Former Beauty Queen Trinity Poague Was Sentenced for the Killing of an 18-Month-Old Toddler

"I don't think we agree," a prosecutor said as silence hung in the courtroom while lawyers debated procedure, but the weight of the moment was impossible to miss.

The sentencing, quietly recorded during a Georgia sentencing hearing, has ignited a firestorm of debate over Trinity Poague's demeanor, legal twists, and the tragic case that brought her before the court.

The footage, streamed and later shared on YouTube, shows a tense legal exchange unfolding in a Georgia courtroom after the jury returned its verdict.

A Clash Over Charges

The presiding judge highlighted a procedural issue, asking both sides whether there was "any disagreement as to the merges of the charges or vacating any of the sentences," noting that some counts appeared to overlap under state law.

The state's attorney, Prosecutor Lewis Lamb, outlined that not all charges should merge, "I don't think we agree. The state's position is that the court can impose sentence that she go straight down the line," before arguing which charges should remain separate.

The state's attorney argued that the charges should be interpreted disjunctively, asserting that damage to either the head or torso alone could support a felony murder conviction.

"So, since either of them would support the felony murder, only one of them merges," the prosecutor said, reiterating the state's position on sentencing.

The defense attorney, W. T. Gamble III, representing the former beauty pageant contestant, disagreed with that interpretation, arguing that the counts overlapped to a degree that required a broader merger.

Social Media Fixates on Poague's Expressions

Throughout the sentencing, viewers fixated on Poague's expressions in the courtroom video, particularly during the moments surrounding the jury's announcement and the judge's remarks. During a brief window earlier in the hearing, she appeared visibly emotional, but she later maintained a composed, almost impassive look as the sentence was discussed.

Those moments sparked a wave of reactions in the video's comment sections. One viewer wrote that they were struck by the sudden shift in her demeanor, commenting, "The way her face flipped when he read the verdict was wild."

Another commenter also focused on that change, saying, "Her fake reaction switched quick," while accusing her of putting on an emotional display.

Others interpreted her expression differently once sentencing began. One person stated that, "Instead of any remorse she looks ANGRY during the sentencing."

Another viewer echoed that sentiment with disbelief, "Watching her facial expressions is unbelievable." Beyond her demeanor, some commenters criticized the possibility of parole decades down the line.

One person argued bluntly, "It should have been life without parole," voicing frustration with the sentence imposed. Another commenter made a similar point, writing, "It should have been live without parole."

The Verdict

The jury's findings themselves were read into the record in detail. "The verdict reads as follows as to each count," the court announced. "On count one, it says, 'We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.'"

"On counts two, three, four, five, and six, the verdict reads, 'We, the jury, find the defendant guilty.' Felony murder two counts, aggravated battery two counts, and cruelty to a child in the first degree," the court continued.

Only later in the proceeding did the court impose a sentence. Poague, the former Miss Donalsonville, was sentenced to a combined term that effectively places her behind bars for decades.

According to published court coverage, she received 30 years for one offense and 20 years for another, to be served concurrently, making her eligible for parole after 30 years.

Beyond the Video, a Case Rooted in the Death of a Toddler

As the clip continues to circulate, the developing online conversation shows how courtroom footage can take on a second life far beyond the legal record, shifting attention from statutes and sentencing guidelines to the most minor visible reactions and fueling debate over punishment, parole, and perceived emotion in moments of profound consequence.

That courtroom exchange, and the public fixation on her demeanor, marked the end of a case that stunned a Georgia community and put the former pageant winner on trial for the death of an 18-month-old boy entrusted to her care.

An Arrest That Sent Shockwaves Through the Community

At approximately 2 p.m. on January 14, 2024, the Georgia Southwestern State University Police Department requested urgent help from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

An 18-month-old toddler, Romeo Angeles, found beaten and unresponsive on university grounds, had been rushed to the emergency room at Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus. Despite the frantic efforts of medical staff, the child's injuries were too severe. He died shortly after being admitted.

After conducting multiple interviews and piecing together the facts, authorities arrested Poague, a sophomore at Georgia Southwestern State University, on January 20, 2024.

She was charged with aggravated battery, felony murder, malice murder, and cruelty to children in the first degree.

Poague was booked into Sumter County Jail and initially held without bond. But public anger exploded when it was revealed that Poague was later released on a $75,000 bond.

"This feels like a slap in the face to me and my family," said Julian Williams, the baby's father. "All we want is justice for my son. Letting her out and being free is not right. She took an innocent 1-year-old's life."

The Americus Police Department joined forces with campus police to carry the investigation forward. At the time, authorities urged anyone with information to come forward and contact their tipline.

Once the investigation was complete, the case was turned over to the Southwestern Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

A Night of Horror Inside a College Dorm Room

The incident that led to Poague's arrest allegedly took place inside her dorm room at the campus, where she had been hosting Williams and his son.

At one point, Williams stepped out to pick up a pizza, leaving the boy alone with Poague. Shortly after, Poague texted her boyfriend, telling him that his child wasn't breathing.

When Williams rushed back, he found his son unresponsive. In a panic, he took the boy to the hospital, hoping doctors could save him.

Medical staff fought to stabilize the toddler to prepare to have him airlifted to a children's hospital in Atlanta, but it was already too late. The child was pronounced dead around 4 p.m.

The Trial Unfolds as a Disturbing Motive Is Allegedly Revealed

Nearly two years have passed since the tragedy that shattered a young boy's life and upended a Georgia community. Now, the long-awaited trial of 20-year-old Poague has finally begun, and every chilling detail is being broadcast live on YouTube for the world to see.

Poague has entered a plea of not guilty to every charge. But prosecutors have started laying out a case that threatens to destroy whatever innocence still clings to her former image.

According to Prosecutor Lamb, the motive behind the child's death was rooted in jealous resentment. The state claims Poague was envious of the bond between her boyfriend and his son from a previous relationship.

"She wanted to have a child or children with Julian Williams," Lamb told the jury on Tuesday. "But not that child."

Prosecutors have alleged that Poague killed the toddler in a jealous rage, believing the attention and affection Williams gave the boy rightfully belonged to her.

The theory goes further, claiming she did not want to be a stepmother and saw the boy as an obstacle to the future she imagined.

The Evidence Begins to Paint a Disturbing Picture

In the last few days of testimony, prosecutors have also unveiled evidence that seemingly casts an even darker shadow over Poague.

Among the most unsettling pieces are text messages, some of which she allegedly sent to her former roommate, Parris Purmort. In one, she expressed how deeply she disliked Angeles, whom his father also referred to as Jaxton Drew.

"I can't stand being around JD anymore. He hates me and I hate him," Prosecutor Lamb told the jury that Poague had written.

The court also heard that Poague once asked her roommate to sleep in her room, claiming the toddler had been "fussy" and that Williams was not helping with childcare.

But a disturbing detail came from Poague's internet search history, which happened while she and Williams were at the hospital. According to a witness from the prosecution's side, Poague looked up phrases such as "How do you get a brain bleed?" and "How can a depressed skull fracture go unnoticed?"

Damning Testimonies Expose Contradictions and Shocking Injuries

Testimony added more context to the events of that night, as Sumter County Coroner Matthis Wright took the stand and revealed inconsistencies in Poague's story.

According to Wright, Poague initially claimed that Angeles had been eating chips shortly before he lost consciousness. But that detail was quickly shattered by medical exams from that night, which confirmed the boy had nothing in his stomach before he died.

What the exam further revealed was even more horrifying.

The toddler had suffered "blunt-force trauma" to his head and upper body. It was so powerful that his brain was rendered "useless."

Then, the coroner explained that Poague changed her story. She told investigators that the child had simply fallen off the bed.

But the emergency room doctor who treated the boy that day, Dr. Michael Busman, testified that the injuries did not match a fall. In fact, he said the swelling and fluid found coming from the child's nose pointed to a "direct blow" to the head.

If that wasn't disturbing enough, a previous indictment had also revealed that Angeles had suffered a "serious disfigurement to his liver."

Meanwhile, the defense attorney, Gamble III, pushed back, arguing that Williams was a "controlling boyfriend" who had been drinking shortly before the boy was injured. He acknowledged the unpleasant tone of Poague's texts but told the court there is no direct evidence she harmed the child.

Still, after her arrest, the pageant organization swiftly responded by stripping Poague of her Miss Donalsonville title. Furthermore, if the jury finds her guilty on all counts, she faces life in prison without parole, or potentially, the death penalty.

In the end, the arguments over procedure and perception could not eclipse the central truth of the case: a child is gone, and a Georgia courtroom has delivered judgment that will echo far beyond the video that captured it.