Topline: Trinity Poague faces malice murder charges in death of 18-month-old Romeo Angeles.
Published: December 6, 2025 10:00 am ET
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Left: Romeo Angeles, Right: Trinity Poague (via GoFundMe/Facebook)
AMERICUS, GA — Former beauty queen Trinity Poague is on trial this week in Sumter County, Georgia, accused of beating her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son to death in early 2024.
Poague faces four felony charges in connection with the death of Romeo Angeles, who was found unresponsive on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
Poague, a former Miss Donalsonville title holder, was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in January 2024. She has formally pleaded not guilty to all charges levied against her in the case.
The charges include malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree. The Sumter County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case, which began Dec. 2, as reported by Court TV.
The trial draws on a detailed indictment that claims the former pageant winner inflicted fatal injuries upon the toddler. The prosecution began its case by laying out the alleged motive.
Prosecutors claimed that Poague murdered the toddler because she deeply resented him. They argued that the 25-year-old desired a child of her own with the boy’s father, leading to jealousy toward the victim.
Court testimony from the prosecution detailed this alleged motive for the violence that led to the child’s death. The former beauty queen allegedly saw the toddler as an obstruction to her romantic elationship.
To support their theory of intent, the state presented alleged text messages Poague sent to a roommate regarding the child. According to prosecutors, Poague sent disturbing texts stating that she wanted to physically harm the toddler.
These messages are expected to be a central part of the prosecution’s effort to prove the charges of malice murder and cruelty to children. Malice murder requires the jury to find the defendant acted with a deliberate intent to kill.
The indictment outlines the severity of the alleged physical violence inflicted upon Romeo Angeles, who was also known by the name Jaxton. Sumter County authorities claimed the boy suffered devastating internal injuries.
Specific details in the legal filing reported by WALB claimed the abuse caused “serious disfigurement to his liver.” Such injuries indicate a high level of physical force was allegedly used against the young child.
The indictment further detailed the extent of the brain damage the child sustained. The legal document alleged the battering rendered the toddler’s brain “useless,” according to the indictment.
A chilling account came from a university student who was near the scene at the time of the incident. Lilly Waterman, a student at Georgia Southwestern State, told WRDW that she heard the toddler crying loudly for a long period of time.
Waterman recounted that other residents on campus noted the prolonged crying, and “suddenly it just stopped,” she told the news outlet.
The felony murder charge is connected to the alleged cruelty to children and aggravated battery. This charge requires the prosecution to prove that the killing occurred while Poague was in the act of committing another felony.
Aggravated battery is a charge applied when a defendant intentionally causes serious harm that disables or destroys the use of a body part. The indictment’s description of severe internal injuries matches this statutory definition.
The cruelty to children charge in the first degree applies when a person maliciously causes a child under 18 excessive physical or mental pain. The prosecution must prove Poague acted with wrongful intent in inflicting the injuries that led to the child’s death.
The former pageant winner had her title of Miss Donalsonville officially stripped following her arrest in January 2024. The action was reported by the Early County News shortly after the charges were filed.
The local community rallied around the boy’s father following the loss of his son. A GoFundMe campaign was created to benefit the father and raised $12,000, according to reports.
Both the malice murder and felony murder charges carry potential life sentences upon conviction under Georgia law.
The outcome of the trial depends on the jury’s finding regarding Poague’s state of mind when the injuries were inflicted.
The trial continues this month in Sumter County.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Ex-Beauty Queen Faces Trial in Boyfriend’s Toddler’s Death
Trinity Poague faces malice murder charges in death of 18-month-old Romeo Angeles.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 6, 2025 10:00 am ET
Left: Romeo Angeles, Right: Trinity Poague (via GoFundMe/Facebook)
AMERICUS, GA — Former beauty queen Trinity Poague is on trial this week in Sumter County, Georgia, accused of beating her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son to death in early 2024.
Poague faces four felony charges in connection with the death of Romeo Angeles, who was found unresponsive on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
Poague, a former Miss Donalsonville title holder, was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in January 2024. She has formally pleaded not guilty to all charges levied against her in the case.
The charges include malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree. The Sumter County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case, which began Dec. 2, as reported by Court TV.
The trial draws on a detailed indictment that claims the former pageant winner inflicted fatal injuries upon the toddler. The prosecution began its case by laying out the alleged motive.
Prosecutors claimed that Poague murdered the toddler because she deeply resented him. They argued that the 25-year-old desired a child of her own with the boy’s father, leading to jealousy toward the victim.
Court testimony from the prosecution detailed this alleged motive for the violence that led to the child’s death. The former beauty queen allegedly saw the toddler as an obstruction to her romantic elationship.
To support their theory of intent, the state presented alleged text messages Poague sent to a roommate regarding the child. According to prosecutors, Poague sent disturbing texts stating that she wanted to physically harm the toddler.
These messages are expected to be a central part of the prosecution’s effort to prove the charges of malice murder and cruelty to children. Malice murder requires the jury to find the defendant acted with a deliberate intent to kill.
The indictment outlines the severity of the alleged physical violence inflicted upon Romeo Angeles, who was also known by the name Jaxton. Sumter County authorities claimed the boy suffered devastating internal injuries.
Specific details in the legal filing reported by WALB claimed the abuse caused “serious disfigurement to his liver.” Such injuries indicate a high level of physical force was allegedly used against the young child.
The indictment further detailed the extent of the brain damage the child sustained. The legal document alleged the battering rendered the toddler’s brain “useless,” according to the indictment.
A chilling account came from a university student who was near the scene at the time of the incident. Lilly Waterman, a student at Georgia Southwestern State, told WRDW that she heard the toddler crying loudly for a long period of time.
Waterman recounted that other residents on campus noted the prolonged crying, and “suddenly it just stopped,” she told the news outlet.
The felony murder charge is connected to the alleged cruelty to children and aggravated battery. This charge requires the prosecution to prove that the killing occurred while Poague was in the act of committing another felony.
Aggravated battery is a charge applied when a defendant intentionally causes serious harm that disables or destroys the use of a body part. The indictment’s description of severe internal injuries matches this statutory definition.
The cruelty to children charge in the first degree applies when a person maliciously causes a child under 18 excessive physical or mental pain. The prosecution must prove Poague acted with wrongful intent in inflicting the injuries that led to the child’s death.
The former pageant winner had her title of Miss Donalsonville officially stripped following her arrest in January 2024. The action was reported by the Early County News shortly after the charges were filed.
The local community rallied around the boy’s father following the loss of his son. A GoFundMe campaign was created to benefit the father and raised $12,000, according to reports.
Both the malice murder and felony murder charges carry potential life sentences upon conviction under Georgia law.
The outcome of the trial depends on the jury’s finding regarding Poague’s state of mind when the injuries were inflicted.
The trial continues this month in Sumter County.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Ex-Beauty Queen Faces Trial in Boyfriend’s Toddler’s Death
Trinity Poague faces malice murder charges in death of 18-month-old Romeo Angeles.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 6, 2025 10:00 am ET
Left: Romeo Angeles, Right: Trinity Poague (via GoFundMe/Facebook)
AMERICUS, GA — Former beauty queen Trinity Poague is on trial this week in Sumter County, Georgia, accused of beating her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son to death in early 2024.
Poague faces four felony charges in connection with the death of Romeo Angeles, who was found unresponsive on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
Poague, a former Miss Donalsonville title holder, was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in January 2024. She has formally pleaded not guilty to all charges levied against her in the case.
The charges include malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree. The Sumter County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case, which began Dec. 2, as reported by Court TV.
The trial draws on a detailed indictment that claims the former pageant winner inflicted fatal injuries upon the toddler. The prosecution began its case by laying out the alleged motive.
Prosecutors claimed that Poague murdered the toddler because she deeply resented him. They argued that the 25-year-old desired a child of her own with the boy’s father, leading to jealousy toward the victim.
Court testimony from the prosecution detailed this alleged motive for the violence that led to the child’s death. The former beauty queen allegedly saw the toddler as an obstruction to her romantic elationship.
To support their theory of intent, the state presented alleged text messages Poague sent to a roommate regarding the child. According to prosecutors, Poague sent disturbing texts stating that she wanted to physically harm the toddler.
These messages are expected to be a central part of the prosecution’s effort to prove the charges of malice murder and cruelty to children. Malice murder requires the jury to find the defendant acted with a deliberate intent to kill.
The indictment outlines the severity of the alleged physical violence inflicted upon Romeo Angeles, who was also known by the name Jaxton. Sumter County authorities claimed the boy suffered devastating internal injuries.
Specific details in the legal filing reported by WALB claimed the abuse caused “serious disfigurement to his liver.” Such injuries indicate a high level of physical force was allegedly used against the young child.
The indictment further detailed the extent of the brain damage the child sustained. The legal document alleged the battering rendered the toddler’s brain “useless,” according to the indictment.
A chilling account came from a university student who was near the scene at the time of the incident. Lilly Waterman, a student at Georgia Southwestern State, told WRDW that she heard the toddler crying loudly for a long period of time.
Waterman recounted that other residents on campus noted the prolonged crying, and “suddenly it just stopped,” she told the news outlet.
The felony murder charge is connected to the alleged cruelty to children and aggravated battery. This charge requires the prosecution to prove that the killing occurred while Poague was in the act of committing another felony.
Aggravated battery is a charge applied when a defendant intentionally causes serious harm that disables or destroys the use of a body part. The indictment’s description of severe internal injuries matches this statutory definition.
The cruelty to children charge in the first degree applies when a person maliciously causes a child under 18 excessive physical or mental pain. The prosecution must prove Poague acted with wrongful intent in inflicting the injuries that led to the child’s death.
The former pageant winner had her title of Miss Donalsonville officially stripped following her arrest in January 2024. The action was reported by the Early County News shortly after the charges were filed.
The local community rallied around the boy’s father following the loss of his son. A GoFundMe campaign was created to benefit the father and raised $12,000, according to reports.
Both the malice murder and felony murder charges carry potential life sentences upon conviction under Georgia law.
The outcome of the trial depends on the jury’s finding regarding Poague’s state of mind when the injuries were inflicted.
The trial continues this month in Sumter County.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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