WARNING: Some of the details in this article regarding the testimony of Romeo “Jaxton Dru” Angles’ death are disturbing.

SUMTER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) — Testimony resumed Wednesday in the trial of former beauty queen Trinity Poague, accused in the death of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son.

The prosecution says Poague inflicted “blunt-force trauma to the head and torso” of Romeo “Jaxton Dru” Angles inside a dorm room at Georgia Southwestern State University in January 2024, resulting in fatal brain and organ damage. Poague previously told baby J.D.’s father that the child had fallen off the bed.

Around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, the prosecution entered photos into evidence, and recalled the toddler’s father, Julian Williams, to the stand to testify about the photos. The photos were screenshots from the Georgia Southwestern State University police’s body camera video, appearing to show vomit on Williams’ black Nike outfit.

Williams testified that his son threw up twice after he says the child was left with Poague, once in the dorm room and once on the way to the hospital. The prosecution then asked Williams why the Nike outfit was not taken as evidence by police, and Williams replied that law enforcement did not ask for it.

The prosecution then asked why he has kept the Nike outfit since his son’s death, and he replied that it is the last thing he has to remember his son by.

After Williams left the stand, Phoebe Sumter Family Physician Michael Busman testified as an expert with over 30 years of emergency room experience. He told the court that upon arrival to the hospital, baby J.D. was not breathing, he had no pulse, and he was completely unresponsive. After a tracheostomy and CPR, Busman testified that they were able to detect J.D.’s heartbeat.

Once he was considered stable, medical staff noticed swelling on his face, liquid coming out of his nose, and swelling on the back of his head that Busman testified was “from a direct blow.” Busman said after running more tests, they discovered a liver laceration.

At the end of his testimony for the state, Busman testified that he did not believe the child’s injuries could have been caused by falling forward off of a bed. Once at the hospital, Poague told Busman that she had “shaken” J.D. because he was “not acting correctly” before bringing him in for treatment. Busman says that hospital records showed that Williams told medical staff that J.D. had fallen just 5 or so minutes before coming into the hospital, but Busman testified that his injuries indicated it had been more like 30-60 minutes.

|READ MORE: Child identified in GBI death investigation involving Miss Donalsonville|

Trinity Poague is charged with the following:

• Malice murder
• 2 counts of felony murder
• 2 counts of aggravated battery
• Cruelty to children in the first degree

Poague, who was stripped of her 2023 Miss Donalsonville title after being charged, pled “not guilty” in earlier court appearances.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• ‘That kid was crying a long time’: GSW students react to toddler’s death
• Former Miss Donalsonville facing murder charge in toddler death investigation released on bond
• Former Miss Donalsonville faces 6-count indictment, connected to death of 18-month-old infant
• Former Miss Donalsonville pleads not guilty to murder of 18-month-old boy
• Trial for former Miss Donalsonville accused of killing a child expected this year
• Day 1 in court: Fmr. Miss Donalsonville faces murder trial over toddler’s death

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