A jury found former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner not guilty of murder and reckless endangerment in a 2020 high-speed chase that killed 11-year-old Monica Goods, according to the Times Union. Jurors deadlocked on a manslaughter charge, prompting a mistrial and setting the stage for a second trial.
Baldner rammed the family’s SUV at over 100 mph after a traffic stop escalated. Prosecutors said his actions were deliberate; the defense blamed the father for fleeing.
The case, one of the first of its kind under the state’s police oversight law, ignited protests and calls for justice across Ulster County.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].