Home / Crime and Justice / NY Trooper Convicted in Fatal High-Speed Chase
NY Trooper Convicted in Fatal High-Speed Chase
14 Mar
Summary
- Former trooper Christopher Baldner convicted of manslaughter.
- 11-year-old Monica Goods died during a 2020 chase.
- Baldner faces up to 15 years in prison.
A jury found former New York State trooper Christopher Baldner guilty of second-degree manslaughter this week. The conviction is connected to a fatal high-speed chase in December 2020 that resulted in the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods. Baldner, 47, rammed the family's vehicle during the pursuit on the New York State Thruway.
This marks Baldner's second criminal trial, as the first ended in a mistrial. In the initial proceedings, he was acquitted of murder and reckless endangerment but the jury could not reach a verdict on manslaughter. He now faces a sentencing of five to 15 years in prison.
Monica's mother, Michelle Surrency, stated that while justice cannot bring her daughter back, accountability has been achieved after 62 months. The New York Attorney General's office prosecuted the case, with Letitia James offering condolences and acknowledging the verdict as a semblance of justice for the victim's loved ones.
