A former New York state trooper faces murder charges for allegedly ramming his patrol car into a family's SUV during a high-speed pursuit, resulting in the tragic death of an 11-year-old girl.

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Christopher Baldner, who is charged with second-degree murder and reckless endangerment in connection with the December 2020 death of Monica Goods, 11, of Brooklyn, according to Spectrum Local News. Twelve jurors made it through the first round of questioning, with proceedings continuing Tuesday to select four alternates.

The trial is taking place in Ulster County Court and is expected to last three weeks. Prosecutors allege that Baldner twice struck the SUV driven by the girl's father from behind in the town of Ulster, causing the vehicle to hit a guardrail and flip over, killing Goods.

Deadly Pursuit On New York Thruway

The fatal incident occurred during a high-speed chase on the New York State Thruway in December 2020, when Baldner was pursuing an SUV carrying Monica Goods and her family. According to prosecutors, the former trooper deliberately rammed his patrol vehicle into the back of the family's SUV on two separate occasions during the pursuit.

The aggressive pursuit tactics employed by Baldner allegedly caused the SUV to lose control and strike a guardrail before rolling over. The violent crash resulted in the immediate death of 11-year-old Monica Goods, who was a passenger in the vehicle driven by her father.

The incident has become a focal point for discussions about appropriate police pursuit procedures and the circumstances under which officers should engage in high-speed chases. The use of ramming techniques during pursuits involving civilian vehicles has drawn particular scrutiny from law enforcement experts and civil rights advocates.

Legal Challenges And Appeals Process

Ulster County Court Judge Bryan Rounds initially dropped the murder charge against Baldner in 2023, citing insufficient evidence to support the prosecution's case. The dismissal appeared to mark the end of the criminal proceedings against the former state trooper.

However, the state attorney general's office appealed Judge Rounds' decision, arguing that sufficient evidence existed to warrant a murder trial. The appeal process brought renewed attention to the case and the legal standards for prosecuting law enforcement officers in civilian deaths.

The New York State Court of Appeals ultimately affirmed the charges against Baldner, leading to their reinstatement and the current trial proceedings. This appellate victory for prosecutors demonstrates the serious nature of the allegations and the court system's willingness to hold law enforcement accountable for excessive force.

Jury Selection And Trial Preparations

Monday's jury selection process successfully identified twelve potential jurors who will hear evidence in the high-profile case against the former trooper. The selection process involved extensive questioning to ensure potential jurors could fairly evaluate evidence involving law enforcement conduct and civilian casualties.

Court proceedings will resume Tuesday to complete the selection of four alternate jurors from a second pool of prospective candidates. The additional jurors will serve as backups in case any of the primary twelve jurors become unable to continue serving during the three-week trial.

The comprehensive jury selection process reflects the sensitive nature of the case and the need to ensure a fair trial for both the defendant and the victim's family. Legal experts anticipate that the trial will involve complex testimony about police procedures, vehicle dynamics, and the circumstances leading to the fatal crash.

Lessons to Learn

1. Understand the risks of high-speed pursuits. This tragic case serves as a reminder that car chases involve real dangers for everyone involved, including innocent passengers. Responsible driving by both officers and civilians can make a difference—but sometimes decisions made in seconds have fatal consequences.

2. Hold public officials accountable for their actions. This story underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement. When serious incidents occur, it is vital for the justice system to investigate thoroughly, even when those involved wear a badge.

3. Remember that accidents affect more than just victims. The crash didn’t just take the life of a young girl—it sent shockwaves through her family and community. We can’t always prevent tragedy, but supporting justice reform and improved police training may help reduce future incidents. Still, it’s crucial to remember that crime and misjudgments can affect anyone, and victims should never be blamed.

Why This Story Matters

This case challenges the community to evaluate how law enforcement power is exercised and scrutinizes whether justice is being served for victims of police-related fatalities. It also renews discussion about the protocols officers follow in high-speed situations. Understanding how tragedies like this occur can help communities demand better safeguards for the public.

Conclusion

To summarize, jury selection began this week in the case against former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner, charged with second-degree murder and reckless endangerment in the 2020 death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. The fatal incident occurred during a high-speed pursuit on the Thruway, with prosecutors alleging Baldner rammed the family’s SUV multiple times, resulting in a deadly crash. The case had seen a dismissal and reinstatement of the murder charge before arriving at this trial, which is taking place in Ulster County and is expected to last three weeks.