KINGSTON, N.Y. — The trial of a former state trooper accused of causing the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods is set to begin next week, nearly five years after the tragic incident during a high-speed pursuit on the New York State Thruway. Jury selection for Christopher Baldner’s murder trial will commence at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Ulster County Court, with court officials estimating the proceedings will last approximately three weeks.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office is pursuing multiple charges against Baldner, including second-degree murder, felony manslaughter, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. Prosecutors assert that Baldner demonstrated a “depraved indifference to human life” when he collided with the vehicle driven by Monica’s father, Tristin Goods. The impact reportedly caused the family’s SUV to overturn, resulting in the girl being ejected from the vehicle, where she died at the scene.
The tragic events unfolded when Tristin Goods was pulled over for allegedly speeding over 100 mph. Following a confrontation, Baldner reportedly pepper-sprayed the interior of the SUV. Fearing for his safety, Tristin Goods fled with his family in the vehicle, prompting Baldner to pursue and ram them twice, culminating in a fatal crash. At the time, Monica was in the back seat, not secured by a seat belt.
In addition to the charges from the 2019 chase, Baldner faces scrutiny from an earlier incident where he allegedly used a pit maneuver on another vehicle, causing it to crash. A grand jury investigated that case, finding that Baldner had repeatedly rammed a stopped vehicle, putting innocent lives at risk.
Attorney General Letitia James characterized Baldner’s actions as turning a car into “a deadly weapon” that cost a young girl her life. Audio evidence retrieved from the incident suggests Baldner shifted blame onto Tristin, claiming the father rammed his police cruiser, a statement prosecutors believe contradicts the facts of the case.
Baldner’s defense team contends that he exercised caution by applying the brakes just prior to the second collision, arguing this indicates a level of care that undermines the claim of depraved indifference. They assert that Baldner’s actions were not intended to cause harm.
Earlier this year, an Ulster County judge dismissed the murder charge, citing insufficient evidence to support the claim of depraved indifference. However, that ruling was reversed in September by the New York State Appellate Division, which stated that Baldner’s direct collisions with occupied vehicles traveling at high speeds closely align with the intent required for the murder charge.
In a subsequent ruling by the state’s highest court, officials upheld the reinstated murder charge, agreeing that the grand jury’s evidence demonstrated Baldner acted with the necessary disregard for human life. Baldner remains free on bail set at $100,000 after retiring from the state police in August 2022.
If found guilty of second-degree murder, Baldner could face a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison. The courtroom proceedings will draw attention from the public and advocates seeking justice for Monica Goods, and for many, the outcome will be a crucial moment of accountability.