Missing girl, 5, declared dead by judge after year-long battle by mum

12 March 2024 , 22:13

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Missing Harmony Montgomery, 5, has been declared dead by a judge

A New Hampshire court has finally put an ending to a tragic story for a family - declaring a long-missing child dead and giving her mother power over the girl's 'estate.'

The court declared that the biological mother, Crystal Sorey, met the burden of proof that her long-lost daughter is dead. The mother is working on a lawsuit that will likely accuse the state of wrongdoing regarding what happened to her daughter.

The little girl, Harmony Montgomery, has been missing since 2019. A probate judge said that Ms Sorey "has carried her burden to demonstrate" that her daughter, Harmony Montgomery, was killed "as a result of some catastrophic event." The judge further said that her 'body has not yet been found.'

READ MORE: Little girl, 5, ‘beaten to death by dad for wetting herself in car with body moved around for months’

Missing and murdered Harmony Montgomery pictured here with her little brother (Facebook)

The girl's father was just convicted on February 22 of murdering the young girl. Police have said the girl was killed nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021, and her body was never found. The defendant's daughter vanished in 2019, but local law enforcement agencies didn't catch wind until about two years later.

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Adam Montgomery, 34, the father, did not attend the trial and wasn't present when jurors returned their verdict. He had proclaimed his innocence, saying in court last year in an unrelated case that he loved Harmony Montgomery "unconditionally."

Adam Montgomery's second-degree murder conviction, plus his admission of guilt to lesser charges that he moved his daughter's body around for months afterwards and falsified physical evidence, was enough to result in a legal death declaration.

Adam Montgomery has been convicted after evidence showed that he beat his daughter to death (AP)

Photos of the adorable Harmony have captivated the country

The lawyer also mentioned that there was evidence from Adam's ex-wife, Kayla Montgomery. She said she had touched Harmony's lifeless body, according to the judge's decision.

The tragic death of Harmony, who was born to parents with histories of drug addiction, appeared to be a catalyst for an overhaul of child protection systems. The incident prompted social workers to make more wellness-check calls for the children and not the parents.

Harmony reportedly bounced between foster homes and the homes of her mother until Montgomery was awarded custody in 2019 and moved to New Hampshire. Ms Sorey said the last time she saw her daughter was during a FaceTime call around Easter that year.

Missing Harmony Montgomery, 5, has been declared dead by a judge

Harmony's mum, Crystal Sorey, s working on a lawsuit that will likely accuse the state of wrongdoing in her daughter's case

When asked where Harmony was, Adam and Kayla Montgomery told the police that he had taken the child to live with Ms Sorey. Adam Montgomery, who is in jail awaiting sentencing, decided not to join the probate hearing via Webex.

Prosecutor Christopher Knowles told jurors that Adam Montgomery beat Harmony in the car due to a bathroom accident. "He pulled into that parking lot at Burger King and he ordered his food. He ordered his food and he ate. He didn't stop to check on Harmony," Mr Knowles said.

"He didn't look back at her. He didn't show any concern for this innocent little girl, the child he had just beaten. He ordered his food, and he ate. And he didn't stop."

Yelena Mandenberg