UPDATE: The murder trial of Christopher Baldner is underway in Ulster County Court, with heart-wrenching testimony from April Goods, the stepmother of 11-year-old Monica Goods, who tragically lost her life in a crash on December 22, 2020. The courtroom erupted with the screams of the Goods family as jurors listened to chilling recordings from the night of the incident.
The trial began with Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Gashi playing a recording captured on Baldner’s cell phone. In the recording, Tristin Goods, Monica’s father, can be heard frantically calling for his daughters moments after the crash that claimed Monica’s life. Baldner, a former state trooper, is facing second-degree murder charges and more for his actions that night.
Prosecutors allege that Baldner, 52, aggressively rammed the Goods’ vehicle during a high-speed pursuit on the New York Thruway, leading to the fatal accident. The enraged trooper allegedly initiated the chase after pulling Tristin over for speeding, claiming he was attempting to stop a dangerous driver speeding at over 130 miles per hour.
April Goods, the only witness to testify on Wednesday, provided a tearful account of the chaos. She described Baldner’s initial confrontation with the family as hostile and aggressive. “He was screaming, and Tristin screamed back,” she recounted. Under Gashi’s questioning, she detailed how Baldner pepper-sprayed their vehicle before they sped away in a panic, desperately seeking safety for her and the children.
“We just wanted to get to safety; we couldn’t understand why we were pepper-sprayed,” she said, her voice trembling. Moments later, she vividly recalled the horrifying sounds of their vehicle crashing, stating, “There was a BAM! Then BAM!” as the family’s vehicle rolled over.
As the recording continued, jurors could hear Baldner yelling about being rammed, emphasizing the violent nature of the encounter. When Baldner reached the overturned vehicle, he allegedly berated Tristin while ignoring the family’s cries for help in locating Monica, who had become unresponsive.
April Goods emotionally revealed that she learned of Monica’s death while seated in the back of a police car, a devastating moment that left the courtroom in silence. During cross-examination, Baldner’s defense attorney, Anthony Ricco, attempted to undermine April’s credibility, highlighting alleged inconsistencies in her testimony.
The trial will resume tomorrow, October 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., with further cross-examination of April Goods. The Daily Freeman will provide live updates from the courtroom as this urgent case unfolds.
As the community watches closely, the emotional toll of this tragic event continues to resonate, with the Goods family seeking justice for their beloved Monica.
