime. Investigators allege that the victim was bound with tape and set on fire in the backseat of his pickup truck. The charred remains of the truck were discovered in the parking lot of Stephen’s business, Tropic Bay Water Gardens, on West Central Avenue. Further examination showed that Stephen suffered blunt force trauma to his head, and signs of a struggle were evident inside the store, suggesting a botched burglary.
The police, still piecing together the events leading to the murder, have been working tirelessly to gather evidence. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station played a crucial role in identifying the suspects. In the video, Davis is allegedly seen purchasing gasoline shortly before a witness reported the truck fire. A plastic gas can was later found inside the burned vehicle.
Poole is also linked to another crime in the area, facing charges of burglarizing Pirates Cove, a well-known seafood restaurant in Anne Arundel County. The connection between the two incidents remains under investigation as authorities seek to understand the motives behind these violent acts.
Community members are left in shock, grappling with the brutal nature of the crime and the involvement of two teenagers who were on the brink of adulthood. As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
The suspects are currently held in the Annapolis jail, with their futures now uncertain as they face the possibility of severe legal repercussions.