In a negligence lawsuit filed by Crystal Sorey, the mother of Harmony Montgomery, it is alleged that New Hampshire social workers overlooked numerous red flags indicating that the 5-year-old girl was suffering physical abuse at the hands of her father, Adam Montgomery, who was later convicted of her murder. Sorey accuses the state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families of failing to act on multiple reports regarding Harmony’s well-being after her father was granted custody in February 2019.
Adam Montgomery was sentenced to a minimum of 56 years in prison for the murder of his daughter, Harmony. Police believe Harmony was killed by her father nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021, with her body never being recovered. Concerns raised about Harmony’s safety under her father’s care included reports of her returning from a trip to Florida with a black eye.
The lawsuit details incidents reported by Adam Montgomery’s uncle, Kevin Montgomery, who informed the agency that Harmony had sustained a severe black eye and had been subjected to various forms of punishment, such as being made to clean a bathroom with a toothbrush and stand in a corner for extended periods. Kevin Montgomery also reported suspicions of drug paraphernalia and the lack of electricity in his nephew’s home.
Despite these alarming reports from Kevin Montgomery and others, the lawsuit claims that the agency failed to intervene appropriately, leading to multiple instances of severe physical and emotional abuse suffered by Harmony, ultimately resulting in her death. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unspecified financial damages for the negligence exhibited by the agency.
Following Adam Montgomery’s conviction, Judge Amy Messer highlighted his extensive criminal record dating back to 2008 and condemned his extreme indifference to human life during the trial. Harmony’s stepmother, Kayla Montgomery, testified about the harrowing events leading to the discovery of Harmony’s death, indicating that Adam Montgomery had assaulted Harmony before her death and subsequently concealed her body in various locations.
Harmony’s mother, Crystal Sorey, mentioned the last time she saw her daughter was in April 2019 via video call. She later contacted the police, who initiated a search for the missing child in December 2021. The Attorney General’s spokesperson stated that they would review the complaint and respond accordingly.
