MANCHESTER, NH — The fate of Adam Montgomery, the New Hampshire father accused of brutally killing his young daughter, Harmony, “in a fit of rage,” is now in the hands of the jury as deliberations begin in his murder trial.
Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday afternoon after the defense rested its case without calling a single witness. The jury was unable to reach a verdict by days end. Deliberations will continue Thursday.
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Prosecutor Ben Agati urged the jury to look closely at the facts of this case, calling Adam Montgomery “a killer, not a father.”
“It is he who punished her with his fists that day. And he who destroyed her body,” Agati told the court. “Harmony doesn’t get dignity, peace. He thinks finding Harmony is a waste of time, a waste of taxpayer money.”
Authorities believe Adam Montgomery killed Harmony on Dec. 7, 2019, but she wasn’t reported missing until nearly two years later. Her body has not been found.
Defense attorney Caroline Smith urged jurors not to believe a single word of testimony from Adam Montgomery’s estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, who was the prosecution’s star witness.
WATCH LIVE: Closing arguments underway in Adam Montgomery murder trial.WATCH LIVE: Closing arguments are underway in the murder trial of Adam Montgomery, the New Hampshire father accused of killing his young daughter, Harmony.
Posted by Boston 25 News on Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Adam Montgomery, 34, is charged with second-degree murder, assault, and witness tampering in connection with Harmony’s death. At the start of his trial, his legal team informed the court that he intended to plead guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse and falsifying evidence.
A judge on Tuesday denied a motion from the defense requesting to dismiss the charges of second-degree murder and assault against Adam Montgomery.
Adam’s estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, broke down crying on the stand and shared gruesome testimony as the prosecution’s star witness.
Kayla Montgomery, 33, told the court that her husband violently punched Harmony when he flew into a rage on Dec. 7, 2019, shortly before they noticed her lifeless body.
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Adam Montgomery later folded the girl’s body into a duffel bag, and he spent the next few weeks moving Harmony’s decaying body by hiding it in a restaurant freezer, in the ceiling of a shelter, in an apartment refrigerator, Kayla Montgomery said. In their apartment, she testified, Adam spent hours dismembering the child’s body so it could fit in a small bag.
“It was evil,” Kayla Montgomery said in describing Adam Montgomery’s “crazy eyes” look and demeanor towards his young daughter on the day Harmony died.
Days after the girl’s death, in perhaps the most gruesome account of her testimony, Kayla Montgomery admitted to assisting Adam Montgomery as he cut the clothes off of Harmony’s decaying corpse and showered hot water on the girl’s corpse, in an attempt to speed decomposition by using lime.
Kayla Montgomery has a plea deal with the state and has previously identified her estranged husband as Harmony’s killer.
Rebecca Maines, who is in prison for a parole violation, testified that Adam Montgomery testified Tuesday that Adam Montgomery hated the Harmony “right to his core” because she reminded him of her mother.
LIVE COURT UPDATES FROM BOSTON 25′S BOB WARD:
Jury in Adam Montgomery murder trial has left courtroom to begun deliberations. Adam is charged with the murder of his 5 yr old daughter, Harmony in 2019. Her body has never been found. #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Judge: The defendant's absence is not evidence in this trial. You are not to consider the fact that he was not present in this trial. #AdamMontgomery #harmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Once judge finishes with instructions and the five alternates are chosen, deliberations in the #AdamMontgomery murder trial will begin. Verdict could come at any time. #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
The judge is now instructing the jury on the law And soon, the five alternate jurors will be chosen. there are 17 jurors (14 women 3 men) who heard this case. 12 will decide Montgomery's fate. @boston25 #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Once judge finishes with instructions and the five alternates are chosen, deliberations in the #AdamMontgomery murder trial will begin. Verdict could come at any time. #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
The judge is now instructing the jury on the law And soon, the five alternate jurors will be chosen. there are 17 jurors (14 women 3 men) who heard this case. 12 will decide Montgomery's fate. @boston25 #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: Kayla did nothing. He did a lot of things. It's called murder and assault. He's guilty of every single charge. State's close is over. Jury instruction now #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: look at the facts. call him a killer. but dont call him a father. #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: He knows where she is right now. But he believes its a waste of time and taxpayer money to find her #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: Harmony doesn't get dignity, peace. He thinks finding Harmony is a waste of time, a waste of taxpayer money #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati raising his voice: he had no value for her life when he killed her. he took an innocent child, other than his rage, lack of humanity. this trial is about Harmony Montgomery. #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: He doesn't do nothing. He's not the passenger in this situation, he's the driver. #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: it is he who punished her with his fists that day. And he who destroyed her body. #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: You don’t just have Kayla’s testimony. 50 witnesses provide corroboration of Kayla’s testimony in ways she would never have known. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: What Kayla is, is a battered woman. She failed in a moment in her life when her character was put to the test. She did nothing to help Harmony. She didn't kill Harmony. Only Adam did that. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: Kayla did not parent Harmony. She didn't stop the defendant or get help. She didn't lift a finger. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: He took her life in rage over a bathroom accident. "I think I hurt hurt this time," that's what he believed. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: On day of Harmony's death, "All he has is his car, his rage, his fists." After he learns Harmony soiled herself in the car. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: From multiple witnesses, from defendant's multiple confessions, he committed an assault on a five yr old child. Of that there is simply no doubt. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: just because you believe her (Kayla's) failure to do the right thing, doesn't mean on this, she's not telling the truth. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: (as shows jury photo of Kayla with blackeyes) Adam conditioned her so well. She kept his secret. You dont have to like her, to believe her #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: On day of Harmony's death, "All he has is his car, his rage, his fists." After he learns Harmony soiled herself in the car. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: From multiple witnesses, from defendant's multiple confessions, he committed an assault on a five yr old child. Of that there is simply no doubt. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agaiti: "Desecrate and hide the dead so the body cannot tell the story of how they died to the living. That's what murderers do. That’s what the defendant did. Because he is a murderer." @boston25 #AdamMontgomery #harmonymontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
As Harmony's picture is shown to jury, an angry Agati grabbed a CMC bag and reminded jury that Adam admits he put his daughter's body in the bag. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati Adam admits what he can't deny. He denies what he can't afford to admit. #harmonymontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Agati: "I F-ed up. Again and Again. I f-ed up. That's what the defendant said. Not she, not we, not Kayla. I. I F-ed up." @boston25 #AdamMontgomery #KaylaMontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
NH Prosecutor Ben Agati is starting state's closing #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Judge just excused jury for 15 minute break. After State closes, they'll go into instructions, then deliberations will begin this afternoon. @boston25 #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Caroline Smith has wrapped up her closing. State will close in 15 minutes. #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Smith: If you decide this case based on emotion, it could be a quick verdict. Take your time. #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Smith We are talking about trusting Kayla. If you have that doubt, you must find Adam Not Guilty #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Smith: Adam worked for years to get Harmony. He loved her and wanted her in the house. He wanted to raise her. Things fell apart, but he didn't hate Harmony. #HarmonyMontgomery #AdamMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Smith: "You can hold Adam accountable for what he did. But Kayla is lying, she continues to lie. She made up things in front of you. Adam did some very bad things, he did not kill his daughter." #adammontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Smith: "That child would have been as bloody as you can imagine. There was no blood (in the car). Her (Kayla's) story is false." @boston25 #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
As Caroline Smith discussed the dismemberment of Harmony's body in Union St apartment, Harmony's mother, Crystal Sorey got up and ran out of the courtroom. #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Smith: "Was Kayla capable to make up a lie that Adam brutally beat his daughter to death?
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Yes, she is capable. And she did do it." #AdamMontgomery #HarmonyMontgomery @boston25
Smith: When you look at critical eye at Kayla’s lies, you will see they are lies intertwined with the truth.
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
The allegation that Adam beat his child for days and then on 12/7 for hours, is crazy. @boston25 #AdamMontgomerytrial #HarmonyMontgomery
Smith: Adam did not kill his baby girl. He made horrible and criminal decisions after Harmony's death to keep his family together. @boston25 #adammontgomery
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Defense atty Caroline Smith is giving her close now. @boston25 #AdamMontgomerytrial
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Adam Montgomery Trial: DEFENSE RESTS>
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Closings now. @boston25
Judge Amy Messer has DENIED defense motion to have Kayla Montgomery's testimony excluded from jury consideration. #AdamMontgomery @boston25 #harmonymontgomery #truecrime
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
Adam Montgomery is charged with the murder of his 5 yr old daughter, #HarmonyMontgomery. She has never been found. Adam's wife, Kayla is, NH's key witness. Defense moving to have her testimony excluded. @boston25 #AdamMontgomerytrial
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
I'm in Hillsborough Superior Court, Manchester, NH for the #AdamMontgomery murder trial. Adam is at the jail and is not in court today. State rested yesterday. This means he will not take the stand in his defense. Only two defense witnesses listed. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) February 21, 2024
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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