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

[Seattle1]

I was under the impression that the 2019 incident was somehow related to a martial dispute of some sort and I'm almost certain I read posts about the bio mother making extensive comments that she had been in another state but that's all after the case has blown.

The bottom line is that I don't think it's right to focus blame on uncles and neighbors and etc before we know the facts and I expect those facts will reveal the vast majority of blame is some combination of intentional obfuscation by one or both parents plus some level of oversight by local authorities.

Huh? I don't understand OP's statement where neighbors and uncles are being blamed here? Blamed for contacting DCYF about the condition of the home and/or visible injury to the missing child, Harmony?

Marital dispute? According to the uncle: The October 2019 incident, which Montgomery said included him trying to push through the front door when he wasn’t allowed in, resulted in a call to the police and a divide in the family.

 

[cocomod]

I think it is safe to say, moving to another state, blocking family, lack of follow-through from family services lead to this late reporting. This case is like a combination of horrible factors! I remember Jerice Hunter taking Jhessey from her loving home. The fact that she moved states hid the horror in her past. The pandemic has hurt a LOT of children. There are definitely children that are victims of this situation as they are stuck at home with abuse. I am praying that I am wrong and little Harmony will be found alive. I just don't have a lot of hope in this case.

 

[JurassicParker]

I've stayed away from this thread because it reminds me of Ariel Sellers so much. Another child that hadn't been seen for far too long. It appears she wasn't safe with her own father. I'm not a religious person but I'm sending prayers out that she is safe and not in pain wherever she is.

 

[ClaireNC]

I dunno about other women or step-parents in Oct 2019 when authorities last saw HM. From the MSM link above:

I think the reporter may have used the word “parents” incorrectly. That same article says: “Three months later, on Oct. 19, 2019, he says he called the police to the house where his nephew, Harmony’s father, and other family members lived.” No mention of the mother.

Not trying to split hairs here, this just reinforces the convoluted mess this poor girl has had to endure. IMO the blame goes to all the people who were supposed love and protect her.

 

[ClaireNC]

Can someone refresh my memory because I can't find the post.... But, wasn't the 'last known address' actually the maternal grandmothers home? Did the parents live there together at some point?

EBM

I think the last confirmed sighting of her was by police at the house that was owned by the paternal family. Which was foreclosed on and is no longer in the family.

 

[Seattle1]

Cops search garden of missing seven-year-old Harmony Montgomery's former home | Daily Mail Online

Jan 4, 2022

The mother-of-three also argued that the New Hampshire Department of Children Youth and Their Families (DCYF) 'failed' her daughter.

'Myself & her family have filed dozens of reports of abuse & neglect & nothing was done until I called police & wrote a letter to the NH mayor!!!!' Sorey wrote in all capital letters. 'This is all I will say until I am allowed to say more cuz [sic] I will not hinder my daughters [sic] investigation!!!!!'

Sorey also urged people to keep an eye on Harmony's biological father, [A] Montgomery.

Montgomery has not been accused of any wrongdoing. He has made no public statements concerning his daughter.

Sorey bristled at negative comments alluding to her alleged history of drug use, writing: 'my daughter is missing & this is what ppl are focusing on?! Throwing my past on front street & trying to make it look like I don't care!'

[..]

Manchester police have set up a tip line and offered $12,500 in rewards for information leading to Harmony's return.

Anyone with 'legitimate information' was asked to call or text 603-203-6060.

 

[MrsWatson]

Have the FBI been called in? Their tech could be used to get hold of electronic data going back that far.

I have hopes we will see an arrest very soon.

 

[Turkeytrot]

Have the FBI been called in? Their tech could be used to get hold of electronic data going back that far.

I have hopes we will see an arrest very soon.

I haven't read anything about them being involved, but I don't know why they wouldn't be. I think they need all the help/resources they can get with as much time that's passed

 

[Seattle1]

Have the FBI been called in? Their tech could be used to get hold of electronic data going back that far.

I have hopes we will see an arrest very soon.

Manchester Police was asked about FBI during the presser on 1/3/22 and the response was that they would utilize all resources available but no confirmation that FBI was actively involved with the case. I'm sure FBI is working behind the scenes here where LE does not want to release too much information since they are being tight-lipped about the family. JMO

 

[Bodhi]

I was under the impression that the 2019 incident was somehow related to a martial dispute of some sort and I'm almost certain I read posts about the bio mother making extensive comments that she had been in another state but that's all after the case has blown.

The bottom line is that I don't think it's right to focus blame on uncles and neighbors and etc before we know the facts and I expect those facts will reveal the vast majority of blame is some combination of intentional obfuscation by one or both parents plus some level of oversight by local authorities.

It was a domestic situation because extended family lived in the house at 77 Gilford St. together, according to Harmony's great uncle. Uncle Kevin stated that police responded to a disturbance at 77 Gilford St. in Manchester in October 2019 police call when he was attempting to bust in the door after a disagreement among the adults.

Uncle of Missing Girl Says Family Feuded the Last Time He Saw Her Alive

 

[tigerteeth]

Missing 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery's parents had 'custody issues' prior to disappearance, Grace learns

Very interesting stuff here
Not sure what we can copy/paste, lots of names.

 

[Bodhi]

I agree.
How can anyone who knew about her, NOT know where she is after 2 yrs. OR question lack of photos, communication, etc.
I just cannot comprehend this.

I may not talk to my daughters or grandkiddos daily all the time, but at least every other day and I see pics when my daughter and kiddos go on vacation so I see all of them in photos, plus texts and calls.
I just cannot comprehend this 2 year absence.

It's great that you have a close relationship with your extended family! I do as well. But estrangement between extended family members is not uncommon. It seems Harmony's father had in-person, phone, text, or email contact with his relatives up until October 2019, when his uncle says they had a falling out and Adam blocked everyone (Daily Beast linked in previous post).

IMO, Harmony's mother did not have the rights of a noncustodial parent. Her ri ghts were terminated, either voluntarily or by Massachusetts. Harmony and her half-brother J were raised together (per Blair Miller's many interviews). For the Millers to adopt J, his biological parents's rights were terminated. The Millers expressed interest in adopting Harmony as well, which indicates to me that the parent they were in contact with (Crystal) had or was relinquishing her rights to Harmony as well. But Harmony's father did not lose or relinquish his parental rights. Since Harmony was no longer able to be reunited with her biological mother, Massachusetts placed her with biological father in New Hampshire.

I don't think it is fair to say that Harmony's mother failed her after she was reunited with Adam. This was not an open adoption, as J's was. It seems logical to me that Harmony has one parent in the eyes of the law, her biological father. Once Harmony was out of foster care and reunited with her father, in my opinion, Crystal likely had no right to visitation or contact. She requested updates and filed complaints with DCYF, but she wouldn't have been able to allege specific incidents of abuse since she didn't have contact.

Legally I imagine Crystal's lack of standing and lack of specific allegations made her requests lower priority for DCYF. None of this is an excuse for their actions. We don't know what actions they took yet, what their investigations showed, and what efforts if any they made to track this child.

 

[Seattle1]

Missing 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery's parents had 'custody issues' prior to disappearance, Grace learns

Very interesting stuff here
Not sure what we can copy/paste, lots of names.

What a mess. Bio-mom blames bio-dad, and he alleges that bio mom collected Harmony from his home and he's not seen the child since....

IMO, LE is confirming all stories and will eventually take appropriate action. Their immediate concern and/or priority is first to locate Harmony. JMO.

 

[Bodhi]

Missing 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery's parents had 'custody issues' prior to disappearance, Grace learns

Very interesting stuff here
Not sure what we can copy/paste, lots of names.

Shame on Nancy Grace. She is an attorney. She does not know whether Crystal had parental rights or not but bashes her as a bad noncustodial parent to a national audience. Ughh.

 

[Bodhi]

Harmony's mother told ManchesterInkLink (an extremely reliable local source) that she was going to the police station yesterday morning for a polygraph.

Manchester Police Chief, on search for missing girl: ‘I am in rescue mode right now… This is not a recovery.’ | Manchester Ink Link

 

[MassGuy]

Harmony Montgomery’s grandfather: ‘I have a lot of hope. I pray.’

HAVERHILL, Mass. — Timothy Flanagan said his daughter is “sick” over the disappearance of his granddaughter, Harmony Montgomery, but he’s still holding out hope she’s alive.

“Yeah, I have a lot of hope. I pray,” Flanagan said. “She’ll be found. One way or another.”

The Manchester Police Dept. announced last week it was investigating the 7-year-old girl’s disappearance more than two years after she was last seen. The reward for information leading to her location increased Tuesday to $33,000.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you go, you [should] know where your children are,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan is Montgomery’s maternal grandfather. According to Flanagan, Harmony was in her father’s custody when she was last seen by Manchester police during call for service in October, 2019. Flanagan said his daughter didn’t have much contact with Harmony and was estranged from Harmony’s father. He said his family called state social workers “14 times over the last two years” because of concerns for Harmony’s safety.

“That poor girl has been through hell through the system. The system has failed her. I have called numerous times,” Flanagan said.

 

[Bodhi]

New details from Boston 25 News (link is to the article as republished by MSN). Boston 25 is where Blair Miller works. They seem to be pursuing the investigation aggressively, looking at original sources rather than rehashing FB posts and previous public statements.

25 Investigates: Missing NH girl went from DCF custody to custody of father, with criminal record

 

[MassGuy]

New details from Boston 25 News (link is to the article as republished by MSN). Boston 25 is where Blair Miller works. They seem to be pursuing the investigation aggressively, looking at original sources rather than rehashing FB posts and previous public statements.

25 Investigates: Missing NH girl went from DCF custody to custody of father, with criminal record

Not a pretty picture at all:

25 Investigates obtained Massachusetts DCF records that reveal Harmony was bounced between her mother’s care and DCF for much of her young life. She was placed in the custody of her father Adam Montgomery in 2019, when Harmony was roughly 5 years old. The records stated “Custody of Harmony was returned to her father in February 2019. Once Harmony was returned to her father’s care/custody, her involvement with the Department ended as she does not live in Massachusetts.”

The records also state Montgomery was incarcerated during some of Harmony’s life prior to that.

A source told 25 Investigates that Harmony’s care and protection case unfolded in Essex County courts. What’s unclear is whether DCF ever conducted a home study before Harmony was placed with her father and whether any child welfare was checking in on her once that placement was finalized.

25 Investigates went to courthouses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

We found Adam Montgomery has a criminal history dating back to 2007 in the Granite State for charges ranging from burglary to first degree assault to stalking.

In Massachusetts courts, we found a 2014 case out of Haverhill that charged Montgomery with armed robbery and assault with intent to murder. Police records indicate the shooting happened during a drug deal. Charges were later reduced but he served time in connection with the incident.

We contacted both DCF in Massachusetts and the Department of Children Youth and Families in New Hampshire.

A DCF spokesperson told us “Due to state and federal privacy requirements, the Department of Children and Families cannot confirm or deny if a family has history with the Department.”

25 Investigates has also confirmed the identity of Harmony’s mother. She too had a criminal history we uncovered pulling court records in Massachusetts. DCF has been involved with this mother for many years. She has not had custody of her daughter Harmony since February, 2019. And, again, police say Harmony went missing in October of that year. It’s unclear whether she’d had contact with Harmony since Montgomery was given custody.

 

[Seattle1]

Photo Credit:
25 Investigates: Missing NH girl went from DCF custody to custody of father, with criminal record

 

[Bodhi]

Harmony Montgomery’s grandfather: ‘I have a lot of hope. I pray.’

HAVERHILL, Mass. — Timothy Flanagan said his daughter is “sick” over the disappearance of his granddaughter, Harmony Montgomery, but he’s still holding out hope she’s alive.

“Yeah, I have a lot of hope. I pray,” Flanagan said. “She’ll be found. One way or another.”

The Manchester Police Dept. announced last week it was investigating the 7-year-old girl’s disappearance more than two years after she was last seen. The reward for information leading to her location increased Tuesday to $33,000.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you go, you [should] know where your children are,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan is Montgomery’s maternal grandfather. According to Flanagan, Harmony was in her father’s custody when she was last seen by Manchester police during call for service in October, 2019. Flanagan said his daughter didn’t have much contact with Harmony and was estranged from Harmony’s father. He said his family called state social workers “14 times over the last two years” because of concerns for Harmony’s safety.

“That poor girl has been through hell through the system. The system has failed her. I have called numerous times,” Flanagan said.

I am glad to see someone in Harmony's extended family speak to mainstream media. This will increase awareness among the general public.

Also of note, Harmony's relatives called state social workers 14 times over the past 2 years, according her maternal grandfather.