An arrest affidavit sheds light on the disturbing home life of 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery, a 7-year-old New Hampshire girl who has been missing for two years.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Justice, police arrested Adam Montgomery, 31, on charges of felony second-degree assault, interference with custody, and two charges of endangering the welfare of a child, pertaining to his daughter, Harmony.
Harmony hasn’t been seen since 2019, according to police, but was only reported missing in late 2021.
“Although an arrest has been made, the search for Harmony continues,” the department said.
Court documents released Wednesday indicate that police received a call from Harmony’s biological mother, Crystal Sorey, on November 18, 2021, who claimed her daughter was missing. According to CBS Boston, Sorey told police that Harmony’s father had physical custody of the girl and she couldn’t get in touch with him.
Sorey reportedly added that she lost custody of Harmony in 2018 due to drug issues.
New Hampshire police reached out to the New Hampshire Department of Children’s Services to locate Adam, but by December 27, the agency couldn’t find him. Police began searching for Montgomery when they learned that Harmony “had not been physically seen since October/November 2019.”
While searching for Montgomery, police spoke to his brother, Michael, who explained that Montgomery abused Harmony and gave her a black eye. Police then reached out to Montgomery’s cousin, Kevin, who witnessed the alleged incident.
“I bashed her around the house,” Montgomery said, according to Kevin.
Kevin told investigators that Montgomery was upset at Harmony when her infant brother started crying because he told her to keep an eye on him. In anger, Montgomery allegedly spanked Harmony, made her scrub a toilet with a toothbrush, and forced her to stand in the corner for hours.
During Tuesday’s episode of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” the adoptive father of Harmony’s younger brother explained that Harmony had protected the boy when they ended up in foster care. The children were reportedly shuffled around in several different homes before social services gave Harmony back to her father.
On December 31, police located Montgomery sleeping in a car in New Hampshire with his current girlfriend. The girlfriend told police that Montgomery never once talked about Harmony.
When investigators interviewed Montgomery’s estranged wife, she said that she hadn’t spoken to him since November 2021 and hadn’t seen Harmony since late 2019.
Montgomery reportedly told police that Harmony’s mother came to “pick her up in Manchester, NH around Thanksgiving 2019.” Montgomery claimed he hadn’t seen his daughter since.
“Adam did not exhibit much emotion or reaction to this,” the affidavit read.
Meanwhile, the search for Harmony continues.
“The circumstances surrounding this prolonged absence are very concerning and are being thoroughly investigated,” NH police said in a statement Friday.
Detectives are now working with DCYF, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the FBI.
“At this time I have dedicated all available resources and personnel to locating Harmony. I encourage anyone to contact the Manchester Police Department with any relevant information which will help us in locating Harmony,” Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said
“For us to have a two-year delay, that is extremely concerning. That’s not something that happens to us on a regular basis.”
One of the Last Known Sightings
Harmony was last seen in October 2019 at a home off of Gilford Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, after a family spat broke out. The girl’s uncle, Kevin Montgomery, said Adam Montgomery then left with Harmony and broke off contact with several family members.
Kevin Montgomery said Harmony “looked like a scared puppy” the last time he saw her. Apparently, law enforcement and social services didn’t follow up after the fact.
“Epic failure on every level, starting with law enforcement that went to the house,” Private Investigator with “Crispin Special Investigations, Inc.” Robert Crispin, said. “They have some serious explaining to do.”
On Sunday, police searched a home in Manchester on Gilford Street, where Harmony once lived with her father. They spent several hours searching inside and dug a hole in the backyard, according to area residents.
Some of the neighbors reportedly said they previously made complaints to city officials about the subpar living conditions at the home, but nothing was ever done about it. Others remember Harmony as a nice, quiet child who never caused any problems.
Harmony is described as standing around 4 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds. She has blond hair and blue eyes. She is blind in her right eye and should be wearing glasses. The most recent photographs available were taken when she was 5 years old.
A $43,00 reward for information on Harmony’s whereabouts is being offered. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police tipline at 603-203-6060.
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[Feature Photo: Facebook, Police Handout]
