Posted at 7:42 AM, December 2, 2025
SUMTER COUNTY, Ga. (Court TV) — A former Georgia pageant queen is facing life in prison if convicted of killing her boyfriend’s toddler son.
Trinity Madison Poague was arrested on Jan. 19, 2024, five days after 18-month-old Romeo Angeles was found unresponsive in her college dorm room on Georgia Southwestern State University’s campus. Angeles, who is also referred to as “Jaxton,” later died at a hospital.
Trinity Poague appears in court on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, during a motion hearing. (Court TV)
In total, Poague is facing six charges: malice murder, cruelty to children in the first degree, two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated battery. Poague pleaded not guilty last year.
An indictment obtained by Court TV accuses Poague of “inflicting blunt force trauma” to Angeles’ head and torso. The indictment states Poague caused “serious disfigurement to his liver” and “rendered his brain useless.”
According to WALB, Poague was crowned Miss Donalsonville in 2023. Donalsonville is approximately four hours south of Atlanta, near the Alabama/Florida/Georgia borderline. Early County News reported that Poague was stripped of her title following her arrest.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 1 – 12/2/25
LIVESTREAM: GA v. Trinity Madison Poague – Day 1 | Pageant Queen Child Murder Trial
State’s opening statement delivered by District Attorney Lewis R. “Bud” Lamb:
WATCH:
Romeo Angeles (also referred to as Jaxton Dru “JD” Angeles) was born June 25, 2022, in Tallahassee
The child lived with Julian Williams and his sister from 3-4 months old
Williams began a relationship with defendant Trinity Poague, who started attending Georgia Southwestern University in Americus in August 2023
Lamb argued Poague resented the child and wanted her own child with Williams, not to be in a stepmother role
Lamb cited various text messages Poague sent to her roommate saying she wanted to punch the child and that they hated each other
On Jan. 13, 2024, Williams brought Angeles to Americus to stay with Poague at her dorm
Poague texted her roommate later that night asking to sleep in her room for a “mental break”
Angeles allegedly fell off the bed that night, but appeared fine, with Poague taking vidoes showing no injuries
On Jan. 14, Angeles woke up healthy, ate Fritos and drank Mountain Dew
Williams left for 35-36 minutes to get pizza; when he returned, Poague called saying child wasn’t breathing
Angeles had fresh bruising on face, forehead, neck, and cheeks when brought to ER and had a fractured occipital bone, brain bleeding, and massive liver laceration
Lamb argued medical experts will testify injuries occurred minutes before ER arrival, during time child was alone with Poague
Angeles died approximately 3 hours after arriving at hospital
Defense’s opening statement delivered by W.T. “Tim” Gamble III:
WATCH:
Argued case is based on suspicion without evidence; Poague is second victim, accused of crime she didn’t commit
Poague was 18-year-old honor student at GSW studying nursing with straight A’s in the first semester
Argued Williams was a controlling 22-year-old boyfriend, who demanded social media passwords and monitored her activities
Williams failed to establish legal paternity and didn’t take child to routine doctor appointments
Poague had extensive babysitting experience and cared for Angeles when Williams brought him to visit
Gamble argued Poague was with Angeles for a limited time from Saturday 6 PM to Sunday noon, mostly with Williams present, and the child was refusing to eat or drink
Gamble argued that at the hospital, Williams told various conflicting stories about what happened to Angeles
Gamble argued the investigation was flawed – GBI and Americus PD found no physical evidence at crime scene
Gamble argued investigators threw away diaper with apparent blood in fecal matter before testing
Argued Poague and Williams showered together before he left for pizza; she got out 5 minutes after him and he was holding Angeles, who was crying
Poague noticed child in distress when Williams returned and couldn’t keep head up
Following opening statements, multiple law enforcement personnel testified about responding to the call at the ER and securing Poague’s dorm room. The jury saw clips of Poague, Williams and Angeles coming and going from the dorm in the time around the alleged incident.
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