Convicted child killer Adam Montgomery ordered by judge to appear at sentencing
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By Timothy Nazzaro
MANCHESTER, N.H. — In a ruling filed on Friday, a New Hampshire superior court judge ordered that “all necessary steps” will be taken to ensure Adam Montgomery appears at his sentencing next month.
Judge Amy Messer denied Montgomery’s request to be excused from attending his sentencing hearing on May 9, citing that he “asserts no other factual basis for excusal” other than his contention he’s innocent on some of the charges and no legal basis for his excusal.
“Were the Court to accept the defendant’s request, it would be tantamount to excusing the defendant’s appearance simply because he did not wish to attend,” Messer’s ruling said.
Missing Girl New Hampshire Defense attorney Caroline Smith displays a photograph of Kayla Montgomery, Adam Montgomery's estranged wife, to the jury during closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Adam Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony Montgomery. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's biological mother, covers her ears as prosecutors present their closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's biological mother, cries as she listens to the prosecution's closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. At right is Michelle Raftery, Harmony Montgomerys foster parent. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati shows the jury a bag that the prosecution claims was used by Adam Montgomery to store his dead daughter's body during closing argument in Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Crystal Sorey, Harmony Montgomery's biological mother, cries as she listens to the prosecution's closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Defense attorney Caroline Smith displays a photograph of Harmony Montgomery to the jury during her closing argument in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Members of the Manchester Police Department listens during to closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati shows the jury a photograph of the defendant during closing arguments in Adam Montgomery's trial, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter Harmony, pictured at left. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Jim Davis/AP)
Agati 02-21-24: Manchester, NH: The trial of Adam Montgomery (not pictured) who is charged with murdering his five year old daughter Harmony continued today inside Courtroom 1 at the Hillsborough County Superior Court. Pictured is Senior Assistant New Hampshire Attorney General Benjamin Agati (right) as during closing arguments he shows the jury a photograph of the defendant, who he told them murdered his daughter, whose photo is on the screen at left. (Jim Davis for the Boston Globe). (Jim Davis for The Boston Globe/Jim Davis for the Boston Globe)
trial of the Adam Montgomery Rebecca Maines testifies during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
trial of the Adam Montgomery
Missing Girl New Hampshire Judge Amy Messer, seated at center, listens to defense and prosecution attorneys during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Manchester, N.H. Police Capt. Matthew Larochelle listens to an audio recording of Adam Montgomery during the trial of the Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Missing Girl New Hampshire Judge Amy Messer, seated at right, listens to defense and prosecution attorneys as witness Rebecca Maines, left, waits on the witness stand during the trial of the Adam Montgomery at Hillsborough County Superior Court, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Montgomery is facing second-degree murder and other charges in the death of his daughter, Harmony. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Investigators believe Harmony was slain in December 2019, though she wasn’t reported missing for almost two years. Kayla Montgomery, the girl’s stepmother, testified that the body was hidden in the trunk of a car, a cooler, a ceiling vent, and a workplace freezer before Adam disposed of it.
Members of Harmony’s family are expected to testify at the sentence hearing, according to court documents.
“The Office of the Hillsborough County Sheriff shall take all necessary steps to ensure the defendant’s timely appearance at his sentencing hearing scheduled on May 9, 2024 at 1:00 pm,” the ruling said.