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Former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner is set to go on trial again in February for the manslaughter charge related to the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. The incident occurred during a high-speed chase on the New York State Thruway in December 2020. Baldner, who had been acquitted of murder and reckless endangerment charges, will face the new trial after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge last month.
The case began when Baldner stopped a Dodge Journey for speeding near Kingston. The vehicle, driven by Tristin Goods, was carrying his wife and two daughters, including Monica. After an argument, Baldner pepper-sprayed the vehicle, prompting Goods to flee. During the ensuing chase, Baldner allegedly rammed the SUV twice, causing it to overturn and resulting in Monica's death.
The jury's deadlock on the manslaughter charge led Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors from the New York attorney general's office have stated their readiness to retry Baldner on this charge, while Baldner's defense team has not commented on the upcoming trial.
Baldner, who retired from the state police in 2022, has been free on bail but is no longer under house arrest. The new trial will focus solely on the manslaughter charge, as Baldner has already been acquitted of the other charges. The legal proceedings will continue in February, as prosecutors aim to secure a conviction on the remaining charge.