Police Search House Where Missing NH 7-Year-Old Last Lived
Detectives searced the house where missing 7-year-old girl Harmony Montgomery was last known to live Saturday, just over a week after Manchester Police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg first made public the investigation into her disappearance
Police descended on the house at 77 Gilford Street in Manchester Saturday morning, but Aldenberg and state Attorney General John Formella did not disclose what they hoped to find or when exactly Harmony Montgomery lived at the house.
Patch of Bedford reported that staff from a company that provides geophysical and geological services using radar was at the house on Saturday.
Aldenberg has stressed that the current owners of the home have no connection to the disappearance of Harmony Montgomery and are cooperating with the investigation.
Who Was Responsible for Harmony Montgomery?
According to the affidavit in the case, Harmony's stepmother, Kayla Montgomery, 31, told investigators that the last time she saw her stepdaughter was in November or December 2019 before going to work. She was under the impression that the girl went to live with her mother in Lowell, Massachusetts
Harmony's mother, Crystal Sorey, told investigators she lost custody of her daughter in 2019 to the state of Massachusetts because of her substance abuse issues, but is now sober. Sorey told investigators that she spent much of 2021 trying to find her daughter, but was blocked by her father and Adam and Kayla Montgomery on their cell phones and social media.
Adam Montgomery was charged Tuesday with a felony assault charge, a misdemeanor charge of interference with custody, and two misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child pertaining to Harmony Montgomery, according to Attorney General John M. Formella.
Kayla Montgomery, 31, was charged with welfare fraud. It is alleged that she received over $1,500 in food stamp benefits between December 2019 and June 2021 after failing to remove Harmony from her family account with New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services, even though she was no longer living with Kayla and Adam Montgomery.
Reward Grows for Information
The reward for information leading to Harmony Montgomery's whereabouts increased to at least $94,000. Five pledges from individuals were added to the initial reward of $12,500 by Manchester Crimeline and two businessmen from Massachusetts.
"We cannot thank the community and those from surrounding states, cities, and towns enough for their generosity and support as we continue to investigate the disappearance of this 7-year-old child. Your help is greatly appreciated and we hope this reward encourages people to come forward with valuable information," Aldenberg said on the department's Facebook page.
Montgomery is described as approximately 4 feet and 50 pounds with blonde hair, blue eyes and glasses. She is blind in her right eye. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call a special number that is manned 24/7: 603-203-6060.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH