Stepmom Of Missing NH Girl Waives Arraignment On 2 Perjury Charges

MANCHESTER, NH — The stepmother of a missing New Hampshire girl, who is facing stolen property and welfare theft charges, has now been charged with two perjury counts.

Kayla Montgomery, 31, of Lake Avenue in Manchester, was arrested on Friday on two felony counts of perjury; false statement under oath. She requested a court-appointed attorney and received one on Monday and waived arraignment on the two charges in Hillsborough County Superior Court North.

The charges accused Kayla Montgomery of making “a false material statement under oath or affirmation” that she did not believe the statement to be true on May 20, as part of a grand jury, “testifying falsely” regarding “a prior work location” and “a prior work shift.” It is unknown what specific case the perjury allegations were connected to. She has already been indicted on the welfare theft charges. The affidavit on the new charges is sealed, court officials said.

Kayla Montgomery was originally arrested on a welfare fraud charge accused of collecting food stamp benefits for Harmony Montgomery, 7, between December 2019 and June 2021 — but failing to notify the state's Division of Family Assistance that her stepdaughter was no longer living with her. Later, the charge was revised to a single felony theft charge count and several misdemeanor charges.

In early April, there were rumors she was going to be offered a plea deal but officials refused to comment on the report. But by the middle of the month, Kayla Montgomery was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property from 2019 connected to a stolen rifle and shotgun that her former husband, Adam Montgomery, was accused of stealing.

Adam Montgomery is facing a felony second-degree assault charge as well as interference with custody and two endangering the welfare of a child charges connected to an accusation he assaulted his daughter. He was also charged with two counts of theft by unauthorized taking, two receiving stolen property counts, two felon in possession of a weapon counts, and two counts of armed career criminal, all felonies, based on having been convicted of three or more qualifying felonies and being accused of possessing stolen firearms, connected to the stolen rifle and shotgun case.

Adam Montgomery is also being eyed as a potential suspect in the 2008 murder of Darlin Guzman of Lynn, MA.

Kayla Montgomery was expected to be offered bail again. She was previously accused of violating a bail order in May.

The search for Harmony Montgomery continues with officials still requesting the public's assistance locating her. She is white, about 4 feet tall, and weighs around 50 pounds. Harmony Montgomery has blond hair and blue eyes, and should be wearing glasses. She is also blind in one eye. There is a $144,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.

Anyone with information regarding her disappearance or current whereabouts is asked to call the Manchester Police Department's 24-hour tip line dedicated to her case at 603-203-6060.

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