NH AG: Harmony Montgomery 'Murdered In Manchester In December 2019'

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said Thursday that the Harmony Montgomery case was now officially a homicide case.

The announcement came on Thursday as officials read brief statements at the Incident Planning and Operations Center in Concord.

Formella said "thousands of hours" have been spent on the case with officials "pursuing numerous leads." All of these efforts, he said, "have led us to conclude that Harmony Montgomery was murdered in Manchester in early December 2019."

The girl, who was 5 at the time, was reported missing in December 2021 after not being seen alive since October 2019.

Multiple sources of investigative information, including "just recently confirmed biological evidence," have led investigators to this conclusion, he said, even though her body had not been found. Formella called the announcement "a difficult and tragic conclusion." He said members of the agency would seek justice and work to find her remains.

"Our work now turns to getting justice for Harmony and all those who loved her," he said.

Formella also praised the Manchester Police Department as well as Jesse O'Neill of the attorney general's office for all their work with the case.

Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg, while holding back tears, praised his team of investigators and thanked the media for keeping the case at the forefront of the public's attention.

"I thank all of them for their tireless work thus far in this investigation," he said. "I'm grateful for the compassion and dedication they have given to this investigation over the past eight months. They have experienced the ups and downs — and many moments of sadness along the way."

Aldenberg implored anyone who knows more about how and when she was killed to come forward and help investigators find her. Aldenberg said officials would now be focused on bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Neither Aldenberg nor Formella took questions from media outlets.

A number of Manchester police officers were also on-hand for the announcements.

The case's change from missing person to homicide was made about two months after an extensive search of an apartment on Union Street in the Queen City, where the girl lived with her father and stepmother. Investigators were seen moving appliances from the apartment while the city's department of public works employees searched sewer pipes around the apartment building for clues.

Before the search on Union Street, investigators were twice at a house on Gilford Street where the family lived. Volunteers also searched a wooded area near the Manchester-Bedford line for clues earlier this year.

Gov. Chris Sununu, who chastised the state of Massachusetts for allowing custody of Harmony Montgomery to be given to her father, a violent, career criminal, and felon with several convictions, also commended the work of investigators.

"Our greatest fears were confirmed today and now our efforts shift to ensuring justice for Harmony," he said. "I commend the tireless dedication of the law enforcement community for their unwavering efforts and commitment to transparency and recognize they have much work ahead of them. We have come to know Harmony through her bright smiles in her photos, and she will not be soon be forgotten by her fellow Granite Staters."

The Manchester Police Department has a 24-hour tip line dedicated to information about Harmony Montgomery. Call 603-203-6060 with any information.

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