Adam Montgomery charged with murder
Father arrested, charged with murder of his 5-year-old daughter Harmony Montgomery
GOOD AFTERNOON, NEW HAMPSHIRE. ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN FORMULA. AND I’M JOINED HERE TODAY BY MANCHESTER POLICE CHIEF ALAN OLDENBURG AND THE TEAM FROM THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT AND. MEMBERS OF MY OFFICE. WE’RE HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE A FURTHER UPDATE REGARDING ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2019 MURDER OF HARMONY MONTGOMERY. AS YOU’LL RECALL, BACK IN JANUARY, WE ANNOUNCED THAT FIVE YEAR OLD HARVEY LIKELY DISAPPEARED SOMETIME NOVEMBER 28TH AND DECEMBER 10TH OF 2019. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, AFTER ALMOST EIGHT MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIVE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, THE U.S. MARSHAL SERVICE, THE FBI AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE HAD CONCLUDED THAT YEAR OLD HARMONY WAS MURDERED IN MANCHESTER IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2019. THIS CONCLUSION WAS BASED ON MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION, INCLUDING BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE. SINCE AUGUST, THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, AND OUR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS HAVE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE IN AN EFFORT TO SEEK ANSWERS AND JUSTICE FOR HARMONY. TODAY ARE ANNOUNCING ANOTHER MAJOR STEP IN THIS INVESTIGATION. EARLIER THIS MORNING, ADAM MONTGOMERY WAS ARRESTED. THE MURDER OF HARMONY MONTGOMERY IN 2019 AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES, SPECIFICALLY MR. MONTGOMERY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE FOLLOWING FOR CRIMES, SECOND DEGREE MURDER, FOR RECKLESSLY CAUSING THE DEATH OF HARMONY MONTGOMERY, A PERSON UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE UNDER CIRCUM MANIFESTING AN EXTREME INDIFFERENCE TO THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE BY REPEATEDLY STRIKING HARMONY IN THE HEAD WITH A CLOSED FIST. IN MANCHESTER, OR ABOUT DECEMBER SEVEN, 2019, A FALSIFYING PHYSICAL FOR PURPOSELY ALTERING, DESTROYING, CONCEALING OR REMOVING THE BODY OF HARMONY MONTGOMERY WITH A PURPOSE TO IMPAIRED SEVERITY OR AVAILABILITY IN AN OFFICIAL PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION IN MANCHESTER, OR BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER SEVENTH 2019 AND MARCH 4TH, 2020. ABUSE CORPSE FOR PURPOSEFULLY AND UNLAWFULLY REMOVING CONCEALING OR DESTROYING THE CORPSE OF HARMONY MONTGOMERY OR ANY PART THEREOF IN MANCHESTER BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER SEVEN, 2019 AND MARCH 4TH, 2020. AND TAMPERING WITH WITNESSES OR INFORMANTS FOR PURPOSELY ATTEMPTING TO INDUCE OR OTHERWISE CAUSE. KAYLA MONTGOMERY TO OR INFORM FALSELY IN MANCHESTER BETWEEN DECEMBER 7TH, 2019 AND JANUARY 4TH, 2020 TO MR. MONTGOMERY IS EXPECTED TO BE ARRAIGNED ON THESE CHARGES IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT IN MANCHESTER TOMORROW, OCTOBER 25TH, 2022. WHILE TODAY’S ARREST IS A MAJOR STEP IN THIS INVESTIGATION, THERE IS WORK TO COME. THE CHARGES AND ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ADAM MONTGOMERY ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS, AND HE IS PRESUMED UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. THAT’S SAID TODAY. I DO WANT TO AGAIN EXPRESS MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO HARMONY’S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY’S NEWS WAS SIGNIFICANT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATION. IT IS YET ANOTHER DIFFICULT MOMENT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HARMONY AND THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THIS CASE. OUR HEARTS GO OUT, ESPECIALLY TO HARMONY’S FAMILY. MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE WE CAN, THROUGH OUR OFFICE OF VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE AS THEY DEAL WITH THESE DIFFICULT MOMENTS. IN A MOMENT, I’M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MANCHESTER POLICE CHIEF ALAN OLDENBURG. BUT ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCERE THANKS TO THE CHIEF AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE TIME AND DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT THEY PUT INTO CASE. AND THERE RELENTLESS PURSUIT FOR JUSTICE ON BEHALF OF HARMONY AND THOSE WHO KNEW AND LOVED HER. CHIEF. THANK YOU, SIR GOOD AFTERNOON. I MOUNT ORNE BRIDGE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 A.M. AT A MONTGOMERY WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HE WAS BOOKED ON THE CHARGES OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER, FALSIFYING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, ABUSE OF A CORPSE AND TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS. THE BOOKING PROCESS WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED BACK TO THE HILLSBOROUGH HOUSE OF CORRECTION, ALTHOUGH WE WERE ALL PLEASED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING FORTH THESE CHARGES, THEY ARE OF NO SOLACE TO MYSELF. THE DETECTIVES BEHIND ME WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS INVESTIGATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY NO SOLACE TO THE LOVED ONES OF HARMONY MONTGOMERY AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AGAIN, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PUBLICLY THANK THE DETECTIVES AND NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE FOR THEIR UNWAVERING AND DEVOTION TO THIS INVESTIGATION. SPECIFICALLY BEHIND ME IN NO ORDER, CAPTAIN SEAN LEIGHTON, CAPTAIN MATT LAUER, GO DETECTIVE JACK LEVY, DETECTIVE SCOTT RILEY, DETECTIVE MAX RAY HILL. DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL BILLY TUBBS. A COUPLE MORE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. LIEUTENANT JULIUS. I’M SORRY. DETECTIVE DAVENPORT AND DETECTIVE COSMIC AS WELL. MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAVE SOUGHT JUSTICE FOR IN THERE. AND THEY ARE UNMATCHED IN THEIR TENACITY, IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL HOME. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF HARMONY AND SEEKING JUSTICE FOR HER HER. SAID I WAS GOING TO DO IT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE MOTIVATION AND NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE PAST TEN MONTHS? I ALSO TO THANK YOUR FAMILIES WHO’VE ALSO BEEN HAD TO ENDURE THE LONG HOURS MISSED FAMILY EVENTS AND ALL THE SADNESS THAT THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BROUGHT. AS I HAVE BEFORE, I WANT TO PERSONALLY ACKNOWLEDGE SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL JESSIE O’NEILL IN BENGHAZI. THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE STEADY, PROFESSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE IN THE ULTIMATE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE FOR HARMONY. I’M CERTAIN THAT THE CHARGES THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD TODAY WILL GARNER ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, SPECULATION UNDOUBTEDLY WILL ELICIT A WIDE RANGE OF EMOTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. I ASK THAT THE MEMORY OF HARMONY WE ALL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DO SOMETHING NICE FOR A CHILD. TODAY. I KNOW OF NO OTHER WAY. I KNOW NO OTHER WAY TO AND HONOR THIS INNOCENT AND DEFENSELESS CHILD THAN TO EXTEND AN ACT OF KINDNESS TO ANOTHER CHILD IN HER MEMORY. JUST TAKE A FEW MOMENTS OF YOUR DAY TO SAY SOMETHING NICE TO CHILD. GIVE HIM OR HER A HUG. SOME SPECIAL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. GIVE THEM AN EXTRA HUG. OR JUST SIMPLY THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS PROTECT THEM. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR WORK IS NOT FINISHED AND THAT THE GENTLEMAN WITH ME TODAY WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THIS CASE IS BROUGHT THE APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION. AS ALWAYS, I MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE USING THE DEDICATED TIP LINE SHOULD HAVE ANY INFORMATION AT ALL THAT WOULD ASSIST US IN THE INVESTIGATION. AGAIN, THAT DEDICATED TIP LINE IS 603203 6060. I’LL SAY IT AGAIN. THE NUMBER IS 60320366. AND THAT PHONE LINE IS MANNED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I’LL NOW HAND IT BACK TO THE ATTORNEY FOR SOME CLOSING COMMENTS. GENERAL. THANK THANK YOU, CHIEF, AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO YOU AND AND YOUR TEAM. ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS CASE AND FOR WORK YET TO COME. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE WORK TO SEEK JUSTICE FOR HARMONY AND ALL THOSE WHO LOVED HER. BEFORE I CLOSE, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF OUR TEAM AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, ESPECIALLY SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL JESSIE O’NEILL HAS SPENT ON CASE FROM THE BEGINNING AND SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HOMICIDE UNIT CHIEF BEN HAGGERTY. BOTH HAVE WORKED CLOSELY AND TIRELESSLY WITH CHIEF ALTENBURG AND THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THIS INVESTIGATION. AND AGAIN, THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK TO COME AS TO ANY FURTHER SPECIFICS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE, DUE THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE PENDING CHARGES AGAINST MR. MONTGOMERY. WE’RE TO MAKE FURTHER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH COURT FILINGS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS AS THE CASE MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Father arrested, charged with murder of his 5-year-old daughter Harmony Montgomery
The father of 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery has been arrested and charged with her 2019 murder. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella made the announcement Monday at the Manchester Police Department, flanked by Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg and other law enforcement officials. “Earlier this morning, Adam Montgomery was arrested for the murder of Harmony Montgomery in 2019 and other related charges,” Formella said.Formella said Adam Montgomery faces four new charges: second-degree murder for recklessly causing the death of Harmony; falsifying physical evidence for altering, destroying, concealing or removing Harmony’s body; abuse of a corpse for unlawfully removing, concealing or destroying Harmony’s body; and tampering with witnesses or informants by attempting to cause his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, to testify falsely.The charges indicate that Adam Montgomery is accused of repeatedly striking Harmony with his fist on or about Dec. 7, 2019. He is expected to be arraigned on the new charges Tuesday.Investigators said Harmony was killed in Manchester in early December 2019. Her body has never been found.Separately, Adam Montgomery is facing charges of felony theft, being a felon in possession of a weapon and being an armed career criminal in connection with the thefts of a rifle and shotgun in the fall of 2019. If convicted in this case, he could spend decades in prison.In June, law enforcement officers from state and federal agencies swarmed a Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment building where Adam Montgomery and his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, previously lived.Officials were seen removing a refrigerator. Investigators wrapped the appliance in black plastic and loaded it onto a waiting truck.At the time of the girl’s disappearance, Adam Montgomery had legal custody of Harmony.He had been indicted on an assault charge alleging that he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019. He’s also accused of unrelated firearms theft charges and has pleaded not guilty.Kayla Montgomery was charged with two felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury.The couple told police that Harmony was brought to be with her mother in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Her mother said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter that year.
The father of 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery has been arrested and charged with her 2019 murder.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella made the announcement Monday at the Manchester Police Department, flanked by Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg and other law enforcement officials.
“Earlier this morning, Adam Montgomery was arrested for the murder of Harmony Montgomery in 2019 and other related charges,” Formella said.
Formella said Adam Montgomery faces four new charges: second-degree murder for recklessly causing the death of Harmony; falsifying physical evidence for altering, destroying, concealing or removing Harmony’s body; abuse of a corpse for unlawfully removing, concealing or destroying Harmony’s body; and tampering with witnesses or informants by attempting to cause his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, to testify falsely.
The charges indicate that Adam Montgomery is accused of repeatedly striking Harmony with his fist on or about Dec. 7, 2019.
He is expected to be arraigned on the new charges Tuesday.
Investigators said Harmony was killed in Manchester in early December 2019. Her body has never been found.
Separately, Adam Montgomery is facing charges of felony theft, being a felon in possession of a weapon and being an armed career criminal in connection with the thefts of a rifle and shotgun in the fall of 2019. If convicted in this case, he could spend decades in prison.
In June, law enforcement officers from state and federal agencies swarmed a Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment building where Adam Montgomery and his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, previously lived.
Officials were seen removing a refrigerator. Investigators wrapped the appliance in black plastic and loaded it onto a waiting truck.
At the time of the girl’s disappearance, Adam Montgomery had legal custody of Harmony.
He had been indicted on an assault charge alleging that he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019. He’s also accused of unrelated firearms theft charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Kayla Montgomery was charged with two felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury.
The couple told police that Harmony was brought to be with her mother in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019. Her mother said she last saw her daughter during a phone video conversation around Easter that year.