SUMTER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – Former Beauty Queen, Trinity Pogue, was noticeably emotional during portions of her murder trial Thursday, crying and even laughing in the courtroom. Poague is accused in the death of her boyfriend’s 18-month-old son, Romeo “Jaxton Dru” Angles.

Prosecutors say Poague caused “blunt-force trauma to the head and torso” inside a dorm room at Georgia Southwestern State University in January 2024, resulting in fatal brain and organ injuries. Poague previously told the child’s father that the toddler had fallen off the bed.

Around 9 a.m. Thursday, jurors heard new testimony detailing conflicting statements, medical findings and digital evidence that investigators say was recovered from Poague’s phone.

Deputy Coroner Matthis Wright testified that Poague first claimed the toddler had been eating chips before becoming unresponsive. Wright told jurors he checked hospital records, examined the child’s mouth and reviewed the scene, finding no evidence that the toddler had eaten anything. EMS also confirmed they found no chips when they arrived.

Wright said that when he confronted Poague, her story changed. She then told him the child had not been eating at all but had simply fallen. Wright notified Lt. Timothy Allen after noticing Pogue’s shifting statements.

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

GBI Agent Samantha Fort then reviewed a series of text messages and web searches extracted from Poague’s phone. One message to the child’s father, sent around 11:24 p.m. on December 10, 2023, described her struggling to care for JD. In the message, Poague wrote that “letting JD hit the wall… hurt me,” that she didn’t feel she had his best interest at heart and that “I can’t be around him anymore… he cries nonstop with me.”

Another message, sent to girls in her residence hall the night before, read:“Y’all I’m sorry if y’all hear this baby cry, he does not feel well so everything he does he cries about it. I promise I ain’t killing him.”

Investigators also presented search history made on January 14, 2024, while Poague was at the hospital and police department. Those searches included:

• “How do you get a brain bleed?”
• “How can a depressed skull fracture go unnoticed?”
• Searches related to infant brain bleeds and brain damage
• “How to deactivate Facebook?”

During cross-examination, the defense questioned why agents did not investigate the phone histories of the father’s sisters or other relatives who may have been around the child. They also requested a mistrial, arguing that the father’s criminal history had not been turned over.

Prosecutors responded that any such record would have been served if it had been part of the case file. Agent Fort testified that while she recalled reviewing a criminal history, it was not printed or included in the official file, adding that such handling is standard protocol.

Judge denied the request for a mistrial, saying any issue with those records could be addressed after the trial if needed. The judge also denied the defense’s motion for a direct verdict, stating that the decision will be left for the jury. Additionally, the judge denied a motion to dismiss the spoliation claim, noting that law enforcement acted in good faith throughout the investigation.

Pouge’s former employers then testified for the state about their experience having Poague as a babysitter. The judge noted that, under Georgia law, character testimony would have to be limited after the prosecutor objected. Jenna Newsome, who hired Pogue to watch her children, took the stand and testified that Pogue began working for her at age 16, and she never had any issues. The state then cross-examined her.

“You would certainly expect her to be able to recognize injury to a child, wouldn’t you,” asked the prosecution.

“Yes, sir,” Newsome responded.

“I mean that’s part of what you expect out of a babysitter, right? If something goes wrong, they’re going to recognize it, their going to be in a position to do something about it, right,” asked the prosecution.

“Yes, sir,” Newsome responded.

“You would expect her to tale every reasonable measure to protect a child that was needed protection, wouldn’t you,” asked the prosecution.

“Yes, sir,” Newsome responded.

“If there was a child to be physically abused and neglected in some way, and it was occurring in her presence, then you would agree with me that that would be a gross failure on her part if she just did nothing, wouldn’t you,” asked the prosecution.

“Yes, sir,” Newsome responded.

Proceedings will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow for closing arguments. If convicted, Poague faces a life sentence.

WALB will continue to follow developments in the trial.

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
• Child’s father, medical experts testify in Trinity Poague murder trial

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