Former Trooper Baldner, above, Rammed the Goods Family’s Car with State Police Vehicle, Causing Death of 11-Year-Old Monica Goods
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the conviction of former New York State Police Trooper Christopher Baldner, 47, of Catskill, on the charge of Manslaughter in the Second Degree. After conducting a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway in Ulster County in December 2020, Baldner used his police vehicle to ram a car occupied by four members of the Goods family, resulting in the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods.
Baldner was found guilty by a jury in Ulster County Court. Manslaughter in the Second Degree carries a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison. Judge Bryan Rounds continued bail at $100,000. Baldner will return to court for sentencing on June 2, 2026.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of Monica Goods,” said Attorney General James. “While nothing can bring Monica back, this verdict is some semblance of justice for her loved ones.”
On December 22, 2020 at 11:40 p.m., Tristin Goods was driving northbound on the New York State Thruway with his wife and two daughters, aged 11 and 12, on the way to his home for the Christmas holiday. Near mile marker 92 in Ulster County, Trooper Baldner was on patrol in his marked New York State Police vehicle and stopped the Goods family car for speeding. During the stop, Baldner deployed pepper spray into the interior of the car and Mr. Goods sped away. During the pursuit, Baldner rammed his police vehicle into the rear of the Goods car twice. Upon the second strike, the Goods car skidded into the center guard rail, flipped over, and came to rest upside down. The impact ejected Monica Goods from the car, causing her death.
A previous trial ended in a mistrial in November 2025.
Pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 70-b, the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Office of Special Investigation (OSI) assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.
This matter was prosecuted by Investigative Counsel Joelle Morabito-Cruz of the OSI and Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Gashi of the Sex Offenders Management Bureau (SOMB), with OSI Supervising Legal Support Analyst Kasey Brock, under the supervision of OSI Deputy Bureau Chief Daphna Frankel and OSI Bureau Chief Owen Heimer; and with investigative work by Detectives Ronald Enfield and Steven Russell of the Major Investigations Unit, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Investigator Juanita Bright, and Detectives Magdalene Fawaz, Donovan Sterling-Jones, and Santiago Molina of OSI under the supervision of Deputy Chief Investigator Mitchell Paurowski; and with family liaison services by Senior Criminal Justice Coordinators Priscilla Taveras and Kathryn Merrick, and Criminal Justice Liaison Kenneth Toyos. Former OSI Senior Investigative Counsel Paul Clyne led the original investigation and pretrial litigation. The OSI is part of the Division for Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. The Investigation Division is headed by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.
