A jury has found a New Hampshire man guilty in the death of his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony Montgomery, who was first reported missing in 2021.
Adam Montgomery, 34, was found guilty on all charges, including second-degree murder, witness tampering, and second-degree assault charges for a separate incident involving the child. Mr. Montgomery also pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse and falsifying physical evidence.
The verdict follows a two-week trial that included emotional testimony about how Mr. Montgomery killed the young girl, then destroyed and disposed of her body, which still has not been found.
The community of Manchester, New Hampshire, and beyond have closely followed the details since Harmony’s birth mother, Crystal Sorey, informed the police on Nov. 18, 2021, that she had been unable to make contact with her daughter for an extended period of time.
Prosecutor Benjamin Agati posited that on Dec. 7, 2019, Mr. Montgomery was responsible for Harmony’s death. During this period, Mr. Montgomery and his wife, Kayla Montgomery, and their children were living out of their vehicle. Mrs. Montgomery reported to law enforcement that her husband’s frustration with Harmony’s frequent accidents in the car led him to physically assault her, often striking her head with his fist.
Further investigation revealed that in an effort to hide Harmony’s death, the couple relocated her remains multiple times, including to snowbanks, a cooler, a ceiling vent, and a walk-in freezer. It was also noted that Mr. Montgomery attempted to accelerate the decomposition process by applying lime to her remains.
Denial of Responsibility
Mr. Montgomery has refuted all accusations of his involvement in his daughter’s death and has declined to assist police in their search for her. When confronted by police on Dec. 31, 2021, with a court mandate to aid in the search for Harmony, he retorted with a refusal to cooperate, stating, “either arrest me or I’m leaving,” and did not engage further with their inquiries.Defense attorney Caroline Smith countered the state’s case against Mr. Montgomery with a narrative suggesting his actions following the death of his daughter were driven by a desire to protect his family from further distress.
The defense admitted Mr. Montgomery’s role in moving and concealing Harmony’s body but argued it was done in panic rather than malice.
Mrs. Montgomery testified against her estranged husband, providing details of the violence Harmony endured and the efforts to hide the crime, as well as allegations that she herself suffered abused at the hands of her husband.
The defense argued instead that Mrs. Montgomery was responsible for Harmony’s death and that her testimony should not be viewed as reliable, as she is currently in prison related to multiple counts of perjury she committed throughout the early stages of the case.
She said repeatedly that she was scared of her husband and that is why she lied for years to protect herself and him.
The jury also considered Mr. Montgomery’s prior criminal record, including a 30-year sentence he is now serving for an unrelated gun conviction. Mr. Montgomery has maintained his innocence in Harmony’s death, despite his conviction.
After the verdict was announced, the judge stated that sentencing would be scheduled for April. Mr. Agati requested that Mr. Montgomery be present at the sentencing, emphasizing the importance of his attendance despite his absence from the entire trial.
