On January 14, 2024, 18-month-old Romeo Angeles (also known as Jaxton Drew Williams) was found unresponsive at Oaks 2 Dormitory on the Georgia Southwestern State University campus in Americus, Georgia, and was transported to Phoebe Sumter Hospital, where he died despite life-saving measures. The child had been in the care of Trinity Madison Poague, 18, the girlfriend of the child's father, Jaxton Williams, who was described as the sole caretaker of his child. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force head and torso trauma, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. Poague was arrested on January 19, 2024, and subsequently indicted on six counts including malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and first-degree cruelty to children.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The WRDW article states that according to the indictment, Poague is accused of causing the death of Angeles by "inflicting blunt force trauma to the head and torso of his body." The GBI fatality report lists the cause of death as "blunt force head and torso trauma" with manner of death as homicide. This constitutes inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
The GBI fatality report lists the cause of death as "blunt force head and torso trauma" in a homicide of an 18-month-old child. The WRDW article states Poague is accused of "inflicting blunt force trauma to the head and torso of his body." While the specific clinical term "abusive head trauma" or "shaken baby syndrome" is not used, the inflicted blunt force trauma to the head of a toddler in the context of a homicide constitutes abusive head trauma by definition.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
The WRDW article explicitly states that Poague was charged "connected to the murder of her boyfriend's child." Trinity Poague was the girlfriend of the child's father, Jaxton Williams, making her a female paramour involved in the death. She was arrested and charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree.
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Multiple sources confirm Trinity Madison Poague, 18, was arrested and charged. The WDHN article states: "Sumter County Jail records show that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested and charged 18-year-old Trinity Madison Poague of Donalsonville with Felony Murder, Aggravated Battery, and 1st Degree Cruelty to Children on Friday, January 19." The WRDW article reports she was later indicted on six counts including malice murder, 2 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. First, the child had dual identities: the People article reports that "Sumter County Coroner Mathis Wright said that the child's name was Romeo Angles on his birth certificate. However, at the hospital, the father said his name was Jaxton Drew." Second, the death occurred at a college dormitory — the WLBT article states "authorities say Jaxton was transported from Oaks 2 Dormitory on the Georgia Southwestern State University campus." Third, the accused was an 18-year-old college student and reigning beauty queen (Miss Donalsonville 2023) who was watching her boyfriend's child in her college dorm. The GoFundMe for the father describes him as "the sole care taker of his only child," indicating a single-father household.
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