Murder charges against a retired New York state trooper were reinstated by the state’s Supreme Court of Appeals in the death of an 11-year-old Black girl, Monica Goods, following a high-speed chase in 2020. The court’s decision reintroduces second-degree murder charges against Christopher G. Baldner, who was accused of deliberately ramming his police vehicle into the family’s SUV, causing it to flip and ejecting the girl. Baldner now faces six counts of reckless endangerment alongside the murder charge, after an earlier dismissal of the murder indictment was overturned.
The case had initially been thrown out by Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds, who concluded that the evidence did not meet the legal threshold for “depraved indifference to human life.” That ruling, handed down earlier this year, left Baldner to face only reduced reckless endangerment charges. However, the New York Attorney General’s office appealed the decision, and the Appellate Division, in a 4-1 ruling, reinstated the more severe charges, citing Baldner’s dangerous and repeated behavior during the incident.
The ruling noted Baldner’s pattern of reckless driving, comparing his actions to scenes from the TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard,” with witnesses describing how he aggressively pursued the SUV after a traffic stop. According to the court, Baldner initially pulled the vehicle over for speeding, then escalated the situation by pepper-spraying the car’s occupants, leading the father, Tristan Goods, to flee in panic. Baldner allegedly rammed the SUV twice, causing it to overturn, ultimately leading to Monica Goods’ death.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice J.P. Egan Jr. argued that Baldner’s conduct, while reckless, did not rise to the level of “depraved indifference.” However, the majority of the court disagreed, highlighting that Baldner’s actions went far beyond protocol, particularly since police regulations only permit such maneuvers when a supervisor is present. The court also underscored Baldner’s history of aggressive policing, bolstering the case for the reinstated murder charge.
Attorney General Letitia James, who had pressed for the appeal, welcomed the decision, stating that it brings the case one step closer to justice for Monica Goods and her family. “This decision will enable my office to continue our efforts to seek justice for the Goods family,” James said. “We must hold law enforcement professionals to the highest standards.” The ruling, she emphasized, is essential in holding officers accountable when they abuse their power.
Meanwhile, the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers criticized the ruling, arguing that it could have a chilling effect on officers’ ability to do their jobs effectively. The union pledged to continue supporting Baldner’s legal fight, with plans to appeal the decision further.
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