A New Hampshire man, Adam Montgomery, was sentenced to a minimum of 56 years in prison for the murder of his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony Montgomery. Harmony’s body was never found, and police believe she was killed almost two years before being reported missing in 2021. Montgomery was already serving a 32 1/2-year sentence for unrelated gun charges, effectively giving him a life sentence. An offer to lessen his sentence if he revealed Harmony’s remains was rejected as Montgomery maintained his innocence.
During the sentencing, Harmony’s mother and the parents who adopted her brother spoke of the impact Harmony had on their lives. Harmony was remembered as a happy and kind child, contrasting with the monster Montgomery was labelled as by his relatives. Despite pleas for the location of his daughter’s body from prosecutors and emotional statements from Harmony’s loved ones, Montgomery did not speak in court. His extensive criminal record and indifference to human life were cited as reasons for the lengthy sentence.
Adam Montgomery’s estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, provided testimony during the trial, revealing details of the events leading to Harmony’s death. She described how they discovered Harmony was dead after the car broke down following physical abuse by Adam Montgomery. Kayla Montgomery hid Harmony’s body in various places before eventually coming forward to the police. She has recently been granted parole after serving an 18-month sentence for perjury charges related to the investigation.
Harmony’s case has raised concerns about child protection systems and sparked calls for prioritizing the well-being of children over parents in custody matters. Harmony was moved between her mother’s and foster parents’ homes multiple times before being placed in Adam Montgomery’s custody in 2019. Despite being in the custody of her father, Harmony’s mother was the one to report her missing, leading to the uncovering of the tragic events that led to her death.
Throughout the trial and sentencing, Montgomery’s lawyers suggested that Kayla continued to lie to protect herself and painted her as the possible culprit in Harmony’s murder. However, the judge’s decision emphasized Montgomery’s destructive actions and lack of remorse, leading to his lengthy prison sentence. The hope is that keeping Montgomery off the streets will prevent him from hurting others, and any potential rehabilitation efforts will have to occur behind prison walls. As Harmony’s family and loved ones continue to grieve her loss, her memory serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable children from harm.
