AUTHORITIES in New Hampshire are expected to give an update regarding the investigation into Harmony Montgomery's disappearance today.
It is unclear what the findings of the investigation will be at this time.
Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg and Attorney General John M. Formella are also scheduled to speak.
Their organizations have been cooperating with federal law enforcement, such as the FBI and the US Marshals Service.
Harmony has been missing since 2019, but her disappearance was not reported to the police until late 2021.
The New Hampshire attorney general and the Manchester police chief are also slated to speak at the news briefing, which will take place at 2pm EST.
Read our Harmony Montgomery live blog for updates on the search...
- Amanda Castro
Update expected today
Harmony Montgomery has been missing for more than two years, and the case has captivated the interest of many people in the New England area.
Authorities in New Hampshire are due to provide an update today at 2pm EST, although it's unclear what the findings of the investigation will be at this time.
At a media event on Thursday afternoon, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg and Attorney General John M. Formella are also scheduled to speak.
Their organizations have been cooperating with federal law enforcement, such as the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.
- Amanda Castro
Search for 'biological or trace evidence'
Police were probably searching the house for "biological or trace evidence," according to retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer.
“They're building the case in totality. They have to find [out] what happened to her," she said. "They're building on building blocks."
According to Coffindaffer, investigators believe that biological evidence, such as a hair strand, may have been discovered on the premises.
Allen Aldenburg, the chief of Manchester police, said in January that the search for the child was "running on fumes" for the investigators.
According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Harmony spent a large portion of her early years being shuttled between her mother's care and DCF.
- Amanda Castro
Evidence analysis could take weeks
Jennifer Coffindaffer, a retired FBI agent, told The Sun that processing and analyzing the evidence, including the refrigerator, would probably take weeks.
Officers were interested in the closet, the current renter, who only went by the name Ginger, told Boston 25 News.
She said: “It was just all ripped up. They took stuff out of the closet and then they took the walls out of the closet. It's breaking my heart.”
Ginger also said that flooring from the kitchen, hallway, and bedroom was removed.
- Amanda Castro
Case could become homicide probe
According to a police source who spoke to the New Hampshire Union Leader, authorities are anticipated to provide a substantial update about the investigation.
Approximately eight months after Harmony was reported missing, it is anticipated that the case would develop into a homicide probe.
The residence of Harmony's father Adam and stepmother Kayla was recently searched by police.
Police confiscated an old refrigerator and ransacked a bedroom closet.
- Carsen Holaday
New Hampshire DCYF’s response
Harmony’s biological mother has previously criticized the police and the New Hampshire Department for Children, Youth, and Families for not protecting her daughter.
When asked about the criticism, DCYF told The Sun in a January 3 exclusive interview that “oftentimes, the child protection agency is blamed when things go wrong.”
“It’s a bigger picture than just one agency,” said child advocate Moira O’Neill, who downplayed the finger-pointing.
“This situation is horrible, but it’s horrible to blame police and the child protection case workers. They’re always left to sort things out.”
- Carsen Holaday
Fights at the Montgomery home, concluded
A few weeks later – September 11, 2019 – Manchester police officers on patrol broke up a fight outside the Gilford Street home between Adam and Kevin.
According to the report, Adam accused Kevin and his wife of “barging their way in without his permission,” and Kevin said they were trying to retrieve their belongings after moving to Florida.
The officers went in with Kevin and his wife and noticed “clutter in every room consisting of clothing and empty food containers,” the report said.
“Adam told me although the power had been turned off several months ago due to nonpayment, he has a portable generator in the driveway which powers the refrigerator. I could see food in the cupboards and refrigerator.
“I went upstairs where I contacted Adam’s wife Kayla and the three children (names redacted). All three children appeared to be clean and fed. Their clothing was approriate for the current conditions.
“Although this area was highly disheveled, it did not appear unsafe.”
A January 2020 police report described a “very bad odor” coming from the home which was why the door was open.
- Carsen Holaday
Fights at the Montgomery home, continued
The August 5, 2019 police report concluded that they’ve been here “several times,” “everyone’s home, generator is running, food in the house, they are healthy, all is well.”
About two weeks later – August 21, 2019 – another neighbor called to report a suspected squatter in the home.
The report reads: “There is a generator running and there is trash all over the place. Unknown exactly how many people are in there.
“Getting numerous calls about this. Tenant Adam is in the process of being evicted. His uncle Kevin Montgomery has been calling in checking conditions and harassing him.”
The report says that the state’s Department for Children, Youth and Families was involved.
- Carsen Holaday
Fights were reported at the Montgomery’s ‘messy’ home
Reports obtained by The Sun pull back the curtain on Harmony Montgomery’s squatter-like living conditions at a messy home with her father where neighbors reported multiple fights and possible child abuse.
She had been living at 77 Gilford St. with her biological father Adam Montgomery and his wife Kayla, as well as Adam’s uncle Kevin Montgomery.
Officers responded to the home at least 16 times between January 2019 and January 2020, according to the police reports.
There were verbal bouts between Adam and Kayla, fights between Adam and Harmony’s uncle, “messy” home conditions and concerns of child and animals abuse, the police reports said.
“Neighbor concerned about young child living at this address. Said she thinks the parents are squatting there and have no electricity, just a small generator,” the police report from August 5, 2019, said.
“And there is trash everywhere. She is concerned for the child and asked that we check the condition.”
- Carsen Holaday
‘I think he sold her’
Harmony's biological mother Crystal Sorey told Brian Entin what she thinks happened to her daughter.: “I think he sold her because the same week that they’re saying this happened — the day after Thanksgiving to December 6 — was the week after my son legally got adopted on the news.”
“He knew what my son looked like. … He saw that and I really think that’s connected,” she added.”
“I think he got that idea from seeing that and was like ‘Oh, I can do it illegally.’”
- Carsen Holaday
Search has officially ended
New Hampshire officials confirmed Wednesday that the search at 644 Union Street in Manchester concluded.
The Office of the Attorney General reports that: “The search for Harmony continues and law enforcement is still requesting the public’s assistance in locating her.”
No additional information will be released at this time as it’s an ongoing investigation.
- Carsen Holaday
Investigation was previously focused on another home
Harmony’s father Adam and his estranged wife Kayla cut off all communications with their families – and a series of errors by Child Protective Services left Harmony’s mom and family in the dark.
Until Tuesday, the investigation focused on a home on Gilford St in Manchester, New Hampshire, where Harmony was last seen.
Officers responded to the home at least 16 times between January 2019 and January 2020, according to the police reports obtained by The Sun through a public records request.
- Carsen Holaday
Adam’s brother spoke about the abuse
Adam’s brother, Michael, told police the 31-year-old was physically abusive to Harmony and gave her a black eye.
A detective then spoke to Adam’s uncle Kevin and asked him about Harmony’s eye injury.
According to court documents, Kevin said that Adam told him in July 2019 that he [Adam] “bashed her [Harmony] around the house.”
Adam was allegedly angry at Harmony, who was five years old at the time, because she was supposed to be watching her infant brother, but he started crying, which enraged the father.
The uncle also said Adam spanked his daughter, forced her to stand in the corner for hours, and ordered her to scrub a toilet with her toothbrush.
- Carsen Holaday
Adam Montgomery allegedly abused his daughter
Harmony’s father was accused of assaulting Harmony shortly before her disappearance and also faces misdemeanor charges of interference with custody and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The father has a violent past and allegedly “bashed (Harmony) around the house,” forced her to scrub the toilet with her toothbrush and stand in the corner for hours during a drug relapse, according to a probable cause affidavit.
- Carsen Holaday
Harmony’s mother on the investigation
The mayor received an email in December “primarily regarding issues with follow-up” on Harmony’s case from the Division for Children, Youth and Families, but the mayor’s office did not confirm if Sorey was the sender.
“I’m calling on all my guardian angels to surround my baby & keep her safe & bring her home to me & her brothers,” Sorey also posted, with a photo collage of Harmony and some of her siblings.
In one comment, she said that she was not yet “allowed” to say more about the details of the disappearance and that she would not share information that might interfere with the investigation.
- Carsen Holaday
How to share information and tips
Manchester Police Department urges anyone with information to call (603) 668-8711.
Lead investigator Detective Jack Dunleavy can be reached at (603) 792-5561.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted via the Manchester Crimeline (603) 624-4040.
- Carsen Holaday
Harmony is partially blind
Descriptions of Harmony also mention that she “should be” wearing glasses.
She is reportedly blind in her right eye.
It’s not clear if the glasses frames pictured in the most recent photos of Harmony are the glasses she would be spotted wearing today.
- Carsen Holaday
Last photos were taken in 2019
The most recent photos of Harmony show her at five years old, although the missing girl is now eight.
That’s because the most recent pictures of the girl are from 2019 before she went missing.
- Carsen Holaday
Harmony reported missing by email
The details of who brought Harmony’s case to authorities are unclear, and questions remain about the timeline of events.
According to a statement Mayor Joyce Craig’s office made to WMUR News 9, the mayor’s office received an email in December 2021 regarding Harmony.
It’s not clear what the details of the email included, but the outlet says the email was “primarily regarding issues with follow-up” from the Division for Children, Youth and Families.
The identity of the person who sent the email is unknown.
- Carsen Holaday
‘Someone has to know something’
Those who are following the case have shared on social media that the news Tuesday is “absolutely breaking my heart,” and many are calling for closure.
“Please let her be found,” one person tweeted.
- Carsen Holaday
‘He used to choke me’
The mom of the missing New Hampshire girl claimed Adam Montgomery used to be violent, when she spoke to NewsNationNow’s Brian Entin.
When Entin asked Sorey if she had ever seen her ex be violent, she said: “Yeah, when I was in a relationship with him. He used to choke me.
“[When] I was pregnant with her he choked me.”
- Carsen Holaday
Jamison’s dad says Harmony is ‘welcome’ in their home
Blair Miller, adopted father of Harmony Montgomery’s little brother Jamison, tweeted that the family is grateful for the police department’s persistence in this case.
“We hope this brings answers and if Harmony is still with us she’s welcome in our home,” Blair tweeted.
- Carsen Holaday
Harmony’s family was living in cars
According to the New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, police learned that Adam and Kayla Montgomery lived with Harmony and two other children when they were evicted on November 27, 2019.
Multiple people reported seeing Harmony with Adam and Kayla in the following days, but between December 6 and 10, they had only their two common children with them and not Harmony.
“Witnesses have reported that during that time, Adam, Kayla, and the children were homeless and living out of cars, possibly in the North End of Manchester,” the attorney general’s office said in a release.
One of the cars was a silver 2010 Chrysler Sebring, and the other a dark blue 2006 Audi S4.
- Carsen Holaday
Harmony’s extended family loses hope
Johnathon Miller, adopted father of Harmony Montgomery’s little brother Jamison, told Fox News Digital Tuesday that officials warned the family that the investigation's outcome might not be what they had hoped.
“We have been told by officials that this probably will not have a good outcome or not the outcome we had hoped for, for Jamison and Harmony to be reunited together,” Miller told the outlet.
“We have always held onto hope that Jamison and Harmony could be together again, but today that hope feels like it’s being ripped away from us, especially Jamison.”
- Carsen Holaday
Harmony and Jamison were ‘inseparable’ in foster care
The brother-sister duo were inseparable while they bounced around the foster care system, and Harmony always looked out for Jamison.
Jamison’s adopted father Blair Miller said on Harmony’s birthday that the five-year-old misses his sister.
“While Jamison may not know the uncertainties surrounding his sister right now, he knows she is loved, missed and hopes these words of love find her,” Blair said.
“Johnathon and I would love to read how you celebrate her today. We will keep all these happy memories to share with Jamison when he’s old enough to understand so he can see the good in this world.”
- Carsen Holaday
Family gave update on Harmony’s birthday
Harmony Montgomery’s eighth birthday was on June 7, and her five-year-old brother Jamison celebrated with his family by eating cake and letting pink balloons fly into the sky.
Jamison, his adopted dads Blair and Johnathon Miller, and older brothers haven’t given up hope that she’s alive and they’ll be reunited.
Blair Miller shared a video of Jamison smiling in front of a cake that read, “Happy Birthday Harmony” in pink icing.
In the video, Jameson said, “Harmony, I hope you have a good birthday, big sister,” and blew her a kiss.
Then they released eight pink balloons with messages on them telling her how much they love her.
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