Adam Montgomery found guilty of murdering 5-year-old daughter, Harmony

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.