MANCHESTER, N.H. – Adam Montgomery has been found guilty of the murder of his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony, after a jury deliberated for approximately one day. In addition to the murder charge, Montgomery, 34, was also found guilty of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with a witness and informants. Sentencing is expected to take place after April 1, with prosecutors planning to request that Montgomery be present. Montgomery was not in court when the verdict was read and had not attended the trial since jury selection.
Harmony’s mother, Crystal Sorey, locked arms with her daughter’s foster mother as the verdict was announced in a packed courtroom. Sorey expressed relief that justice was being served but acknowledged that the fight for Harmony is not over. The verdict follows an investigation that began on New Year’s Eve 2021, when police announced they were searching for the missing 5-year-old girl. The investigation transitioned to a homicide case in August 2022, and Montgomery was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in October 2022.
Despite the conviction, the investigation will continue as Harmony’s remains have not been recovered. Montgomery was found guilty of disposing of her remains in an attempt to conceal the crime. Manchester police Chief Allen Aldenberg emotionally stated that the search for Harmony is not over and that she deserves a better fate than the life she had. The police chief praised his officers and expressed gratitude for the work of the prosecutors.
Agati, the Senior Assistant Attorney General, thanked the jury for their efforts in a challenging case that involved the testimony of 50 witnesses. He emphasized that the investigation is ongoing until Harmony’s remains are found, stating that Montgomery knows where she is. About 25% of the Manchester police force was involved in the investigation of Harmony’s disappearance and murder.
Sorey expressed her gratitude to law enforcement for their commitment to finding her daughter and declared that she will continue fighting until Harmony is home and changes are made to prevent such tragedies. Montgomery faces a minimum sentence of 35 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder conviction because the victim was younger than 13 years old. The other charges carry sentences ranging from three-and-a-half to seven years in prison for second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, and tampering with a witness, with a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail for the abuse of a corpse misdemeanor charge.