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

[Bodhi]

Actually, the privacy laws cited are for the protection of minor children --NOT the agency. A complaint and/or investigation launched against the agency for failing to deliver their services according to the laws/regulations of MA and NH is a different matter.

Minor child privacy is pretty universal. I'm recalling the Millete case in CA where reporters were barred from the DCF hearings even for temporary guardianship.

I'm confident this will not be the last we hear of allegations that DCF failed to respond to complaints to investigate the welfare of Harmony. MOO

Absolutely!

I don't understand how the reporter can state confidential records were used with permission. It doesn't seem the person protected by the confidentiality waived it. In this instance, Harmony or her parent on her behalf. As I've said, it's my opinion that Harmony's biological mother no longer had parental rights. Even if she is a noncustodial parent, wouldn't the parent with legal custody need to waive confidentiality.

I am not surprised the reporter used the information or documents. I am surprised at the wording used to justify publishing confidential info.

 

[fcavanaugh]

DCYF director stands by agency as search for girl continues

1/4/2022

Director says contact with families typically reduced after family reunification

CONCORD, N.H. —
The director of the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families is standing by his agency's work as Manchester police search for a child who was last seen in 2019.

Police say they are trying to find Harmony Montgomery, 7, after they were notified of her disappearance last week. Rewards for information about her whereabouts have grown to $33,000.

Anyone with information is asked to call 603-203-6060.

The case has drawn attention to DCYF, but Gov. Chris Sununu is unflinching in his support of the agency, and its director said the agency is stronger now than it has ever been.

In an exclusive interview with News 9 Investigates, Director Joe Ribsam said that when he came on board four years ago, New Hampshire's child protective system was in crisis. But now, caseloads for social workers are dramatically lower, and cutting-edge family support programs are in place. The governor agrees.

"No, the system is not in disarray," Sununu said. "We brought in a whole new team just a few years ago, revamped our quality assurance and control process, and they work very hard on all these cases all across the state."

A source close to the child told News 9 Investigates that Harmony was reunited with her father, Adam Montgomery, after spending time in foster care in Massachusetts.

DCYF officials said that says in general, once reunification happens, contact with the family is reduced gradually. Caseworkers have to focus on the active investigations, which number about 12,000 per year in the state.

"It's difficult to account for what happened when we are not engaged with the family," Ribsam said. "What's important to figure out right now is what has been happening with this young girl for the past few years."

Ribsam said thousands of reports of suspected abuse and neglect come into the agency every year, and the public never sees what action DCYF takes, which he knows is frustrating. A high-profile case like Harmony's triggers an internal review.

"These are really tough cases, to be sure," Ribsam said. "I don't think they are indicative of a system failure, per se."

Harmony's mother said she not only wants to find her daughter, but also Harmony's father, who she said she hasn't spoken with since 2019. She said she has been reporting her concerns to DCYF repeatedly since then.

 

[Bodhi]

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

Two relatives of the father owned the house on Gilford St in Manchester. We don't know if the paternal grandmother was one of the family members who lived in the house. We know Harmony's mother lived in Massachusetts for years prior to 2019 because her children were in foster care in Massachusetts.

Links: The screenshots are from the Daily Mail.
Cops search garden of missing seven-year-old Harmony Montgomery's former home | Daily Mail Online

The Daily Beast article names and quotes Kevin Montgomery here: Uncle of Missing Girl Says Family Feuded the Last Time He Saw Her Alive

P.S. Apologies that the screenshots are so teeny.

 

[Bodhi]

Updated Timeline
January 4, 2022

Please let me know of anything missing, incorrect, etc. TIA

2014 – Harmony’s father, whose criminal history includes burglary, first degree assault, and stalking, and which dates back to 2007, was charged with armed robbery and assault with intent to murder which occurred during a drug deal. Harmony’s mother has criminal history in MA as well.

Sometime in 2019 – Harmony was last enrolled in school in Massachusetts, but (as of 12/31/21) LE did not yet know where.

Feb 2019 – Harmony’s mother no longer had custody; Harmony was returned to her father and no longer lived in Massachusetts.

Jul 2019– The uncle of Harmony’s father reported an incident to DCYF. After he reported the incident, his nephew stopped speaking to him. Montgomery told The Daily Beast that he called DCYF in July 2019 after he saw that she had a black eye — but nothing happened.

Sep 5, 2019 - The home at 77 Gilford St in Manchester, NH was owned by HM, 78, and CD from 2016 until it was foreclosed on September 5, 2019, according to the Hillsborough County Register of Deeds. … The property also appears to have been the home of KLM, 43.

Oct 2019 – Harmony was last seen during a police call for service in October of 2019 at the residence in Manchester. … The Manchester house was shared by several family members, including Harmony and her parents. The incident, which Montgomery said included him [Harmony's father] 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.

Nov 22, 2019 - Boston 25's Blair Miller adopted Harmony's brother on National Adoption Day. Miller inquired with DCF about adopting Harmony as well. A caseworker told him then Harmony had been reunited with her father.

The week prior to Dec 31, 2021 - Lauren Smith, Mayor Craig’s Chief of Staff, confirmed they received an email from an individual stating issues with DCYF and concern regarding a child. ... They forwarded the information to the police. … Aldenberg said police opened the investigation after being contacted by DCYF. Harmony’s mother claims she contacted the Mayor and police.

Dec 31, 2021 – LE said they received a report this week that Harmony has not been seen since late 2019. Press conference #1

Jan 2, 2022 – LE searched the home at 77 Gilford St, Manchester NH.

Jan 3, 2022 - Press Conference #2

Jan 4, 2022 – The FBI officially joined the investigation, and the reward is at $33k.

24-hour police hotline: 603-203-6060.

 

[Bodhi]

Thank you for the summary!

 

[Wild Rose]

Hold on, there is a little girl with a black eye in the custody of her father who has a criminal record and the PATERNAL relatives are requesting concern for her in the middle of a domestic with the father and nobody puts her with a family member with good history, a foster parent, or with HER HALF SIBLING???

 

[Bodhi]

^^RSBM

AM alleged that bio-mom collected HM from his home and he's not seen her since. And we know that HM's mother blames the father for the child's absence. Just an example of what LE has had to deal with here -- time away from the search to investigate and verify all the claims. Nobody put this child first! MOO

I heard rumors to that affect but I have yet to see a MSM source reporting details of what Harmony's father told police. As far as I aware, the police chief has not confirmed that they've spoken to him. What I recall is more cryptic comments such as "we are not looking for him. We are only looking for Harmony."

Can you provide a MSM link that AM told police that CS has Harmony? Obviously, speculation abounds about her father because of his noteriety and because he is not speaking publicly or on social media. So I've been reading every article hoping for more information on his actions or statements. I'd appreciate any links you have. TIA!

 

[Bodhi]

Good news! The FBI began assisting Manchester police on Tuesday. The FBI brings expertise and resources that local police may not have.

FBI Assists Search For Missing 7-Year-Old Harmony Montgomery

 

[PommyMommy]

I heard rumors to that affect but I have yet to see a MSM source reporting details of what Harmony's father told police. As far as I aware, the police chief has not confirmed that they've spoken to him. What I recall is more cryptic comments such as "we are not looking for him. We are only looking for Harmony."

Can you provide a MSM link that AM told police that CS has Harmony? Obviously, speculation abounds about her father because of his noteriety and because he is not speaking publicly or on social media. So I've been reading every article hoping for more information on his actions or statements. I'd appreciate any links you have. TIA!

I don't think anyone claimed AM told police that CS has Harmony. LE hasn't come out and said they've talked to AM one way or the other. I think what is being referred to is this:

Police search home in Manchester 2 days after announcing a 2019 disappearance – Boston 25 News
... we did speak to residents at an old address registered to Harmony’s father. The anonymous resident used to be neighbors with Harmony’s dad and came to his defense.

“Shocking and sad especially when you know the person involved,” she said. “It’s just crazy. I know everybody wants to point to him like he hurt her or something but he’s not capable of doing that he is such a good guy. I saw him here with his other kids. He used to talk to us about his daughter a few times. You could tell he was really sincere about it. He told us that the mother came to the grandmother’s house they lived at and took her and never brought her back.”

MOO

 

[MassGuy]

Hold on, there is a little girl with a black eye in the custody of her father who has a criminal record and the PATERNAL relatives are requesting concern for her in the middle of a domestic with the father and nobody puts her with a family member with good history, a foster parent, or with HER HALF SIBLING???

No. That would make too much sense, apparently.

 

[Scrapper18]

I don't think anyone claimed AM told police that CS has Harmony. LE hasn't come out and said they've talked to AM one way or the other. I think what is being referred to is this:

Police search home in Manchester 2 days after announcing a 2019 disappearance – Boston 25 News
... we did speak to residents at an old address registered to Harmony’s father. The anonymous resident used to be neighbors with Harmony’s dad and came to his defense.

“Shocking and sad especially when you know the person involved,” she said. “It’s just crazy. I know everybody wants to point to him like he hurt her or something but he’s not capable of doing that he is such a good guy. I saw him here with his other kids. He used to talk to us about his daughter a few times. You could tell he was really sincere about it. He told us that the mother came to the grandmother’s house they lived at and took her and never brought her back.”

MOO

Hypothetically, let’s say this did happen. Why would he not report this to police? Why would he be ok with not seeing nor talking to her for so long? JMO/MOO

 

[PommyMommy]

Hypothetically, let’s say this did happen. Why would he not report this to police? Why would he be ok with not seeing nor talking to her for so long? JMO/MOO

Only he can answer those questions but it didn't happen, IMO.

 

[MassGuy]

Only he can answer those questions but it didn't happen, IMO.

Safest bet in the history of bets.

 

[RT51]

I live locally. I've seen some comments under a local reporter who posts on fb but I don't think it is considered MSM so I can't post the link.

 

[Bodhi]

Hold on, there is a little girl with a black eye in the custody of her father who has a criminal record and the PATERNAL relatives are requesting concern for her in the middle of a domestic with the father and nobody puts her with a family member with good history, a foster parent, or with HER HALF SIBLING???

Harmony's black eye was 3-4 months before the uncle called police in Oct. 2019. He didn't express concern during that incident. He recalled now that she looked scared. Adults yelling, an uncle pounding on the door. . . . Of course, she looked scared.

DCYF and police don't leave young children in a volatile situation. They restore the peace, assess the situation, separate the adults to cool off. If Harmony and any half-siblings or cousins present were in danger, DCYF would have placed them in foster care temporarily. IMO.

Adam Montgomery had legal custody of his daughter. Authorities who responded to the call would have needed cause--an immediate threat to her welfare--to remove her. Even if the parent has a criminal record. AM's record may be minor crimes, nonviolent, years earlier. We don't know. All we know is he was charged with a violent felony in another state in 2014. I think it's likely he pled guilty to lesser charges. Otherwise MSM covering Harmony's disappearance would report her father is a violent felon, not just he was charged with a violent felony 7 years ago.

Harmony's maternal half-brother J was not part of the equation in October 2019. She wasn't free for adoption. She'd been reunited with a biological parent. J lived in another state. He was adopted a month after the police call to Harmony's home. His surname was not Montgomery. Paternal relatives in NH wouldn't have linked a child in the story with her. Until J's adoptive father used his platform to make public appeals about Harmony last weekend, the paternal relatives and NH authorities wouldn't have been aware of a relationship between his son and Harmony.

 

[MassGuy]

I live locally. I've seen some comments under a local reporter who posts on fb but I don't think it is considered MSM so I can't post the link.

You can post the link to the reporter, but we just can't discuss the comments.

 

[Bodhi]

I don't think anyone claimed AM told police that CS has Harmony. LE hasn't come out and said they've talked to AM one way or the other. I think what is being referred to is this:

Police search home in Manchester 2 days after announcing a 2019 disappearance – Boston 25 News
... we did speak to residents at an old address registered to Harmony’s father. The anonymous resident used to be neighbors with Harmony’s dad and came to his defense.

“Shocking and sad especially when you know the person involved,” she said. “It’s just crazy. I know everybody wants to point to him like he hurt her or something but he’s not capable of doing that he is such a good guy. I saw him here with his other kids. He used to talk to us about his daughter a few times. You could tell he was really sincere about it. He told us that the mother came to the grandmother’s house they lived at and took her and never brought her back.”

MOO

Thank you, Pommy Mommy!!! I read rumors pn SM that he told people that. I searched through so many articles tonight looking for a reference in MSM and didn't find it. I appreciate the link!

 

[Kristin Esq.]

This case has blown up - I'm hoping this means answers will be found as to what happened to this beautiful little girl.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Heartbreaking. #Missing #HarmonyMontgomery was so close with her little brother, whose adoptive parents wanted to take her in too. When Jamison saw her missing child poster on a computer, he mistook it for a FaceTime and blew her a kiss.

https://twitter.com/mikerreports/st...7?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

This breaks my heart

 

[dalsglen]

Are we sure dad's not already in jail on other charges prior to harmony disappearance coming to light?