Topline: Trinity Poague received a life sentence following her conviction in the fatal beating of her boyfriend’s son.
Published: December 10, 2025 1:00 pm ET
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Trinity Poague before receiving sentencing via CourtTV
AMERICUS, GA — A Georgia woman was sentenced to life in prison Dec. 5 after being convicted of felony murder in the death of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son.
Trinity Poague, 18 at the time of the crime, appeared stoic as the sentence was read by a judge of the Southwestern Circuit Court of Georgia.
Judge W. James Sizemore Jr. presided over the sentencing phase, stating that the gravity of the crime demanded the maximum penalty. “I don’t do a lot of speaking when I’m passing the sentence,” Judge Sizemore said in video shared by Court TV.
He concluded his brief remarks by noting, “The bottom line is you’re going to receive a sentence of life in prison, which is the appropriate sentence for the conduct that you have been convicted of.”
Poague was found guilty of five counts by the Sumter County jury, including two counts of felony murder. She had shown little emotion during much of the trial but appeared distraught moments before the sentence was imposed, as per video from Court TV.
The judge also sentenced Poague to serve 20 additional years concurrently with the life term for the remaining convictions.
The conviction stems from the Jan. 14, 2024, death of Romeo Angeles, an 18-month-old child also identified as Jaxton Drew. The child was found unresponsive in the college dorm room of Poague on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
Poague was arrested the same day the boy was found, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The GBI initiated an immediate investigation after the boy’s death and took her into custody hours later.
At the time of her arrest Poague held the local title of “ Miss Donalsville.” She was stripped of her crown following the filing of charges, as reported by the Early County News.
Sumter County authorities outlined the brutal nature of the death in an indictment, stating the abuse involved “inflicting blunt-force trauma to the head and torso of his body.”
Prosecutors argued that the injuries were deliberately inflicted by Poague, who was caring for the child at the time of the incident.
During the emotionally charged trial, prosecutors presented a motive of extreme personal resentment. They asserted that Poague resented the 18-month-old because she was jealous and wanted to have a child of her own with him, according to Court TV.
The incident occurred inside Poague’s dorm room, prompting testimony from university residents. Lilly Waterman, a student who lived nearby, was among those who testified regarding the events leading to the discovery of the injured child.
Waterman recounted to WRDW that fellow residents heard the child crying for a long time inside the room. The persistent wailing caused concern among students until “everyone said that suddenly it just stopped,” Waterman testified.
She added that the abrupt silence caused alarm among the residents, as nobody knew why the noise stopped.
The life sentence means that Poague will spend decades incarcerated. Under Georgia statute, a life sentence for murder requires a minimum of 30 years served before the person is eligible to seek parole.
The case has become a focal point for discussions about child welfare and the responsibility of non-parental caregivers in domestic settings.
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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Pageant Queen to Prison: Georgia Woman Gets Life for Toddler’s Death
Trinity Poague received a life sentence following her conviction in the fatal beating of her boyfriend’s son.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 10, 2025 1:00 pm ET
Trinity Poague before receiving sentencing via CourtTV
AMERICUS, GA — A Georgia woman was sentenced to life in prison Dec. 5 after being convicted of felony murder in the death of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son.
Trinity Poague, 18 at the time of the crime, appeared stoic as the sentence was read by a judge of the Southwestern Circuit Court of Georgia.
Judge W. James Sizemore Jr. presided over the sentencing phase, stating that the gravity of the crime demanded the maximum penalty. “I don’t do a lot of speaking when I’m passing the sentence,” Judge Sizemore said in video shared by Court TV.
He concluded his brief remarks by noting, “The bottom line is you’re going to receive a sentence of life in prison, which is the appropriate sentence for the conduct that you have been convicted of.”
Poague was found guilty of five counts by the Sumter County jury, including two counts of felony murder. She had shown little emotion during much of the trial but appeared distraught moments before the sentence was imposed, as per video from Court TV.
The judge also sentenced Poague to serve 20 additional years concurrently with the life term for the remaining convictions.
The conviction stems from the Jan. 14, 2024, death of Romeo Angeles, an 18-month-old child also identified as Jaxton Drew. The child was found unresponsive in the college dorm room of Poague on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
Poague was arrested the same day the boy was found, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The GBI initiated an immediate investigation after the boy’s death and took her into custody hours later.
At the time of her arrest Poague held the local title of “ Miss Donalsville.” She was stripped of her crown following the filing of charges, as reported by the Early County News.
Sumter County authorities outlined the brutal nature of the death in an indictment, stating the abuse involved “inflicting blunt-force trauma to the head and torso of his body.”
Prosecutors argued that the injuries were deliberately inflicted by Poague, who was caring for the child at the time of the incident.
During the emotionally charged trial, prosecutors presented a motive of extreme personal resentment. They asserted that Poague resented the 18-month-old because she was jealous and wanted to have a child of her own with him, according to Court TV.
The incident occurred inside Poague’s dorm room, prompting testimony from university residents. Lilly Waterman, a student who lived nearby, was among those who testified regarding the events leading to the discovery of the injured child.
Waterman recounted to WRDW that fellow residents heard the child crying for a long time inside the room. The persistent wailing caused concern among students until “everyone said that suddenly it just stopped,” Waterman testified.
She added that the abrupt silence caused alarm among the residents, as nobody knew why the noise stopped.
The life sentence means that Poague will spend decades incarcerated. Under Georgia statute, a life sentence for murder requires a minimum of 30 years served before the person is eligible to seek parole.
The case has become a focal point for discussions about child welfare and the responsibility of non-parental caregivers in domestic settings.
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.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Pageant Queen to Prison: Georgia Woman Gets Life for Toddler’s Death
Trinity Poague received a life sentence following her conviction in the fatal beating of her boyfriend’s son.
By Kate Byrd
Published: December 10, 2025 1:00 pm ET
Trinity Poague before receiving sentencing via CourtTV
AMERICUS, GA — A Georgia woman was sentenced to life in prison Dec. 5 after being convicted of felony murder in the death of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son.
Trinity Poague, 18 at the time of the crime, appeared stoic as the sentence was read by a judge of the Southwestern Circuit Court of Georgia.
Judge W. James Sizemore Jr. presided over the sentencing phase, stating that the gravity of the crime demanded the maximum penalty. “I don’t do a lot of speaking when I’m passing the sentence,” Judge Sizemore said in video shared by Court TV.
He concluded his brief remarks by noting, “The bottom line is you’re going to receive a sentence of life in prison, which is the appropriate sentence for the conduct that you have been convicted of.”
Poague was found guilty of five counts by the Sumter County jury, including two counts of felony murder. She had shown little emotion during much of the trial but appeared distraught moments before the sentence was imposed, as per video from Court TV.
The judge also sentenced Poague to serve 20 additional years concurrently with the life term for the remaining convictions.
The conviction stems from the Jan. 14, 2024, death of Romeo Angeles, an 18-month-old child also identified as Jaxton Drew. The child was found unresponsive in the college dorm room of Poague on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
Poague was arrested the same day the boy was found, according to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The GBI initiated an immediate investigation after the boy’s death and took her into custody hours later.
At the time of her arrest Poague held the local title of “ Miss Donalsville.” She was stripped of her crown following the filing of charges, as reported by the Early County News.
Sumter County authorities outlined the brutal nature of the death in an indictment, stating the abuse involved “inflicting blunt-force trauma to the head and torso of his body.”
Prosecutors argued that the injuries were deliberately inflicted by Poague, who was caring for the child at the time of the incident.
During the emotionally charged trial, prosecutors presented a motive of extreme personal resentment. They asserted that Poague resented the 18-month-old because she was jealous and wanted to have a child of her own with him, according to Court TV.
The incident occurred inside Poague’s dorm room, prompting testimony from university residents. Lilly Waterman, a student who lived nearby, was among those who testified regarding the events leading to the discovery of the injured child.
Waterman recounted to WRDW that fellow residents heard the child crying for a long time inside the room. The persistent wailing caused concern among students until “everyone said that suddenly it just stopped,” Waterman testified.
She added that the abrupt silence caused alarm among the residents, as nobody knew why the noise stopped.
The life sentence means that Poague will spend decades incarcerated. Under Georgia statute, a life sentence for murder requires a minimum of 30 years served before the person is eligible to seek parole.
The case has become a focal point for discussions about child welfare and the responsibility of non-parental caregivers in domestic settings.
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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