Court documents: Harmony Montgomery’s granduncle called DCYF in 2019

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Harmony Montgomery’s granduncle first alerted authorities to concerns over the little girl’s safety in the summer of 2019, months before she disappeared, newly released court documents show.

Kevin Montgomery, Harmony’s father’s uncle, called the Division for Children, Youth and Families in July, 2019 after he noticed Harmony had a black eye, a court affidavit released Wednesday said.

“Kevin said that he returned to Manchester in July 2019 after a trip to Florida and observed [Harmony Montgomery] with a black eye. Kevin notified DCYF after the fact with concern for the injury,” the affidavit said.

“Kevin said that Adam [Montgomery] told him that he had caused the injury to [Harmony]. Adam told Kevin at the time, ‘I bashed her around this house,” the affidavit said.

The affidavit goes on to detail various forms of physical abuse committed by Adam, as described by Kevin to investigators. Adam was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of felony second-degree assault, one misdemeanor charge of interference with custody, and two misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child pertaining to Harmony.

“My family loves Harmony. We tried. I tried. [DCYF], they failed,” Kevin said in a phone message to Boston 25. “I’m sick of the stories out there, people saying ‘How could this happen?’  I tried. I tried. We didn’t have control.”

Court documents show Harmony’s mother lost custody of the girl in July, 2018. She told investigators the last time she spoke with her daughter was over a Facetime video call around Easter 2019. Adam is Harmony’s legal guardian, but told police he hadn’t seen her since her mother came to pick her up around Thanksgiving of 2019.

Harmony’s maternal grandfather Tim Flanagan said his family called state social workers “14 times over the last two years” because of concerns for Harmony’s safety.

“That poor girl has been through hell through the system. The system has failed her. I have called numerous times,” Flanagan said.

Manchester Police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg said Monday he is operating under the assumption Harmony is still alive.

“Until somebody shows me something that she’s not [alive], we are in rescue mode right now. This is not a recovery. All efforts are focused on that Harmony is alive and we’re going to do everything we can to find her in that condition,” Aldenberg said.

Flanagan said his daughter—Harmony’s mother—is cooperating with police.

“She’s sick. Every time she calls me she’s crying,” Flanagan said.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Tip Line at 603-203-6060. That line is monitored 24 hours a day and tips can be sent via text or call.

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