A jury has found Adam Montgomery guilty of murdering his 5-year-old daughter, Harmony.
The jury reached its decision after deliberating for about a day. They also found Adam Montgomery, 34, guilty of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse and tampering with a witness and informants.
Sentencing likely will be scheduled for sometime after April 1, but it could be as late as May. Prosecutors said they plan to file a request to require that Adam Montgomery be present for sentencing.
Adam Montgomery was not in court as the verdicts were read, and he had not attended the trial since jury selection.
>> Full video: Jury gives verdicts in Adam Montgomery murder trial
Harmony’s mother, Crystal Sorey, locked her arms with Harmony’s foster mother in the courtroom for the verdicts. The room was packed with reporters and law enforcement, and an audible sigh could be heard as the guilty verdicts were read.
About 25% of Manchester police force was involved in the investigation of Harmony’s disappearance and murder.
The verdicts were an endpoint to an investigation that was announced on New Years’ Eve 2021, when police said they were searching for a 5-year-old girl who hadn’t been seen for two years.
In August 2022, Attorney General John Formella announced that the investigation was now a homicide investigation, as they believed Harmony had been killed. In October 2022, Adam Montgomery was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
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Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said in a news conference after the verdicts were read that even though the trial was over, the investigation continues, because Harmony’s remains have not been recovered. Adam Montgomery was found guilty of disposing of her remains in an effort to cover up the crime.
“He knows where she is,” Agati said.
An emotional Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg said he was proud of his officers and grateful for the work of prosecutors as he said their work isn’t over.
“We’ve still got to find her,” he said.
Agati called Manchester police officers “lions” for their devotion in pursuing the case.
Adam Montgomery faces a sentence of 35 years to life in prison on the second-degree murder charge. The felony charges of second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence and tampering with a witness carry sentences of 3½ to seven years in prison, while the abuse of a corpse misdemeanor charge has a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.
Jurors heard closing arguments in the case Wednesday after the defense rested without calling a witness.
Adam Montgomery murder trial updates
WARNING: Some descriptions used during the trial might be disturbing for some viewers. Explicit language might also be heard. Viewer discretion is advised.
Trial videos:
- Feb. 21, 2024: Raw video: Judge speaks to jury about posters related to case | Closing arguments: Defense | Prosecution | Raw video: Judge gives jury instructions before deliberations
- Feb. 20, 2024: Testimony: Douglas Small, grandfather of woman dating Montgomery before arrest | Massachusetts State Police Det. Bryan Hernandez | Former friend Rebecca Maines | Manchester Police Capt. Matthew Larochelle & audio recording of Montgomery phone call | Raw video: Judge explains what’s next after state rests its case | Defense motions for dismissal, judge denies motion
- Feb. 16, 2024: Testimony: Travis Beach talks about U-Haul rental | Property manager Tarah Hilbert | Jessica Guerin, who dated friend of Adam Montgomery | Nicole Giles, who knew Montgomerys | Walmart worker Michael Dobe | Manchester Det. Adam Bergeron-Rosa | Manchester Det. Louis Krawczyk | Manchester Det. Craig Stanzel | Raw video: Judge tells jury trial is going quicker than anticipated | Both sides discuss new tip in case, other matters
- Feb. 15, 2024: Testimony: DNA analyst on sheetrock stain testing | Former co-worker Emily Thompson | Former co-worker Cameron Gibne | Raw video: Hearing over evidence of Home Depot purchases | More testimony: Home Depot employee Bob Wasson | Det. Max Rahill (Part 1) | Det. Rahill (Part 2) | Friend Britney Bedard | Repairman Dennis Cloutier | Brendan Middleton, who rented U-Haul | Rose Smith, who gave Montgomerys rides
- Feb. 14, 2024: Testimony: Criminalist Katie Swango (Part 2) | Former detective Scott Riley | Manchester Police Det. Ray Lamy | Rachel Radwich, who works in the Manchester Police Department’s Evidence Unit | Sheet-rock worker Yard Lujano | Retired criminologist Kevin McMahon | Martin Orlowicz, criminologist with NH State Police Forensic Lab
- Feb. 13, 2024: Testimony: Officer Neil Penttinen | Former co-worker Matthew Gendron | Ex-tow truck driver Aaron Sweeney | Former detective Joseph Tucker on searching the car | Tucker testifies he swabbed the trunk | Manchester Police Sgt. Brian O’Leary (Part 1) | Sgt. O’Leary (Part 2) | Anthony Bodero, who let Montgomerys stay in his vehicle | Manchester Police Det. Ryan Heile | Kayla Montgomery’s mother, Christina Lubin | Criminalist Katie Swango (Part 1)
- Feb. 12, 2024: See Kayla Montgomery’s testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Other testimony: Courtney Garcia, wife of Adam Montgomery’s friend | Former co-worker Kimberly Frain
- Feb. 9, 2024: See Kayla Montgomery’s testimony: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
- Feb. 8, 2024: Opening statements: Prosecution | Defense | Testimony: Harmony’s foster mom | Harmony’s mom Crystal Sorey | Nurse who saw Harmony in 2019 | Kevin Montgomery, Adam Montgomery’s uncle | Raw video: Hearing during lunch break | More testimony: Former friend & romantic partner Katie Morin | Nicholas Ahern, man who knew Montgomery for years | Sheriff’s deputy Paul Montray | Former DCYF worker Demetrios Tsaros
- Feb. 7, 2024: Jurors sworn in | Jury view instructions | Montgomery, Judge speak about concession on 2 charges | Judge issues order about transporting Montgomery
- Feb. 6, 2024: Montgomery waives right to wear leg brace
Latest articles:
- Feb. 20, 2024: State rests murder case against Adam Montgomery
- Feb. 20, 2024: Mother of Harmony Montgomery asks court to officially declare her daughter dead
- Feb. 16, 2024: Witnesses testify about events after prosecutors say Harmony was killed
- Feb. 15, 2024: Jurors hear about DNA evidence, power tool purchases
- Feb. 14, 2024: Detectives testify about collecting evidence in investigation
- Feb. 13, 2024: Jury hears from detectives involved in murder investigation
- Feb. 12, 2024: Kayla Montgomery sticks by story as defense questions her
- Feb. 9, 2024: Kayla Montgomery testifies that Adam Montgomery killed Harmony, tried to hide her body
- Feb. 8, 2024: Jurors hear testimony from Harmony’s mother
- Feb. 7, 2024: Defense to acknowledge defendant’s guilt on 2 charges at trial
- Feb. 6, 2024: Pool of potential jurors whittled down
Review live blogs:
- Feb. 20, 2024
- Feb. 16, 2024
- Feb. 15, 2024
- Feb. 14, 2024
- Feb. 13, 2024
- Feb. 12, 2024
- Feb. 9, 2024
- Feb. 8, 2024
- Feb. 7, 2024
- Feb. 6, 2024
Background:
Review a full timeline of this story here, or scroll down for more.