A former beauty pageant winner is now facing a severe criminal trial in the United States, accused of causing the death of her boyfriend's young son. The case has sent shockwaves through her community and beyond.
The Tragic Incident at the Dorm
Trinity Poague, a 20-year-old former Miss Donalsonville, has entered a plea of not guilty to multiple serious charges. These include malice murder, first-degree cruelty to children, felony murder, and aggravated battery. The case centres on the death of 18-month-old Romeo "Jaxton" Angeles.
The incident occurred on January 14, 2024, at Georgia Southwestern State University. Prosecutors state that the child was found unresponsive in Poague's dorm room, suffering from fatal blunt force trauma. This happened while her boyfriend, Julian Williams, the child's father, was out picking up pizza.
Prosecution's Case: Jealousy and Alleged Violence
District Attorney Lewis R. "Bud" Lamb presented a disturbing narrative in court. He claimed that Poague resented the toddler because she wanted to have her own child with Williams. Evidence cited includes text messages Poague allegedly sent to her roommate, Paris, stating the child "hates me and I hate him" and expressing a desire to punch him.
Medical evidence presented paints a grim picture. Lamb told the court that the night before his death, Jaxton had no marks or signs of distress. However, after spending approximately 35 minutes alone with Poague, the child arrived at the emergency room with fresh facial bruising, brain bleeds, a liver laceration, and a skull fracture.
"It's an acute injury," Lamb emphasized. "It's not an injury that happened the night before... It's an injury that could have literally only occurred within a few minutes before this child was presented at the emergency room." This directly contradicts Poague's claim that the toddler had simply fallen off a bed.
Defence Arguments and Fallout
Poague's defence attorney, WT "Tim" Gamble III, offered a different perspective. He portrayed Williams as a "controlling boyfriend" who had been drinking the night before the tragedy. While acknowledging the troubling text messages, Gamble insisted that investigators have "no evidence" directly proving Poague committed the crime.
The fallout from the arrest was swift. Following the charges, Poague had her Miss Donalsonville title officially stripped, as reported by the Early County News. A university student, Lilly Waterman, also provided a chilling account to local news, recalling hearing the child cry for an extended period before it "suddenly just stopped."
The case continues to unfold as the court examines the tragic final hours of little Jaxton's life and seeks justice.
