Trinity Poague, a former Miss National Peanut Festival pageant queen, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2024 death of her boyfriend’s toddler son.
On Friday, an Americus jury convicted Poague of cruelty to children, two counts of felony murder, and two counts of aggravated battery. They acquitted her of malice murder, Court TV reports.
A judge sentenced her to life in prison without the possibility of parole until she has served 30 years.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the prosecution argued that “only one person,” the defendant, had been with 18-month-old Romeo “Jaxton Dru” Angeles inside Poague’s Southwestern State University dorm room in Americus, when he passed away in January 2024.
Poague inflicted blunt force trauma to the tot’s head and torso area. She later claimed he had fallen from a bed.
However, Phoebe Sumter Family Physician Michael Busman testified earlier that the injuries were not consistent with someone falling from a bed.
Poague later admitted that she had shaken the toddler for misbehaving.
Busman, who said he has over 30 years of experience working in an emergency room, stated Jaxton was unresponsive with no pulse when he arrived at the hospital.
Once they detected a heartbeat, medical staff saw head swelling that came from a “from a direct blow.” Medical staff also found liquid coming out of his nose and facial swelling.
Two former GSW students testified that they heard Jaxton crying frequently while with Poague. Other students testified that they never had issues with Poague when she babysat their children.
Poague’s defense lawyer, Wilbur T. Gamble III, called the child’s father, Julian Williams, a “controlling boyfriend,” who drank the night prior.
Prosecutors argued that the defendant resented Jaxon and wanted a child of her own with Williams. She sent text messages to friends, stating that she wanted to “punch the child and that they hated each other.”
Meanwhile, the child’s mother, Angeles Garnica, told DailyMail that she had been living in Florida when she learned her son had died.
“His life was taken at such an early age, and it’s just been hard since everything started,’ Garnica said.
Poague was the reigning Miss Donalsonville in 2024 but stripped from the title following her arrest.
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[Feature Photos: Find a Grave/Facebook]
