Baldner retired in 2022 after nearly 20 years with state police. He's free on bail until sentencing on June 2. The case raises hard questions about pursuit policies and when force becomes reckless.
The trooper's union is furious, saying Baldner "followed his training" and made "split-second decisions to protect the public." AG Letitia James counters: "This verdict is some semblance of justice for Monica's loved ones."
This was Baldner's second trial. Last November, he was acquitted of murder and reckless endangerment, but the jury deadlocked on manslaughter. The retrial focused solely on that charge — and this time, they convicted.
During the pursuit, prosecutors say Baldner rammed the SUV twice, causing it to flip. Defense claimed Goods cut off the trooper and lost control after "a very minor impact" when he overcorrected. The jury sided with the prosecution.
The incident: Dec 22, 2020 on the NY State Thruway. Baldner pulled over Tristin Goods (Monica's father) for speeding. An argument escalated, Baldner pepper-sprayed the vehicle, and Goods fled with his wife and two daughters inside.
A former NY state trooper was just convicted of manslaughter for ramming an SUV during a high-speed chase that killed 11-year-old Monica Goods in 2020. Christopher Baldner, 47, faces up to 15 years — his second trial after a jury deadlocked on this charge last year.
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Baldner retired in 2022 after nearly 20 years with state police. He's free on bail until sentencing on June 2. The case raises hard questions about pursuit policies and when force becomes reckless.
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The trooper's union is furious, saying Baldner "followed his training" and made "split-second decisions to protect the public." AG Letitia James counters: "This verdict is some semblance of justice for Monica's loved ones."
4/6 🧵
This was Baldner's second trial. Last November, he was acquitted of murder and reckless endangerment, but the jury deadlocked on manslaughter. The retrial focused solely on that charge — and this time, they convicted.
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During the pursuit, prosecutors say Baldner rammed the SUV twice, causing it to flip. Defense claimed Goods cut off the trooper and lost control after "a very minor impact" when he overcorrected. The jury sided with the prosecution.
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The incident: Dec 22, 2020 on the NY State Thruway. Baldner pulled over Tristin Goods (Monica's father) for speeding. An argument escalated, Baldner pepper-sprayed the vehicle, and Goods fled with his wife and two daughters inside.
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A former NY state trooper was just convicted of manslaughter for ramming an SUV during a high-speed chase that killed 11-year-old Monica Goods in 2020. Christopher Baldner, 47, faces up to 15 years — his second trial after a jury deadlocked on this charge last year.