Ex-NY Trooper Sentenced for Death of 11-Year-Old Girl in High-Speed Chase
Quick Look
- Former NY state trooper Christopher Baldner, 47, was sentenced to 2.5-7.5 years in prison for the manslaughter of 11-year-old Monica Goods during a 2020 high-speed chase.
- Baldner was found guilty of intentionally ramming the SUV carrying the girl, causing it to overturn.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A former New York state trooper, Christopher Baldner, has been sentenced for his role in a high-speed chase that led to the death of an 11-year-old girl. Prosecutors alleged Baldner intentionally rammed the victim's SUV, causing it to crash, while the defense argued the crash was due to the SUV cutting off the trooper.
A former New York state trooper has been sentenced to 2½ to 7½ years in prison following a high-speed chase that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old girl.
Christopher Baldner, 47, of Catskill, was immediately taken into custody after the sentencing in Ulster County, located approximately 84 miles north of New York City.
Baldner was found guilty of manslaughter in March for the December 2020 death of Monica Goods, who was a passenger in the SUV involved in the pursuit.
He had previously been acquitted of murder and reckless endangerment charges.
Prosecutors alleged that Baldner intentionally rammed the SUV twice on the New York State Thruway, causing it to lose control and overturn. However, Baldner’s attorneys contended that the crash occurred after the SUV cut off the trooper as he drove alongside it during the chase.
An accident reconstruction expert for the defense testified that Monica Goods’ father, Tristin Goods, lost control of the vehicle after overcorrecting from a "very minor impact."
The incident began when Baldner pulled Tristin Goods over for speeding near Kingston just before midnight on December 22, 2020. Goods, his wife, and their two daughters were traveling north from New York City to visit family.
Baldner, who retired in 2022 after nearly two decades with the state police, had his lawyers claim that Goods’ vehicle collided with the trooper’s car twice during the pursuit.
Open Questions
- What was the exact sequence of impacts during the chase?
- Were there any contributing factors from the driver of the SUV beyond what the defense claims?
- What are the specific details of Baldner's retirement from the state police?
- What is the current status of Tristin Goods and his family?
