The mother of a missing New Hampshire girl is pleading with the public for help and holding out hope she will be found safe.
On Saturday, Harmony’s mother, Crystal Sorey, told NBC Boston that she felt her daughter was still alive, even though she hasn’t seen or spoken to her in over two years.
“I don’t feel like she’s gone. I just don’t feel that in my heart… And a mother knows, a mother knows if your baby’s here or not. I know she’s here,” Sorey said.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, court documents released Wednesday indicate that police received a call from Harmony’s biological mother, Crystal Sorey, on November 18, 2021, who claimed her daughter was missing.
According to CBS Boston, Sorey told police that Harmony’s father had physical custody of the girl and she couldn’t get in touch with him. He also never reported her missing, even though her last known sighting was in 2019.
Sorey reportedly added that she lost custody of Harmony in 2018 due to drug issues.
On Saturday night, Sorey attended a vigil for Harmony, surrounded by loved ones hoping to spread awareness about the girl’s disappearance.
Earlier that day, residents at Harmony’s last known home spotted a large police presence in and around the residence. It’s unclear what, if anything was found, but authorities returned the following day and resumed the investigation.
Father Arrested
In December, New Hampshire police reached out to the New Hampshire Department of Children’s Services to locate Harmony’s father, Adam Montgomery, but by December 27, the agency couldn’t find him. Police began searching for Montgomery when they learned that Harmony “had not been physically seen since October/November 2019.”
While searching for Montgomery, police spoke to his brother, Michael, who explained that Montgomery abused Harmony and gave her a black eye. Police then reached out to Montgomery’s cousin, Kevin, who witnessed the alleged incident.
“I bashed her around this house,” Montgomery said, according to Kevin.
Kevin told investigators that Montgomery was upset at Harmony when her infant brother started crying because he told her to keep an eye on him. In anger, Montgomery allegedly spanked Harmony, made her scrub a toilet with a toothbrush, and forced her to stand in the corner for hours.
During last week’s episode of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” the adoptive father of Harmony’s younger brother explained that Harmony had protected the boy when they ended up in foster care. The children were reportedly shuffled around in several different homes before social services gave Harmony back to her father.
On December 31, police located Montgomery sleeping in a car in New Hampshire with his current girlfriend. The girlfriend told police that Montgomery never once talked about Harmony.
When investigators interviewed Montgomery’s estranged wife, she said that she hadn’t spoken to him since November 2021 and hadn’t seen Harmony since late 2019.
Montgomery reportedly told police that Harmony’s mother came to “pick her up in Manchester, NH around Thanksgiving 2019.” Montgomery claimed he hadn’t seen his daughter since.
“Adam did not exhibit much emotion or reaction to this,” the affidavit read.
Detectives are now working with DCYF, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the FBI.
“At this time I have dedicated all available resources and personnel to locating Harmony. I encourage anyone to contact the Manchester Police Department with any relevant information which will help us in locating Harmony,” Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said
“For us to have a two-year delay, that is extremely concerning. That’s not something that happens to us on a regular basis.”
Stepmother Arrested
Earlier this month, police arrested Kayla Montgomery, 31, and charged her with welfare fraud after she allegedly kept receiving benefits for Harmony.
According to ABC 5, Kayla received over $1,500 from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from December 2019 to June 2021. Police say Harmony was no longer living with her stepmother during those dates.
Kayla told investigators that she hasn’t seen Harmony since 2019, when she split up with Adam Montgomery.
One of the Last Known Sightings
Harmony was last seen in October 2019 at a home off of Gilford Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, after a family spat broke out. It’s the same house police went back to at least twice since Harmony’s disappearance.
Kevin Montgomery said Harmony “looked like a scared puppy” the last time he saw her.
“Epic failure on every level, starting with law enforcement that went to the house,” Private Investigator with “Crispin Special Investigations, Inc.” Robert Crispin, said. “They have some serious explaining to do.”
Harmony is described as standing around 4 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds. She has blond hair and blue eyes. She is blind in her right eye and should be wearing glasses. The most recent photographs available were taken when she was 5 years old.
A $94,00 reward for information on Harmony’s whereabouts is being offered. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police tipline at 603-203-6060.
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[Feature Photo: Facebook/Harmony Montgomery]
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