NH HARMONY MONTGOMERY: Missing from Manchester, NH - Nov/Dec 2019 (Reported December 2021) - Age 5 *GUILTY*

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Girl last seen in Manchester in October 2019; police seek tips from public​

Manchester police are seeking tips from the public about the disappearance of a girl not seen in more than two years.

Harmony Montgomery, 7, was last seen in a home in Manchester in October 2019, when she was 5, police said.

Police said they first learned Harmony went missing earlier this week. Chief Allen Aldenberg did not specify who reported the girl missing but said his department has been in touch with multiple family members and will continue to speak with them.

Aldenberg said police are not searching for any adult or vehicle in connection with the case. Investigators are focusing on the whereabouts of Harmony.

"No time is a good time for a child to go missing," Aldenberg said. "I'm begging the community. I don't care if you saw this young girl a year ago and you think it's irrelevant. Call us."

Aldenberg said at a news conference Friday his detectives are working to confirm where Harmony is from and where she went to school before her disappearance.

Harmony is estimated to be approximately 4 feet tall and 50 pounds. Investigators said she has blonde hair, blue eyes and should be wearing glasses.

"We need help," Aldenberg said. "This remains a very active investigation."


MEDIA - HARMONY MONTGOMERY: Missing from Manchester, NH since October 2019 (Reported December 2021) - Age 5
 
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Mother of Harmony Montgomery files wrongful death lawsuit against state of New Hampshire​

The mother of Harmony Montgomery is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the state of New Hampshire, including the state Department of Health and Human Services and the state Division for Children, Youth and Families, News 9 Investigates has learned.

Crystal Sorey filed the lawsuit Friday, months after the girl’s father, Adam Montgomery, was convicted of second-degree murder in his 5-year-old daughter’s death and sentenced to 56 years to life in prison.

In March, a judge granted Sorey’s request to have Harmony declared legally dead, a decision that helped pave the way for a wrongful death suit to be filed.

"Justice is only halfway there, and we are still going to focus on looking for her," Sorey told WMUR at the time.

The lawsuit states that DCYF was negligent, saying the agency exposed Harmony to foreseeable risks of harm, and because of the pain and suffering that she experienced, the state is liable to Harmony's estate.

"We are going to hold the state of New Hampshire accountable for Harmony's senseless and preventable death, shine a light on the systemic failures in her case to prevent future tragedies, give Harmony the voice that she never had and get Harmony the justice that she so deeply deserves," said Rus Rilee, Sorey's attorney. "Too many vulnerable children are being injured and killed while under the watchful eye of the state. It has been happening for way too long, and something needs to be done to stop it. Enough is enough."
 

New book details failures leading to the murder of 4-year-old Harmony Montgomery​

Harmony Montgomery, a name no one knew until the end of 2021 when we learned the 4-year-old had been missing for 2 years.

Since then, her story, her death and her father’s murder trial were in the spotlight.

25 Investigates spent months examining how Harmony went from the custody of the Department of Children and Families in Massachusetts to her father in New Hampshire, a man with a lengthy criminal record with little to no oversight.

Now this tragic case is the focus of a new book, “A Cruel Injustice: How Massachusetts Put 4-Year-Old Harmony in the Hands of a Monster.”


Anchor and Investigative Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh recently spoke with the author, Judge Carol Erskine, retired first justice for the Worcester County Juvenile Court.

“I wanted to tell the story because I had developed a friendship with the two dads of Harmony’s brother, Jamison. I did the finalization of his adoption in 2019 and they asked me what could have possibly happened in Massachusetts that actually brought her into the custody of the father and then to New Hampshire, where she ultimately was murdered,” Erskine told Kavanaugh.

“You write that this book is giving Harmony a voice,” Kavanaugh said. “In other words, you don’t think she was given that voice in the custody hearings around what would happen ultimately with her whereabouts and ultimately her life?”

“I believe that Harmony never had a voice in any of these proceedings. I believe that her constitutional right to a safe and secure environment wasn’t considered. Her best interest wasn’t considered,” Erskine said.

The book pulls from the official report by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate and also cites Kavanaugh’s reporting several times.

“What do you hope this book achieves,” Kavanaugh asked.

“The book is designed to show that there were massive failures that occurred with Harmony while she was in foster care. She didn’t receive the level of services she was required to receive,” Erskine said. “She didn’t receive the protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which she had an absolute right to receive. And the point to the book is to call attention to the fact that, you know, the rights of children are being ignored. And as a result, we’re seeing child fatalities in Massachusetts.”

The book is on sale starting Thursday, September 26th online through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

All proceeds will go to the Dave Thomas Foundation.
 
Everyone failed this child. All cases are bad but this one was beyond the pale.

And people in agencies and elsewhere need to pay. Pay personally. And I don't mean money.

This post is directed at no one. It is my opinion of this awful case.
 

Powerful new documentary tells story of girl missing for years before anyone noticed​

A powerful new documentary is streaming now on Very Local.

"Lost Innocence: The Tragedy of Harmony Montgomery" tells the story of a young girl from New Hampshire who was missing for two years before anyone noticed. It's an investigation that ultimately revealed her tragic fate.

Tim Callery, a reporter at WBAL-TV's sister station, WMUR-TV, and co-producer of the documentary, has covered this story from the very beginning and explains how the case first come to light in the video above.

Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch daily newscasts from WBAL-TV 11 News, original series and more. Keep connected to Baltimore with the news and weather team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond. Get the channel to stream Very Local FREE on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
 

Powerful new documentary tells story of girl missing for years before anyone noticed​

A powerful new documentary is streaming now on Very Local.

"Lost Innocence: The Tragedy of Harmony Montgomery" tells the story of a young girl from New Hampshire who was missing for two years before anyone noticed. It's an investigation that ultimately revealed her tragic fate.

Tim Callery, a reporter at WBAL-TV's sister station, WMUR-TV, and co-producer of the documentary, has covered this story from the very beginning and explains how the case first come to light in the video above.

Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch daily newscasts from WBAL-TV 11 News, original series and more. Keep connected to Baltimore with the news and weather team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond. Get the channel to stream Very Local FREE on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
I watched it.
It's not very long but it was worth the watch. This should never ever happen!!!
 

Revised lawsuit in death of Harmony Montgomery reveals new details​

A revised lawsuit against the state filed by the mother of Harmony Montgomery reveals new allegations on how the Division for Children, Youth and Families failed to respond to reports of abuse in the months leading up to the little girl’s father beating her to death in a fit of rage.

Those details include allegations of abuse of multiple children in the home on the West Side of Manchester and 5-year-old Harmony “being molested by people who stay in the home and use drugs,” according to an amended lawsuit filed earlier this month.

Harmony’s mother, Crystal Sorey, also reported to DCYF that her daughter was not in school. The agency has a policy about educational neglect, which was not followed up on, according to the suit.
 
Well GOOD for her. There was a TOTAL failure.

Being molested by people is a new one to me I think but wouldn't doubt it with the two who were in charge of her.

This poor child had NO CHANCE.

Not that her mother didn't go through her problems and lose her but she DID try, and she DID report.

It should be CRIMINAL but it never is. Just civil.
 
How do I put it into words? I don't necessarily think mom should profit hugely here, but I do totally agree the agency needs to be held responsible. And there are only a few ways to see to that and usually nothing is ever done.

Mom too, fell down. And in refreshing by reading the above link, she wasn't constant either in reporting or anything. BUT she did report. She has been there throughout the case.

I still can't get over that any judge ever placed Harmony with her father. Someone else there imo that should be held accountable. And won't be. And definitely a failure between the states.

And that is why I am all for the lawsuit. Things need to be better, and change, and this child was failed in every way.

There have been many but this one is a true heartbreaker.
 

Highest court in Mass. to hear arguments in Harmony Montgomery records case​

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is scheduled to hear arguments Monday in a case about whether records from the custody hearings for Harmony Montgomery should be made public.

Harmony Montgomery: Court Considers Releasing Murdered Child’s Custody Hearing Recording​

Massachusetts’ highest court is deliberating on whether to make audio recordings from the hearing that resulted in slain girl Harmony Montgomery being placed in the custody of her killer father.


Born in 2014, Harmony lived primarily with her mother, Crystal Sorey, until 2019, with some time in foster care during Sorey’s battle with substance abuse. After Montgomery gained custody, he moved with Harmony to and his wife, Kayla Montgomery, to New Hampshire.

Court TV reports that no cameras were allowed at the February 2019 custody hearing but an audio recording exists. The recording became the center of Monday’s hearing.

At the hearing, Jennifer LaManna, representing LC Media, argued that the public interest in the custody case justified releasing the audio recording.

“The right to speak includes a right to listen,” LaManna said to the judge. “The freedom of the press encompasses the right to gather information.”

“Nobody knows. Not the legislature, not anybody outside the parties themselves and the OCA (Office of the Child Advocate), knows exactly what happened during that hearing that resulted in the court granting custody.”


MassLive reports that privacy laws in Juvenile Court exist to “protect children and families from the stigma associated with parents who struggle with substance abuse and those who commit heinous acts.”

LaManna contended that in this situation, where Montgomery does not object to the release and Sorey has openly acknowledged her substance abuse issues, the laws should not be applied to a state agency.

Boston’s 25 News reports that “some of the justices” agreed with LaMamna.

“This is one of those extreme cases where maybe the veil of privacy should be pierced,” Justice Delila Argaez Wendlandt said.

It is unclear when the justices will deliver a ruling in the case, as they frequently take several months to finalize their decisions.
 
She was failed by everyone. Sadly I don't think there are much for remains left of Harmony to be found. That child I hope has one of the nicest spots in heaven as she certainly had no safe haven here on earth.
I have a feeling she is in the Revere MA area along Rt 1..... I was living kind of close to that area prior to my accident..... like a 15 min drive down Rt 1 to the Revere area
 
I have a feeling she is in the Revere MA area along Rt 1..... I was living kind of close to that area prior to my accident..... like a 15 min drive down Rt 1 to the Revere area
Maybe. Didn't realize you were close.

I hate thinking of the horrible details in this case but the only way I can put it was what he was doing in the tub to her remains has me thinking whatever remained that he dumped probably was not much and such could easily have been dumped into water or spread even. I don't want to think about whether he could have reduced all to nothing or how much he could have and on top of it she'd been hauled around forever and decomposing. He was also so overboard of not getting caught and hauling her around and hiding her, etc. that final disposal I almost doubt he'd just put her all in one place IF indeed there was much of anything left.

I hate thinking about it, or saying it, but I'm just not sure there is anything much to find and I have doubts she ever will be found. Sadly.
 

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