Investigators remove evidence from apartment tied to Harmony Montgomery

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A massive all-day law enforcement search of a Manchester, N.H. apartment building Tuesday failed to locate Harmony Montgomery.

The now 8-year-old girl has not been seen in two-and-a-half years.

New Hampshire authorities, including Manchester Police, Hillsborough County Sheriffs, and the New Hampshire office of the FBI spent hours Tuesday retrieving evidence from an apartment at 644 Union Street. The street reopened around 10 p.m. after the search ended for the night.

Among dozens of onlookers Tuesday, Regina Carr watched the search and waited for updates. Carr has posted flyers and organized searches for Harmony over the last few months.

“We all want closure. I don’t think this is the closure we hope for, but we do want closure,” Carr said, her heart sinking as she watched investigators remove possible evidence. “The fact that they didn’t find Harmony here keeps the hope alive, means that we can continue searching for her.”

Near midday, investigators emerged from the apartment building, loading a refrigerator and other items, including wooden planks, into a truck.

New search in Harmony Montgomery case expected to go into the night

The items will be brought to another location for further analysis.

Attorney General John M. Formella announces Wednesday morning that the search at 644 Union Street in Manchester has concluded.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, no additional information will be released at this time,” said AG Formella. “Officials ask the public to respect the privacy of the current residents of 644 Union Street and to stay off of their property as the investigation continues.”

Harmony’s father, Adam Montgomery, and his then-wife, Kayla Montgomery, once lived at the apartment.

A Hillsborough County grand jury indicted Adam Montgomery, 30, in March on a felony charge of second-degree assault, alleging that he struck Harmony in the face in July 2019.

Kayla Montgomery, 31, was indicted by the grand jury on a felony charge of theft by deception, alleging that she told New Hampshire Health Department workers that Harmony was a member of her household from November 2019 to June 2, 2021, and that she received food stamp benefits for Harmony.

Kayla was also arrested earlier this month on perjury charges.

Both have pleaded not guilty and they told police that Harmony was living with her mother in Massachusetts.

Adam is currently in custody, while Kayla is out on bond.

Sources say neither Adam nor Kayla Montgomery are cooperating in efforts to find Harmony.

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is heading up the Harmony Montgomery investigation. The office will not say what led police to search Union Street; however, a source tells me that the location was searched because of new investigatory leads that were recently developed.

It does not appear that anyone close to Harmony Montgomery has changed course and is now cooperating with investigators.

Harmony Montgomery disappeared sometime in November or December 2019. It is not clear if she ever lived at Union Street with Adam and Kayla.

In January, the FBI helped NH investigators search a home on Gilford Street where Harmony lived with her father and stepmother. She was not found.

As police spend hours searching Union Street, Harmony’s birth mother, Crystal Sorey, told Boston 25 News, “This is rough. I know in my heart this is no longer a rescue mission. They’re looking for a body.”

Late Tuesday afternoon, Manchester Department of Public Work employees opened a manhole cover near the Union Street apartment building and dropped a camera into the pipes below the street searching for evidence.

As of 6 p.m., Harmony Montgomery had not been found, and the search was expected to continue into the night.

Anyone with information about Harmony’s disappearance can call or text a 24-hour tip line at 603-203-6060.

Large search underway at NH home where father, stepmother of missing Harmony Montgomery used to live

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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