Harmony Montgomery Case Study Guide
- Cassian Creed
- Aug 7
- 12 min read
I. Overview of Harmony Montgomery case
The Harmony Montgomery case is a tragic and complex true crime story that exposes critical failures within child welfare systems. It details the life, murder, and disappearance of five-year-old Harmony at the hands of her biological father, Adam Montgomery, in December 2019. Despite clear warning signs and reports of abuse, Harmony was granted to her father's custody in February 2019. Her absence went unnoticed by authorities for nearly two years until her biological mother, Crystal Sorey, reported her missing in November 2021. The subsequent investigation uncovered horrific details of abuse, murder, and a prolonged cover-up, culminating in Adam Montgomery's conviction for second-degree murder and related offenses in February 2024. Harmony's body has never been found, leaving a profound impact on her family and highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform in child protection.
II. Key Individuals
Harmony Montgomery: The five-year-old victim, born June 7, 2014. She had partial blindness and special behavioral needs.
Adam Montgomery: Harmony's biological father, convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, tampering with witnesses, and abuse of a corpse. He has an extensive history of violent crime.
Kayla Montgomery: Adam's estranged wife and Harmony's stepmother. She was a key prosecution witness, testifying about the murder and body concealment. She pleaded guilty to perjury and welfare fraud.
Crystal Sorey: Harmony's biological mother. She lost custody due to substance abuse but initiated the missing person report in 2021, prompting the investigation.
Kevin Montgomery: Adam's uncle, who reported seeing Harmony with a black eye in July 2019 to child protective services.
Michael Montgomery: Adam's brother, who also witnessed Adam's abusive behavior toward Harmony.
Tim and Michelle Raftery: Harmony's foster parents for much of her early life, who described her as a happy and thriving child.
Blair and Jonathan Bobbitt-Miller: Adoptive parents of Harmony's half-brother, Jamison. They advocated for Harmony and expressed their family's grief.
Christina Lubin: Kayla Montgomery's mother, who unknowingly housed Harmony's concealed remains in a cooler in her apartment building.
Detective John Dunleavy: A lead investigator with the Manchester Police Department, who authored the primary arrest affidavit.
Chief Allen Aldenberg: Manchester Police Chief, who led public search efforts and acknowledged systemic failures.
Attorney General John Formella: New Hampshire Attorney General, who oversaw the homicide investigation and prosecution.
Christopher Knowles: Lead trial prosecutor for Adam Montgomery's murder trial.
III. Detailed Timeline of Events
June 7, 2014: Harmony Renee Montgomery is born in Massachusetts.
August 2014: Harmony is placed into foster care at two months old due to her mother's substance abuse.
July 2018: Crystal Sorey loses custody of Harmony and her brother Jamison.
February 22, 2019: Massachusetts Judge Mark Newman awards full custody of Harmony to Adam Montgomery, despite his criminal history and limited contact with Harmony.
April 2019: Crystal Sorey has her last FaceTime call with Harmony; Harmony appears frightened.
July 2019: Adam's uncle, Kevin Montgomery, reports seeing Harmony with a black eye to New Hampshire child protective services; Adam admits to "bashing her around."
October 2019: Harmony is last seen by authorities during a "Call for Service" at 77 Gilford Street, Manchester, NH. NH DCYF closes the abuse investigation as "unfounded."
November 27, 2019: The Montgomery family is evicted from 77 Gilford Street and begins living in their Chrysler Sebring car.
December 7, 2019: Adam Montgomery beats Harmony to death in the Chrysler Sebring after she has a bathroom accident. He then places her body in a duffel bag.
December 2019 - March 2020: Adam Montgomery conceals Harmony's body in various locations: in a duffel bag in a snowbank/car trunk, a red cooler at Kayla's mother's apartment, a ceiling vent at Families in Transition shelter (where it started to smell and ooze), a closet, a maternity bag (after suspected dismemberment), and a walk-in freezer at Portland Pie Company where Adam worked.
February 2020: Adam purchases tools like lime, a metal-cutting diamond blade, and a power grinder, suggesting attempts to destroy the remains.
March 4, 2020: Adam Montgomery rents a U-Haul truck and disposes of Harmony's remains at an unknown location, likely between Manchester, NH, and the Boston/Revere, MA area.
November 18, 2021: Crystal Sorey officially reports Harmony missing to Manchester Police after not seeing her for over two years.
December 27, 2021: DCYF notifies Manchester Police they cannot locate Harmony, initiating a full investigation.
December 31, 2021: Manchester Police publicly announce Harmony is missing and locate Adam Montgomery, who provides contradictory statements.
January 4, 2022: Adam Montgomery is arrested and charged with second-degree assault (for the 2019 incident), interference with custody, and endangering the welfare of a child.
January 5, 2022: Kayla Montgomery is arrested for welfare fraud.
June 2022: Kayla Montgomery tells police that Adam murdered Harmony. Investigators find Harmony's blood and Adam's fingerprints in the Families in Transition shelter ceiling vent.
August 11, 2022: New Hampshire Attorney General announces Harmony was murdered in 2019 based on "recently confirmed biological evidence."
October 24, 2022: Adam Montgomery is formally charged with second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with a witness.
November 18, 2022: Kayla Montgomery pleads guilty to two counts of perjury and agrees to testify against Adam.
August 7, 2023: Adam Montgomery is sentenced to 30-60 years in prison for unrelated firearms convictions.
February 8, 2024: Adam Montgomery's murder trial begins in Hillsborough County Superior Court.
February 22, 2024: A jury finds Adam Montgomery guilty of second-degree murder and all other charges.
March 12, 2024: A New Hampshire judge officially declares Harmony Montgomery legally dead.
May 9, 2024: Adam Montgomery is sentenced to a cumulative sentence of 56 years to life in prison (45 years to life for murder, plus consecutive terms for other charges), to run consecutively with his prior gun sentence.
April 24, 2025: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules that audio recordings from Harmony's 2019 custody hearing must be made public to inform the public about systemic failures.
May 23, 2025: The State of New Hampshire settles a wrongful death lawsuit with Crystal Sorey and Harmony's siblings for $2.25 million, acknowledging failures in child protection.
IV. Legal Proceedings and Outcomes
Adam Montgomery:Charges: Second-degree murder, second-degree assault (2019), falsifying physical evidence, tampering with witnesses and informants, and abuse of a corpse.
Conviction: Guilty on all counts.
Sentence: A cumulative sentence of 56 years to life in prison (45 years to life for murder, plus consecutive terms for other charges). This is consecutive to his prior 30-60 year sentence for unrelated gun convictions, totaling at least 86 years. He showed no remorse and refused to disclose Harmony's body location.
Kayla Montgomery:Charges: Welfare fraud, two counts of perjury.
Conviction: Pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury. Welfare fraud charges dropped as part of cooperation.
Sentence: 18 months in prison for perjury, with credit for time served. Released on parole in March 2024.
Role: Became the prosecution's star witness, detailing Adam's abuse and the body concealment after initially lying to authorities out of fear.
V. Systemic Failures and Public Impact
Child Protection System Failures: Investigations by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) and others revealed severe lapses. Massachusetts DCF failed to adequately assess Adam Montgomery's fitness as a parent, prioritized parental rights over Harmony's safety, and did not enforce the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) before sending Harmony to New Hampshire. New Hampshire DCYF also failed to act decisively on multiple reports of abuse (including Kevin Montgomery's 2019 report of a black eye) and did not follow up effectively on Harmony's whereabouts after 2019.
Missed Warning Signs: Numerous red flags were ignored, including Adam's extensive criminal history, his minimal prior contact with Harmony, and direct reports of abuse from family members.
Delayed Discovery: Harmony's disappearance went unnoticed by authorities for nearly two years due to Adam and Kayla's deceptive narratives and inadequate follow-up by child welfare agencies.
Public Outcry: The case generated national outrage due to the brutality of the crime, the prolonged disappearance, and the extensive systemic failures, leading to widespread calls for reform.
Search for Remains: Harmony's body has never been found, despite extensive searches, denying her family closure and a proper burial. Adam Montgomery refused to reveal the location even when offered a reduced sentence.
Legal Transparency and Reforms: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision to unseal the audio of Harmony's custody hearing highlights a move towards greater transparency in juvenile courts to learn from mistakes. The case has also spurred legislative reforms in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts aimed at improving interstate communication and child tracking. Crystal Sorey's lawsuit and settlement further underscore the accountability for system failures.
Quiz: Short-Answer Questions
Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.
What were the primary charges Adam Montgomery was convicted of in relation to Harmony's death?
Describe the initial circumstances that led to Harmony Montgomery being placed in Adam Montgomery's custody in New Hampshire.
How did Adam Montgomery initially conceal Harmony's body after her death on December 7, 2019?
What role did Kayla Montgomery play in the concealment of Harmony's body and the subsequent legal proceedings?
Identify two specific instances of systemic failure by child welfare agencies mentioned in the case.
Why did Harmony's biological mother, Crystal Sorey, initially have difficulty locating her daughter after 2019?
What motivated Adam Montgomery to repeatedly strike Harmony on the day of her murder?
Besides the murder, what other crime was Adam Montgomery convicted of that directly involved physical harm to Harmony prior to her death?
What was Adam Montgomery's sentence for Harmony's murder, and what was the total minimum sentence he received across all convictions?
What significant outcome of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's ruling on Harmony's case was discussed, and what was its stated purpose?
Answer Key
Adam Montgomery was primarily convicted of second-degree murder for Harmony's death. Additionally, he was found guilty of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, tampering with witnesses and informants, and abuse of a corpse.
Harmony was placed in Adam Montgomery's custody in February 2019 after her biological mother, Crystal Sorey, and Adam lost custody to the State of Massachusetts due to substance abuse issues. This transfer occurred despite Adam's extensive criminal history and minimal prior contact with Harmony.
Immediately after Harmony's death, Adam Montgomery folded her lifeless body into a duffel bag. He then placed this duffel bag into a snowbank behind Colonial Village, near a dumpster, to hide it from others.
Kayla Montgomery assisted Adam in concealing Harmony's body, moving it to various locations and initially lying to police about Harmony's whereabouts. She later testified against Adam after being charged with perjury and welfare fraud, claiming she acted out of fear for herself and her children.
Two instances of systemic failure include the Massachusetts child protection system's failure to prioritize Harmony's needs and not enforcing interstate placement requirements when she was transferred to Adam. Additionally, New Hampshire DCYF failed to act decisively on abuse reports and to effectively follow up on Harmony's whereabouts after 2019.
Crystal Sorey had difficulty locating Harmony because Adam Montgomery blocked her on social media and ceased communication after April 2019. He and Kayla also concocted a false story that Harmony had been returned to Crystal in Massachusetts, which Crystal believed for a time.
Adam Montgomery repeatedly struck Harmony on the day of her murder because he was enraged by her having bathroom accidents in the car. This anger escalated, leading him to punch her in the head multiple times, resulting in her fatal injury.
Prior to Harmony's death, Adam Montgomery was convicted of second-degree assault. This charge stemmed from an incident in July 2019 where he caused Harmony a black eye, with Adam admitting he had "bashed her around the [expletive] house."
Adam Montgomery was sentenced to 45 years to life for Harmony's second-degree murder. His total minimum sentence across all convictions related to Harmony's death is 56 years to life, which runs consecutively to an existing 30-60 year sentence for prior gun charges.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that audio recordings from Harmony's 2019 custody hearing would be made public. The stated purpose was to better inform the public about the specific events of Harmony's case and whether the child welfare system could take steps to prevent similar tragedies.
Essay Format Questions
Analyze the multi-faceted failures of the child welfare systems in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the case of Harmony Montgomery. Discuss specific missed opportunities, misjudgments, and policies that contributed to the tragic outcome, and propose potential reforms informed by the details of this case.
Examine Adam Montgomery's extensive criminal history and its impact on the court's sentencing goals. How did his pattern of violent and recidivist behavior, coupled with his lack of remorse, shape the State's sentencing recommendations and the judge's final decision regarding punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation?
Discuss the ethical and legal complexities surrounding Kayla Montgomery's role in the case. To what extent should her claims of fear and coercion mitigate her culpability, given her active participation in concealing Harmony's body and lying to authorities? Compare her sentencing outcome with Adam's and analyze the justification for the differences.
The disappearance and murder of Harmony Montgomery deeply impacted her biological and foster families, as well as the wider community. Using specific examples from victim impact statements and public reactions, discuss the profound and lasting effects of this crime, particularly considering Harmony's body has never been found.
Evaluate the investigative process in the Harmony Montgomery case, from the initial missing person report to Adam Montgomery's conviction. Discuss the challenges faced by law enforcement due to the delayed report and the concealment of evidence, and explain how new leads and witness testimony (specifically Kayla's) ultimately proved crucial in solving the case.
Glossary of Key Terms
Abuse of a Corpse: A criminal charge relating to the disrespectful or unlawful handling of a deceased human body. Adam Montgomery was convicted of this misdemeanor.
Armed Career Criminal (ACC): A legal classification for individuals with a history of certain violent felonies or serious drug offenses who are found in possession of a firearm, often leading to enhanced penalties. Adam Montgomery had prior convictions under this classification.
Blunt Force Trauma: Injury to the body caused by impact with a blunt object or surface, or from a sudden force. Harmony Montgomery died from blunt force trauma.
Colonial Village: A specific apartment complex in Manchester, New Hampshire, mentioned as a parking lot where Adam and Kayla Montgomery lived in their car and where Harmony's body was initially placed in a snowbank.
Cumulative Sentence: A sentence that combines the terms for multiple convictions, where each sentence runs one after the other, resulting in a longer total incarceration period. Adam Montgomery received a cumulative sentence.
DCYF (Division for Children, Youth and Families): A state agency in New Hampshire responsible for child protection and welfare, involved in Harmony's custody case and subsequent missing person investigation.
Deterrence (General & Specific): Sentencing goals. General deterrence aims to prevent others from committing similar crimes by punishing an offender. Specific deterrence aims to prevent the convicted offender from re-offending.
DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services): A state agency that provides social services, including benefits like food stamps. Kayla Montgomery was charged with welfare fraud for collecting benefits for Harmony after her death.
Falsifying Physical Evidence: A criminal charge involving altering, concealing, or destroying evidence with the intent to impair its integrity or availability for official proceedings. Adam Montgomery was convicted of this.
Families in Transition (FIT) Shelter: A homeless shelter in Manchester, New Hampshire, where the Montgomery family stayed after their car broke down, and where Harmony's body was hidden in the ceiling.
Filicide: The act of a parent deliberately killing his or her own child. This term is used to define Harmony's murder.
Habeas Corpus: A legal writ requiring a person to be brought before a court or judge, especially to investigate the legality of the person's detention. It is often a final appeal option for incarcerated individuals.
Holoprosencephaly: A rare birth defect in which the forebrain fails to develop into two hemispheres. While initially reported, Harmony's condition was later corrected to septo-optic dysplasia.
Homicide Investigation: The process undertaken by law enforcement to determine the cause and circumstances of a death suspected to be unnatural or criminal. Harmony's case became a "no-body" homicide investigation.
ICPC (Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children): A legal agreement among states governing the placement of children across state lines, designed to ensure safety and suitability of out-of-state placements. Failures in its application were central to Harmony's case.
Juvenile Court: A specialized court that handles cases involving minors, including custody disputes and child protection matters. Harmony's custody was determined in a Massachusetts Juvenile Court.
Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate (OCA): An independent state agency that investigates and reviews cases involving children to identify systemic issues and recommend reforms in child welfare. The OCA released a critical report on Harmony's case.
No-Body Homicide Case: A murder investigation and prosecution that proceeds without the recovery of the victim's body, relying heavily on circumstantial, forensic, and testimonial evidence.
Perjury: The criminal offense of lying under oath or making a false statement in a judicial proceeding. Kayla Montgomery was convicted of perjury.
Portland Pie Company: A restaurant in Manchester where Adam Montgomery worked, and where Harmony's remains were reportedly stored in a walk-in freezer.
Rehabilitation: A sentencing goal focused on reforming an offender to prevent future criminal behavior, often through treatment, education, or counseling.
Second-Degree Assault: A criminal charge involving intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to another. Adam Montgomery was convicted of this for his assault on Harmony in July 2019.
Second-Degree Murder: A criminal charge for causing the death of another human being with malice aforethought but without premeditation or deliberation, or with extreme indifference to human life. Adam Montgomery was convicted of this.
Septo-optic Dysplasia: A rare congenital disorder characterized by optic nerve hypoplasia (underdevelopment of the optic nerve), pituitary hormone deficiencies, and often brain abnormalities. Harmony was diagnosed with this.
Systemic Failures: Shortcomings or breakdowns within an organization or system (e.g., child welfare agencies, courts) that contribute to negative outcomes, rather than just individual errors.
Tampering with Witnesses and Informants: A criminal charge involving influencing, threatening, or intimidating a witness or informant to prevent them from testifying or providing truthful information. Adam Montgomery was convicted of this for his abuse of Kayla.
Tobin Bridge: A major bridge in Boston, Massachusetts, that was crossed by the U-Haul truck rented by Adam Montgomery, leading investigators to suspect the disposal site was in the Boston/Revere area.
U-Haul: A moving truck rental company. Adam Montgomery reportedly rented a U-Haul truck to dispose of Harmony's body.
Unfounded Allegations: In child welfare, a finding that allegations of abuse or neglect could not be substantiated after an investigation. NH DCYF initially "unfounded" allegations against Adam Montgomery in 2019.
Welfare Fraud: Illegally obtaining or attempting to obtain government benefits (e.g., food stamps, cash assistance) through deception or misrepresentation. Kayla Montgomery was convicted of this.
Witness Tampering: See "Tampering with Witnesses and Informants."
NotebookLM can be inaccurate; please double check its responses.
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