😱 FROM PAGEANT QUEEN TO BABY KILLER: 18-year-old beauty queen left alone with boyfriend’s toddler in college dorm… and minutes after dad steps out for pizza, the 18-month-old is brutally beaten to death!

Crowned Miss Donalsonville just months before, Trinity Poague allegedly snapped in a jealous rage, inflicting horrific blunt force trauma while no one was watching. Dorm mates heard cries that suddenly stopped… now she’s sentenced to LIFE for the unthinkable murder of little Romeo ‘J.D.’ Angeles.

Was it resentment because she wanted her own baby? Or something even darker? The texts she sent will chill you to the bone…

Click for the shocking trial details that ended with her sobbing in court! 👇

A former pageant winner from Georgia has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years following her conviction in the death of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son, in a case that unfolded on a small college campus and drew widespread attention.

Trinity Madison Poague, now 20, was found guilty on December 5, 2025, in Sumter County Superior Court of felony murder, aggravated battery, and first-degree cruelty to children in connection with the January 14, 2024, death of Romeo “Jaxton Dru” Angeles, also known as J.D. She was acquitted on a charge of malice murder. Poague broke down in tears as the verdict was read and again during sentencing two days later.

At the time of the incident, Poague was an 18-year-old freshman at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, studying nursing and participating in the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program. She had been crowned Miss Donalsonville in 2023 and competed in the National Peanut Festival pageant. Following her arrest, she was stripped of her title.

The victim, Romeo Angeles, was the son of Julian Williams, then 23, who was dating Poague. Williams had brought his son to visit Poague at her dorm over the weekend of January 13-14, 2024. Surveillance footage showed the toddler appearing healthy and active prior to the fatal incident.

On January 14, around noon, Williams left the dorm briefly to pick up a pizza order from a nearby location. Prosecutors stated that the child was in good condition when Williams departed at approximately 11:55 a.m. Poague was the only adult present with the toddler during this time.

While en route, Williams received a text from Poague indicating the child was not breathing. He rushed back to the dorm, found his son unresponsive, and drove him to Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus. Medical staff attempted to stabilize the boy for airlift to a children’s hospital in Atlanta, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

An autopsy revealed catastrophic injuries, including blunt force trauma to the head and torso, multiple brain bleeds, a skull fracture, and severe liver laceration described in court documents as causing “serious disfigurement” to the organ and rendering the brain “useless.” Prosecutors argued these injuries were inflicted during the roughly 30-minute window when Poague was alone with the child.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) took over the case after university police were notified. After interviews and evidence review, agents arrested Poague on January 19, 2024. She was initially charged with aggravated battery, felony murder, and cruelty to children, with additional counts added in a later indictment.

The trial commenced in early December 2025, with prosecutors painting a picture of resentment on Poague’s part. They alleged she harbored frustration toward the toddler because she desired to have her own child with Williams. Evidence included text messages Poague reportedly sent, expressing negative feelings about the boy, such as statements indicating she “hated him.”

Dorm residents testified to hearing a child crying extensively the previous night, with cries abruptly stopping—a detail noted but attributed by the defense to other possible causes. One student, Lilly Waterman, recalled to local media that the sudden silence raised concerns among residents.

Prosecutor Lewis Lamb emphasized in closing arguments that the toddler was a “healthy little boy” when Williams left for pizza, entering a “literal death countdown” shortly after. Medical experts testified that the brain bleed timeline aligned with injuries occurring within hours—or specifically during the period Poague was alone with him.

The defense, led by attorney W.T. Gamble, argued alternative explanations for the injuries. They suggested the fatal trauma could have resulted from a fall off a 40-inch-high bed the night before, or possibly during a shared shower between Poague and Williams, or even related to Williams’ alleged intoxication that evening. The defense noted the father’s presence around the child and questioned why certain forensic examinations, such as checks for marks on Poague’s hands, were not conducted.

Williams testified during the trial, displaying the jacket he wore while rushing his son to the hospital. He has not been charged and was cleared of involvement by investigators.

Poague maintained her innocence throughout, pleading not guilty. She was out on bond prior to the trial, a decision that drew criticism from the victim’s family, who described it as a “slap in the face.”

Following the guilty verdict on five of six counts, Judge William F. Rumer imposed a life sentence for felony murder, with a concurrent 20-year term for cruelty to children. Parole eligibility begins after 30 years, meaning Poague could be in her 50s before consideration.

The victim’s mother, Sheyla Angeles Garnica, has spoken limitedly to media but expressed ongoing grief in earlier statements. Williams has also shared the profound impact, telling outlets the loss has been devastating.

The case highlighted challenges in child endangerment situations involving non-biological caregivers. Experts testifying noted the vulnerability of toddlers to abusive head trauma, often misattributed to accidents.

Georgia Southwestern State University cooperated fully with the investigation, securing the dorm room and providing surveillance footage crucial to establishing timelines. Campus officials have not commented extensively, citing the ongoing legal proceedings at the time.

Poague’s background as a high-achieving student and pageant participant contrasted sharply with the allegations, fueling media coverage. Local reports from outlets like WALB and the Americus Times-Recorder detailed her enrollment in leadership programs and nursing studies.

Since her conviction, Poague has been transferred to state custody. Appeals are possible, though none have been filed as of mid-December 2025.

The small town of Donalsonville, where Poague grew up, and the Americus campus community have grappled with the fallout. Memorials and fundraisers for the victim’s family circulated in the aftermath, with a GoFundMe established to support funeral costs and related expenses.

This case joins a series of high-profile incidents involving young caregivers and child fatalities, underscoring debates over supervision, background checks in relationships, and recognition of abuse signs.

As of December 2025, the conviction stands, bringing a measure of legal resolution to a tragedy that began with what appeared to be a routine weekend visit and pizza run on a quiet college campus.