Mother Sues NH Agency Over Daughter's Death, Alleging Negligence
A lawsuit claims New Hampshire's child welfare agency ignored abuse warnings before a 5-year-old's murder. The girl's father was convicted, but her body remains unfound.
Crystal Sorey has filed a negligence lawsuit against New Hampshire's Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), alleging the agency failed to protect her daughter, Harmony Montgomery. The legal action comes in the wake of Adam Montgomery's conviction for murdering the 5-year-old girl.
The lawsuit contends that DCYF disregarded numerous reports of abuse after Adam Montgomery gained custody of Harmony in February 2019. This tragic case has shed light on the critical role of child protection agencies and the potential consequences of overlooking warning signs.
In New Hampshire, the Child Protection Act outlines procedures for handling child welfare cases, and the state maintains a centralized registry for child abuse and neglect reports. Despite these systems, the lawsuit alleges that DCYF failed to act on multiple concerns raised about Harmony's well-being.
According to the legal filing, several individuals, including family members and neighbors, reported troubling incidents to the agency. One particularly alarming report came from Kevin Montgomery, Adam's uncle, who described a severe black eye on Harmony, allegedly caused by her father. The lawsuit states that Kevin also reported witnessing harsh punishments, including making the child scrub a bathroom with a toothbrush and stand in a corner for extended periods.
"This is why children die."
The lawsuit further alleges that DCYF received reports about potential drug use in the household and utility shutoffs, raising additional concerns about Harmony's living conditions. New Hampshire provides various support services for families at risk of child abuse, but the lawsuit suggests these resources may not have been adequately utilized in this case.
Adam Montgomery was sentenced to a minimum of 56 years in prison in May 2024 for Harmony's murder. The trial, which took place in February 2024, revealed disturbing details about the child's final days. Kayla Montgomery, Harmony's stepmother, testified that Adam had severely beaten the girl on December 7, 2019, while the family was living in their car after an eviction.
Tragically, Harmony's body was never found. Kayla's testimony described a harrowing series of events following the child's death, including multiple attempts to conceal the body in various locations.
The last confirmed sighting of Harmony was during a video call with her mother in April 2019. It wasn't until New Year's Eve 2021 that police announced they were searching for the missing child, more than two years after her presumed death.
This case has raised questions about the effectiveness of New Hampshire's child protection system. The state has a Child Fatality Review Committee to examine child deaths, and there are specific protocols for investigating missing children cases. However, the lawsuit suggests that these measures may have fallen short in Harmony's case.
The legal action seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial. As the case unfolds, it may lead to a reevaluation of child protection practices in New Hampshire and potentially drive reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
