A trial date has been scheduled for a former beauty queen titleholder in Georgia, accused of killing her ex-boyfriend’s son.
Trinity Madison Poague faced a court hearing in Sumter County on Thursday, as reported by Court TV. She is accused of several serious charges, including malice murder, two counts of felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of aggravated battery.
Previously covered by CrimeOnline, Poague’s arrest occurred in January 2024, after an incident involving an unresponsive toddler led Georgia Southwestern State University police to involve the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on January 14 of the prior year.
The child, identified as 1-year-old Romeo “Jaxton” Angeles, passed away upon arrival at the Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus.
According to an indictment, Poague is accused of causing “inflicting blunt force trauma” to the victim’s torso and head.
Trinity Poague Indictment by Leigh Egan
WALB reports that the incident happened in a dorm room at GSW, where Poague had been enrolled as a freshman.
Students at the “Oaks 2 Dormitory” reported hearing crying coming from Poague’s room.
According to a student, Lilly Waterman, who spoke with WRDW, the child was crying for an extended period before the cries suddenly ceased, leaving onlookers puzzled about the situation.
At a hearing held last year, Poague entered a not guilty plea. However, the child’s father, Julian Williams, expressed that this plea felt like a “slap in the face.”
Williams conveyed his feelings of frustration and anger, stating that Poague’s not guilty plea despite the perceived evidence of her guilt was deeply upsetting. He criticized what he saw as leniency from the court.
“It feels insulting to me and my family,” Williams emphasized. “Our sole wish is to see justice served for my son. Allowing her freedom after what happened is unjust. She ended the life of an innocent 1-year-old.”
The trial is scheduled to begin in December.
Poague was crowned Miss Donalsonville in 2023 and also competed in the National Peanut Festival Pageant, according to Live 5.
[Feature Photo: Romeo Angeles via Lindsay Brown, Find a Grave/Trinity Poague;Facebook]
