Trooper Gets Prison For Manslaughter After Ramming Car, Killing 11-Year-Old Monica Goods

ULSTER COUNTY, NY — A former trooper whose on-duty actions led to the death of a child has been sentenced.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that former New York State Police Trooper Christopher Baldner, 47, of Catskill, was sentenced on Tuesday for causing the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods on December 22, 2020.

On March 13, Baldner was found guilty on the charge of second-degree manslaughter by an Ulster County jury.

Baldner was sentenced to two and a half to seven and a half years in prison. He was remanded into custody after sentencing.

SEE ALSO: Jury Finds Trooper Who Rammed Car, Killing 11-Year-Old Monica Goods, Guilty Of Manslaughter

On December 22, 2020, at 11:40 p.m., Tristin Goods was driving north on the New York State Thruway with his wife and two daughters, aged 11 and 12, on the way to his home for the holidays. 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 Goods sped away. During the pursuit, Baldner rammed his police vehicle into the rear of the Goods car twice. On 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.

SEE ALSO:

• Charges Reinstated Against Former Trooper Over Girl's Crash Death
• State Trooper Charged In Death Of 11-Year-Old: AG
• Trooper Charged In 11-Year-Old's Death Denied Bail