A former Georgia beauty queen is currently on trial for the murder of her boyfriend’s toddler son in a tragic and disturbing case that has shocked the community. Trinity Poague, a 20-year-old sophomore at Georgia Southwestern State University, is accused of killing 18-month-old Romeo Angeles in January 2024.
According to prosecutors, Poague committed the heinous act out of jealousy and resentment because she wanted to have a child of her own with her boyfriend, Julian Williams. She allegedly felt neglected and wanted Williams to focus more on starting a family with her rather than caring for his son from a previous relationship.
The incident occurred while Williams was out picking up a pizza, leaving Poague alone with the toddler in his dorm room. When Williams returned and found Romeo unresponsive, he rushed the child to the emergency room, but tragically, the young boy could not be saved. Despite doctors’ efforts to stabilize Romeo for a transfer to a children’s hospital in Atlanta, he did not survive.
Poague was charged with murder, aggravated battery, and child cruelty a week after Romeo’s death and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that she had expressed her hatred towards the child in texts to her roommate and had searched online for information on causing brain injuries.
During the trial, witnesses testified that Romeo had suffered blunt-force trauma to his head and torso, indicating a deliberate and violent attack. Emergency room physicians also refuted Poague’s claims that the toddler had fallen off the bed, pointing to evidence of a direct blow to the head.
If convicted on all counts, Poague faces a potential sentence of life without parole or even the death penalty. The case has garnered significant attention due to Poague’s background as a beauty queen, having been crowned Miss Donalsonville in 2023 and participating in the National Peanut Festival pageant. However, she has since been stripped of her titles following her arrest.
Despite being released on a $75,000 bond, Poague’s actions have left a lasting impact on Romeo’s family, who are seeking justice for their lost loved one. Williams has expressed his outrage at Poague’s release, calling it a “slap in the face” to his family and emphasizing the need for accountability in the tragic death of his son.
As the trial unfolds, the community awaits the verdict in this heartbreaking case of betrayal and violence that has shaken them to the core.
