Harmony Montgomery’s mother files wrongful death lawsuit against state of NH
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By Bryan Lambert
The mother of Harmony Montgomery filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the state of New Hampshire Friday.
Crystal Sorey’s lawsuit against the state aims to hold the Division of Children, Youth, and Families accountable for Harmony’s “senseless and preventable death.”
According to the suit, Harmony lived with Sorey in Massachusetts from her birth in 2014 until February 2019, when the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families removed her from her mother over allegations of neglect. Harmony was then placed into the care of her father Adam Montgomery in New Hampshire. Montgomery was convicted of second-degree murder in February after a trial in which Montgomery acknowledged he “purposely and unlawfully removed, concealed or destroyed” her corpse and falsified physical evidence but claimed he did not kill her.
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)
The suit details that Harmony’s family reported concerns to DCYF after she was found with a black eye but were met with little response. Other reports included details about unsafe living conditions, how electricity and hot water in the home had been turned off, drug paraphernalia, and “how Harmony’s father punished her by forcing her to stand in the corner for hours or stay in her bedroom from when she woke up until the late afternoon.:
The suit also notes that the family reported Harmony wasn’t receiving care from a doctor and she wasn’t enrolled in school.
A 2022 report from the Office of the Child Advocate, an independent agency that ensures Massachusetts state agencies provide children with quality services, found that Mass. DCF failed to argue effectively on behalf of Harmony.