Former New York State Trooper Convicted of Manslaughter Following Deadly 2020 High Speed Pursuit

Christopher Baldner has been convicted of manslaughter in the 2020 death of Monica Goods. Read the editorial analysis of the high-speed pursuit verdict.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 4:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS Austin

Second Trial Delivers Verdict in Fatal Highway Crash

Justice has taken a definitive turn in Kingston, New York, where a former state trooper has been held criminally responsible for a pursuit that ended in tragedy. Christopher Baldner, 47, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter on Friday, a verdict that follows years of legal scrutiny over his actions on the New York State Thruway. Prosecutors successfully argued that Baldner intentionally rammed a civilian SUV twice during a high-speed chase in December 2020, causing the vehicle to flip and claiming the life of 11-year-old Monica Goods. This second trial was necessitated after a previous jury deadlocked on the manslaughter charge last November, though they acquitted him of more severe murder allegations at that time.

The Escalation of a Routine Traffic Stop

The fatal encounter began as a standard enforcement action for speeding near Kingston but rapidly devolved into a violent confrontation. According to court testimony, Baldner stopped Tristin Goods, who was traveling with his wife and two daughters to visit family for the holidays. An argument ensued between the trooper and the driver, culminating in Baldner deploying pepper spray into the interior of the occupied vehicle. When Goods fled the scene, the pursuit began, leading to the maneuvers that prosecutors described as a reckless transformation of a patrol car into a deadly weapon. The defense maintained that the SUV driver’s own actions and subsequent overcorrection led to the rollover, rather than the trooper's intentional contact.

Legal Interpretations of Police Training and Conduct

The conviction has sparked a sharp divide between civil rights advocates and law enforcement unions regarding the boundaries of police training. Attorney General Letitia James characterized the verdict as a necessary step toward accountability, offering a semblance of justice for the Goods family. Conversely, the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers expressed deep disappointment, asserting that Baldner was merely following his training during a dangerous, evolving situation. Union leadership warned that such a verdict could have a chilling effect on officers forced to make split-second decisions in the interest of public safety, though prosecutors countered that the force used was far outside the scope of acceptable procedure.