Former Beauty Queen Murders Boyfriend’s Toddler after Claiming she ‘Wanted Her Own Baby’

Trinity Poague, a 20-year-old former beauty pageant winner, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for the brutal murder of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son. The young woman, a student at Georgia Southwestern State University, killed toddler Romeo, known as J.D., in January 2024 while her partner, Julian Williams, was out picking up a pizza.

Poague faced multiple charges, including felony murder, child cruelty, and aggravated battery, and was just 18 years old when the crime occurred. Prosecutors argued that Poague had grown resentful of J.D. because she wanted to have her own child with Williams, which allegedly fueled her violent actions, reports Mirror UK.

J.D. had been a “healthy little boy” before his tragic death. Prosecutor Lewis Lamb spoke to the jury, revealing the severity of the injuries J.D. sustained. “By 12:30 p.m., he was in a literal death countdown,” Lamb said. “It wasn’t a question anymore as to whether or not he might live. It wasn’t a question anymore as to whether he could be saved. It wasn’t a question anymore as to whether he would ever be able to grow up. At 12:30 p.m., he was dying.”

When Williams returned to the dorm, he found J.D. barely conscious and vomiting, and rushed him to the hospital. Despite attempts to save him, the toddler later died from the injuries. Poague’s lawyer, however, argued that J.D.’s fatal injuries may have resulted from a fall off a 40-inch-tall bed or possibly from an earlier incident involving his intoxicated father the night before.

But the jury sided with the prosecution. In his opening statement, prosecutor Lamb detailed the “catastrophic injuries” the toddler had sustained, including bruises on his head, a fractured skull, and a lacerated liver. Lamb also highlighted the brain bleed that suggested a blow to the head occurred “within an hour” of J.D. being admitted to the hospital, per WTVY 4.

Video footage showed that J.D. was fine before his father left to pick up the pizza, with Poague being the only one with him at that time. Lamb also pointed to text messages Poague sent to her roommate, in which she expressed disdain for J.D., writing, “I can’t stand being around J.D. anymore. He hates me, and I hate him.”

Poague’s defense countered these claims, suggesting that the child’s injuries could have been caused by a fall off the bed the night before, a theory supported by dormitory witnesses who reported hearing cries. They also claimed that J.D. might have been ill before his death, as indicated by the small amount of food in his stomach.

After her conviction, Poague’s former title as Miss Donalsonville, which she earned in 2023, was rescinded. The case has drawn significant attention to the tragic circumstances of the young boy’s death and the deepening rift within Poague’s personal relationships.

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