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

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

Manchester police said they are "begging" for tips from the public about the disappearance of a girl not seen in more than two years.

www.wmur.com

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

 

[GrandmaBear]

Just so it's max security.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

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, News 9 Investigates has learned.

www.wmur.com

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."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

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

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

www.boston25news.com

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.

 

[GrandmaBear]

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.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Powerful new documentary tells story of girl missing for years

A powerful new documentary is streaming now on Very Local about the tragic fate of a young girl who disappeared for years before anyone noticed.

www.wbaltv.com

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.