18 June 2024 , 11:10
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Grim new details have emerged over the alleged killing of a toddler by a pageant queen and contestant in the Miss National Peanut Festival Pageant.
Trinity Madison Poague, the 18-year-old reigning Miss Donalsonville, has been charged with felony murder, aggravated battery and cruelty to children in the first degree in connection to the tragic death of an 18-month-old Jaxton Drew. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) said that the boy was admitted to the emergency room at Phoebe Sumter Hospital in Americus, Georgia, unresponsive and in critical condition.
Despite the efforts of the hospital staff to perform life-saving measures, the infant succumbed to his injuries. A charge sheet released by Sumter County officials claimed that the boy's torment resulted in "serious disfigurement to his liver," as well as leaving his brain "useless" and causing him severe head and torso injuries.
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Witnesses reported hearing the baby suddenly stop crying (GoFundMe)Witness accounts reveal that Poague was romantically involved with Jaxton's dad during the period of the young boy's death. Tragically, on the day that Jaxton died, students within Poague's Georgia Southwestern State University residence described hearing cries from a child that persisted for an extended period.
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The cried continued until "everyone said that suddenly it just stopped," according to Lilly Waterman, who studies at the college, in a discussion with WRDW. "And no one knew what happened," added Waterman.
Following her release on a $75,000 (£59,000) bond back in February, Poague was stripped of her "Miss Donalsonville" accolade. Although she received permission to exit the Americus area following her bond release, she was subjected to continuous ankle monitor surveillance as part of her bail conditions.
Her accolades have been removed since news of the charges spread (Facebook)The GBI said that Poague was arrested "after multiple interviews and an examination of the evidence," although the cause of death for the child and the circumstances of the death were not released. Poague’s relationship with the deceased toddler was also not released.
Poague graduated from Southwest Georgia Academy in Damascus with honours last year. She was the reigning Miss Donalsonville and recently participated in the National Peanut Festival Pageant held in late October. She also was attending Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, where she was chosen as one of the 22 freshmen to be part of the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program last August.
The "Little Miss Donalsonville" Facebook page previously posted a picture with Trinity saying of her: "It's pageant week for my Miss Donalsonville Trinity! She is so fierce and I know she will bring the sass just like me! I can't wait to see my 'big' on that big stage this weekend!"