Adam Montgomery, a New Hampshire man, has been sentenced to a minimum of 56 years in prison for the murder of his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony Montgomery. This sentence is in addition to the 32 1/2-year sentence he is already serving on unrelated charges. Harmony’s body was never found, and it is believed that she was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021. Although a prosecutor offered to lessen the sentence if Montgomery revealed the location of his daughter’s remains, he did not speak in court, maintaining his innocence in her death.
Relatives of Harmony Montgomery described Adam as a monster and spoke about the kind child she once was. Her mother, Crystal Sorey, expressed her pain and vowed to continue searching for her daughter. Harmony’s adoptive parents also shared their sadness over her death, quoting her brother as saying he misses her. Montgomery did not attend his trial in February and had previously pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree assault and witness tampering, although he admitted to abuse of a corpse and falsifying evidence. The judge highlighted his extensive criminal history and indifference to human life.
Kayla Montgomery, Adam’s estranged wife, testified that the family had been evicted and were living in a car before Harmony’s death. She recounted the events leading up to Harmony’s death, including her husband physically abusing the child. Kayla described how Adam moved Harmony’s body to various locations to hide it. During the trial, Adam’s lawyers suggested that Kayla was lying to protect herself and that she was the last person to see Harmony alive. Kayla revealed that she did not come forward about Harmony’s death until later out of fear of Adam, who had suspected she might go to the police.
Adam had custody of Harmony, and her mother had not seen her since April 2019. When she went to police to report her missing, Adam and Kayla claimed that Harmony was living with Sorey in Massachusetts. Harmony’s case has exposed weaknesses in child protection systems and has led to calls for prioritizing the well-being of children in custody matters. Kayla Montgomery was recently granted parole after serving an 18-month sentence for perjury charges related to the investigation into Harmony’s disappearance. In court, she expressed a mix of emotions towards Adam, acknowledging the fear and hurt she experienced in their relationship after Harmony’s death.
Ultimately, Judge Amy Messer sentenced Adam Montgomery to serve a life sentence for the murder of Harmony, noting that he had ample opportunities to change his life prior to his heinous actions. She emphasized the need to keep Montgomery off the streets to prevent him from harming others, stating that any rehabilitation efforts would have to occur within the prison walls. The tragic case of Harmony Montgomery has sparked a conversation about the importance of protecting children and ensuring their well-being, even in custody disputes. While Harmony’s family continues to mourn her loss, they hope to find closure and justice for the young girl taken too soon.
