The Governor of New Hampshire wrote a blistering letter Tuesday to the Massachusetts Trial Courts, asking why a judge granted custody of 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery, who was reported missing in December 2021, to a violent, convicted felon.
According to Gov. Chris Sununu, the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families requested a home study for Adam and Kayla Montgomery in December 2018. Adam is Harmony’s father and Kayla was her stepmother.
Since the pair lived in New Hampshire at the time, MA DCF requested that New Hampshire DCYF conduct the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) study at the Montgomery home.
Before the study had been completed, “a court in Lawrence, Massachusetts abruptly gave sole custody of Harmony to her father in February of 2019,” Sununu wrote in the letter.
“It is unclear why the Massachusetts courts moved so quickly with this permanent placement prior to the completion of the home study. Why would the Massachusetts court choose to place custody of Harmony with this horrible individual? What caused such a fateful decision?”
The letter continued, in part, with questions and comments concerning Adam Montgomery’s criminal history and violence.
“Harmony’s father Adam Montgomery is a monstrous drug dealer with previous convictions including shooting someone in the head and a separate armed attack on two women in Massachusetts.”
“You owe it to Harmony Montgomery, her loved ones, and the public to fully cooperate in handing over the imperative information on this case that could help provide answers and assist with our search. We hope you can agree time is of the essence and give this matter the urgency that is required.”
Read Governor Sununu’s entire letter here.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Harmony was reported missing in November 2021 after her mother, Crystal Sorey, contacted the Manchester Police Department. She reportedly sent emails to the mayor as well as to DCYF.
Sorey claimed she lost custody of Harmony in 2018 and the child’s father, Adam Montgomery, subsequently gained full custody in 2019.
According to Sorey, Montgomery blocked her from social media, blocked her calls, and refused to answer any questions about Harmony. The report prompted an investigation and police learned that the last time Harmony was seen was in late 2019, while reportedly being abused by her father.
Family members claim they witnessed Adam strike Harmony when she couldn’t keep her baby brother from crying. Adam also allegedly made the child clean a toilet with her toothbrush. Harmony’s uncle said he contacted police after the incident, but nothing ever came from it.
Afterward, Montgomery refused to speak with several members of his family and kept them away from Harmony.
Police recorded 29 calls from the home Adam and his family lived at, in Manchester from 2018 to 2021. Often, the calls were made by neighbors.
DCYF was involved twice in August 2019, and Manchester police filed a formal complaint to the agency the following month citing “clutter and empty food containers in every room.”
The report said, however, that “all three children appeared clean and fed.”
Earlier this month, police arrested Adam for the alleged 2019 assault on Harmony. His estranged wife, Kayla, was arrested for allegedly defrauding the state of welfare benefits that were intended for Harmony, who had not been living with Kayla for years.
Kayla told police the last time she saw Harmony was in 2019 when Adam Montgomery claimed he was taking the girl to Sorey. Sorey, however, denies that ever happened and said she last talked to Harmony via Facetime around Easter 2019.
One of the Last Known Sightings
One of the last known sightings of Harmony happened 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.
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.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the dedicated tip line at any time 24/7 at 603-203-6060.
Read all of CrimeOnline’s Harmony Montgomery Coverage Here.
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[Feature Photo: Facebook/Harmony Montgomery]
