AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) – A beauty pageant queen accused of murdering an 18-month-old boy says she is not guilty of the child’s killing.
Former Miss Donalsonville Trinity Poague is charged with murder, among other things, and pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Wednesday, August 14.
The toddler’s father tells WALB he feels justice is not being done.
“The State v. Trinity Poague. Good morning, Your Honor. On behalf of Ms. Poague, present, we enter a plea of not guilty.”
Poague pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included two counts of first-degree murder and child abuse. According to Sumter County Deputy Coroner Matthis Wright, the cause of death of 18-month-old Romeo Angeles was blunt trauma.
Angeles’ father Julian Williams said, among other things: “I am very frustrated and angry… For her to plead not guilty when she knows she is guilty is just not right. I feel like the court is trying to slap her on the wrist.”
“You and Miss Poague can go.”
Poague was released on $75,000 bail and flexible conditions, including being allowed to leave the county, wearing an ankle monitor, staying out of trouble with the law and abusing drugs or alcohol.
Williams says Poague’s release on bail left his family on an emotional rollercoaster.
“This feels like a slap in the face to me and my family,” Williams said. “We just want justice for my son. It’s not right to let her out and release her. She took the life of an innocent one-year-old.”
GSW students told WALB that they did indeed hear something unusual in their dorms on the day of Angeles’ death.
“The child was crying for a very long time and suddenly it just stopped and nobody knew what had happened,” said Lilly Walterman, a GSW student.
Deputy Coroner Wright says there will be an update on the autopsy in the next few days.
So what will happen in the future?
A trial date has been set and her attorney will keep WALB updated on whether the October 24 trial date can be met or if a postponement becomes necessary.
Previous reporting:
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