Deceased/Not Found NH - Harmony Montgomery, 7, Manchester, Oct 2019 *reported missing Dec 2021* Arrest* MEDIA ONLY

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APR 16, 2022
Easter egg hunt honors Harmony Montgomery (wmur.com)
[...]

Sorey said she is "beyond grateful."

"Every event that we have and more people come just to show their love and support," Sorey said.

[...]

Tim Callery on Twitter
Family and friends of #HarmonyMontgomery gather for an egg hunt, an event to raise awareness about the 7-year-old’s disappearance. Harmony’s mom, Crystal, last spoke with her daughter on Easter in 2019. She says Easter was Harmony’s favorite holiday. #BringHarmonyHome #wmur
FQeudcXXEAIP4Z-
 
APR 22, 2022
Kayla Montgomery makes brief court appearance, bail and probable cause hearing pushed to May 5

MANCHESTER, NH – A bail and probable cause hearing for Kayla Montgomery, stepmother to missing 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery, on charges of possessing a stolen rifle was continued until May 5.

Montgomery, 31, appeared briefly on Friday in Hillsborough County Superior Court Northern District where the hearing was to take place. Montgomery is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, a rifle belonging to CF.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jesse O’Neill and defense attorney Paul Garrity, however, agreed to continue the case until May 5.

That hearing is to determine bail on all Montgomery’s charges including two counts of receiving stolen property, the rifle, and one count each of theft and welfare fraud alleging she obtained more than $1,500 in food stamps by claiming Harmony was living with her and her husband, Adam Montgomery, when she wasn’t. The couple is now estranged.

None of the charges is related to Harmony’s disappearance.

O’Neill on Friday declined comment.

Garrity told members of the media that prior to the May 5 hearing the state is going to provide the defense with some additional discovery which he will review with his client.

More at link.
 
APR 22, 2022
Plea deal still on the table for Harmony Montgomery’s step mother

MANCHESTER, N.H. — More than two years after Harmony Montgomery disappeared, the little girl’s step mother was in Hillsborough County Superior Court for a brief hearing Friday, where Kayla Montgomery’s lawyer told me a plea deal is still on the table.

Kayla Montgomery is charged with welfare fraud and a stolen gun possession charge, but she is not charged with Harmony’s disappearance.

Investigators believe Kayla Montgomery knows more about Harmony’s whereabouts, but has refused to say more.

Recently, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office offered Kayla Montgomery a plea deal.

Outside court Friday, I asked Montgomery’s defense attorney Paul Garrity about the deal.

In response, Garrity said, “there was one offered by the state. I cannot tell you anything beyond that.”

When asked where that stands, he said, “the offer is still on the table, it has not been accepted at this point.”

*************************

I asked Paul Garrity if Kayla might be thinking about cooperating with police.

“I can’t disclose what she has told me,” Garrity said. “All I can tell you is, she maintains a not guilty plea, the charge that is pending against her relate to welfare fraud and now these gun charges.”

When asked if she is still maintaining that Adam gave Harmony back to Crystal (Harmony’s mom), Garrity said he can’t discuss what Kayla has told him.

******************
 
APR 27, 2022
Police chief says someone knows what happened to Harmony (wmur.com)
[...]

In four months, 750 tips have come in. But the chief said he thinks the break needed in the case will come from the public. He said it's possible that fear of retribution could be holding people back.

"That's what pisses me off," Aldenberg said. "Their own selfish reasons, their own self-preservation — that somehow outweighs the life of a little girl?"

The chief said he's surprised that a $150,000 reward hasn't motivated the right person to step up. He said he's confident that people in the community have information, and he said it's time to ask hard questions to those close to the 7-year-old.

[...]

Aldenberg said that if anyone wants to talk to him directly, he will take the call, any time of day or night, at 603-792-5400.
 
MAY 2, 2022
Massachusetts report outlines failures in Harmony Montgomery case (wcvb.com)
[...]

Among the concerns expected to be raised in the OCA’s investigation: Adam Montgomery’s limited involvement in his daughter’s life before the custody decision, the lack of evaluation of his wife, Kayla, before the placement, and Harmony’s complex needs after experiencing trauma and emotional distress.

Sources tell 5 Investigates the report also points to concerns with Harmony’s legal representation during the custody proceedings.

WCVB learned DCF did object to Harmony being placed with Adam Montgomery but never appealed the judge’s final decision.

[...]

Sources say the OCA’s report is complete and will be released this week.
 
WMUR TV on Twitter
Update: The Massachusetts office of the child advocate will release its Harmony Montgomery report at 8 a.m. Wednesday. A news conference will follow afterward at 11 a.m. -- WMUR will stream it live.
12:24 PM · May 3, 2022·Twitter Web App

MAY 3, 2022
Report to be issued on what went wrong with Harmony Montgomery case (bostonherald.com)
The Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate will release a report of their findings on what went wrong in the case of the child, who New Hampshire authorities are offering at least $150,000 for information leading to her location, at a press conference Wednesday morning.
 
Everyone just failed her:

"The Judge then awarded Mr. Montgomery, who was living in New Hampshire, full custody of Harmony and determined that the ICPC did not apply. As a result, the ICPC was not completed and therefore, New Hampshire did not conduct a comprehensive evaluation of Mr. Montgomery’s parental capacity. This decision was not appealed by the DCF legal team and the DCF attorney was the only attorney that argued that the ICPC applied to Harmony’s case."

https://www.mass.gov/doc/office-of-...ive-reportharmony-montgomerymay-2022/download
 
MAY 4, 2022
What we learned from a new report on Harmony Montgomery (boston.com)
[...]

The 101-page report from the independent agency found Harmony’s medical and special needs “were not central to the decision-making” in reuniting her with her parents, especially for the 2019 court decision to award custody to her father, Adam Montgomery, who is now charged with abusing the young girl.

“Our central and most important finding in this investigation is that unfortunately, and with serious consequences, Harmony Montgomery’s individual needs, well being, and safety were not prioritized or considered on equal footing with the assertion of her parents’ rights to care for her in any aspect of the decision making by any state entity,” said Maria Mossaides, director of the OCA.

[...]

According to the OCA report, Harmony had approximately 40 hours, in her lifetime, with her father before he was awarded custody of her.

“There was no discussion on how Harmony could safely transition to Mr. Montgomery’s care, given the limited time he had spent with her,” the OCA said in a statement released with the report on Wednesday. “This lack of a focus on Harmony resulted in a miscalculation of the risks to Harmony when she was placed in Mr. Montgomery’s custody, and there was no planning to ensure that the custody arrangement would be successful.”

[...]

“Although he was non-responsive for long periods of time, during the times when he appeared to be in communication with the DCF case management team, they were not able to engage him, except to facilitate his supervised visits with Harmony,” the OCA said in its statement. “No assessment was ever completed on Mr. Montgomery, and he was not held accountable for starting and completing the tasks on his action plan.”

[...]

“We do not know Harmony Montgomery’s ultimate fate, and unfortunately, we may never,” Mossaides told reporters. “But we do know that this beautiful young child experienced many tragedies in her short life, and that by not putting her needs first, our system ultimately failed her.”
 
MAY 5, 2022
Harmony Montgomery's aunt believes little girl is still alive (wcvb.com)
[...]

Brittany Sorey said Harmony's mom met up with an employee from a New Hampshire Family Dollar store just two weeks ago.

Sorey claims Harmony was in the store in early 2020 and was trying to warn the clerk that she had her name changed.

"They kept saying her name was Ainsley, and she said, 'My name is Harmony," Sorey said. "She whispered it to the lady."

"She was shaken up. She was scared. She was nervous. She was crying," she said.

[...]

Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's mother, reacted to the scathing report from the Office of the Child Advocate and told NewsCenter 5 in a text message that, "For me it just goes to show how badly they failed my daughter. I never missed a visit. Custody to Adam was not a good idea; He is a violent person."
 
TimCalWMUR

Live Now: A probable cause hearing and bail hearing are underway for two cases involving Kayla Montgomery, the estranged wife of #HarmonyMontgomery’s father.

Watch here:
Harmony Montgomery case: Kayla Montgomery in court for hearings

If you’re watching, the state has asked to court to seal the hearing. Unknown why at this time. Judge ordered everyone out of the courtroom while both sides discuss.


Court is back in session. The first matter for Kayla Montgomery, a probable cause hearing, has been postponed. Prosecution and defense will now argue bail.

The state says Kayla Montgomery should continue to be held as she has violated bail conditions, i.e. a no contact order with Adam Montgomery. Prosecutor says Kayla has passed messages to Adam through his father.

Defense says the message to Adam was for pictures of their children. Adds that Kayla Montgomery is being held on welfare fraud and most people who are found guilty on that charge don’t do jail time. Defense is willing to comply with court restrictions if released.

State plays a recording of a jailhouse phone call between Kayla and Adam’s father. Kayla explains she had to leave Adam because “he was acting crazy.” Adds that she still loves him. Court is in recess as judge deliberates.


audio
https://twitter.com/x/status/1522293666815135744
 
State v. Kayla Montgomery

The Court does not minimize the prohibited conduct engaged in by the defendant, but finds it is not sufficient grounds to deny her bail request altogether. The defendant is cautioned, however, that any further contact with Adam Montgomery, direct or indirect, or through a third party, may be cause for immediate revocation of her bail.

Based on the foregoing considerations, the defendant’s bail shall be set at $5000 unsecured appearance bond on each of the two dockets. The Court will also impose significant additional conditions.

The defendant shall be required to check in daily in person at the Manchester Police Department. She shall continue to participate in substance use disorder treatment. She shall not travel outside the State of New Hampshire and shall sign a waiver of extradition before her release. She shall have no contact, direct or indirect, or through a third party, with Adam Montgomery. These conditions, as well as additional standard conditions, are set forth in the Superior Court Bail Order issued on today’s date.

https://www.courts.nh.gov/sites/g/f...ocuments/2022-05/050622montgomeryk- order.pdf
www.boston25news.com

Judge allows for release of Kayla Montgomery, stepmother of missing NH girl Harmony Montgomery​

A court spokesperson says Kayla could be released on the bond as early as Friday night.
www.boston25news.com
www.boston25news.com
 

Published May 6, 2022 • Updated 2 hours ago​

www.nbcboston.com

Stepmom of Harmony Montgomery Released on Bail​

[...]

“It’s clear that she doesn’t care about Harmony,” Harmony’s mother Crystal Sorey told NBC10 Boston in an exclusive interview. “She doesn’t care to let anybody know where Harmony is.”

Sorey is convinced Kayla knows something about Harmony’s disappearance and she’s not happy that Kayla has been set free.

“It’s a joke,” said Sorey. “I feel like maybe it’s a test, maybe they’re releasing her hoping that she’ll mess up, maybe she’ll slip up, maybe she’ll lead them to Harmony, that’s what I’m hoping for.”

[...]
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1524101970792964097

https://twitter.com/x/status/1524115891297869827

MAY 10,2022
www.wcvb.com

State senator looks to create new commission in light of Harmony Montgomery case

The legislative proposal comes after a report from a state office showed the safety and well-being of Harmony Montgomery, who vanished in late 2019, were not prioritized during custody discussions.
www.wcvb.com www.wcvb.com
[...]

“The central and most important finding in this investigation and report is that Harmony’s individual needs, well-being, and safety were not prioritized or considered on an equal footing with the assertion of her parents’ rights to care for her in any aspect of the decision making by any state entity,” said Maria Mossaides, director of the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate.

Moore's proposed Montgomery Commission would map out the handling of a child's welfare and best interest regarding their case, and make sure that the parent's or parents' rights are balanced with the child's needs.

The commission would also study the report from the Office of the Child Advocate and make recommendations to address the failings laid out in that report.

"We need to make sure the agencies are held accountable and that the regulations, processes and laws that are in place are actually going to protect the children that we put in their care," Moore said.

[...]
 
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