Warning: This article contains allegations of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A woman is facing severe legal consequences following the discovery of her boyfriend’s child’s death.
Trinity Poague, once crowned Miss Donalsonville, has had her title revoked after her recent arrest.
She is currently on trial for the alleged murder of her boyfriend Julian Williams’ 18-month-old son in 2024, with proceedings commencing earlier this week.
Poague is facing charges including malice murder, cruelty to children in the first degree, felony murder, and aggravated battery.
She has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
Her arrest took place in January 2024, with charges relating to the death of toddler Romeo Angeles, also known as Jaxton.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that the boy was found unresponsive at Georgia Southwestern State University.
The bureau stated in a press release: “The investigation indicates an unresponsive 18-month-old boy was admitted to the emergency room at Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus, Georgia. Hospital personnel performed life-saving measures on the child; however, he later died.
“After multiple interviews & an examination of the evidence, GBI agents arrested Poague. She is currently booked at the Sumter County Jail with no bond.”
During the trial, which began on December 2, prosecutors argued that Poage harbored resentment toward the child because she desired to have a child of her own with her boyfriend.
They also presented evidence of text messages sent by Poage to a friend, expressing a desire to harm the child.
Lilly Waterman, a student at the university, testified that she heard the child crying for an extended period until it abruptly stopped.
She remarked: “No one knew what happened.”
Prosecutors accused Poage of causing ‘blunt-force trauma to the head and torso’ of the child, leading to fatal brain and organ injuries, as reported by WALB.
Williams, who took the stand on December 3, stated that Poage informed him the child had fallen off the bed.
He also testified that his son vomited twice when left in Poage’s care in the dorm room.
Phoebe Sumter Family Physician Michael Busman also took the stand that day, describing the child’s condition upon arrival at the hospital.
Busman testified that the child was not breathing, had no pulse, and was unresponsive upon hospital arrival.
He further stated that he did not believe the child’s injuries could have resulted from a fall from a bed.
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Williams.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or wish to speak to someone confidentially about child welfare, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) is available 24/7 and accepts calls from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.