Adam Montgomery’s defense has shifted the responsibility onto his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, for the tragic loss of his five-year-old daughter. Montgomery, 34, is currently on trial in Manchester, New Hampshire for the tragic murder of his daughter Harmony Montgomery in December 2019.
In an unexpected turn of events, Montgomery made a surprising announcement after the completion of jury selection on Tuesday. He revealed his intention to plead guilty to two lesser charges, specifically abuse of a corpse and falsifying information, in relation to the Harmony’s killing.
On Thursday, Montgomery’s lawyer provided a captivating glimpse into the defense strategy they will employ during the trial. According to attorney James Brooks, it was Kayla Montgomery, the client’s estranged wife and Harmony’s stepmother, who was the last person to see the little girl alive.
According to Mr. Brooks, Kayla Montgomery has been accused of fabricating a series of falsehoods in order to shift the blame onto her husband. He also claims that Adam Montgomery only agreed to dispose of evidence in an attempt to “protect” his wife and secure custody of their young children. “He’s not innocent in this situation.” He and Kayla discreetly relocated the body to ensure its concealment. According to Mr. Brooks, jurors should find him guilty on those charges.
“Adam Montgomery is innocent of the crime of killing Harmony … Kayla Montgomery was the last person to see Harmony before her untimely demise and possesses knowledge about the circumstances surrounding her death.
According to him, Harmony, Adam Montgomery, Kayla Montgomery, and their two infants have been residing in a car since they were evicted from their home in December 2019. The family was living in their car and Montgomery was doing odd jobs to earn quick money, according to Mr. Brooks.
According to Mr. Brooks, Harmony tragically passed away during one of the times when Kayla Montgomery was responsible for the children in the car. According to the prosecution’s opening statements, Harmony’s father allegedly caused her fatal injuries due to her soiling herself.
The state claimed that Kayla Montgomery did not disclose the information earlier due to the abusive and intimidating behavior of her husband.
“Harmony did not pass away in that intersection you witnessed yesterday,” Mr. Brooks informed the court. Adam Montgomery and Kayla discovered Harmony’s body late at night upon Adam’s return from work at Colonial Village Apartments.
The defense argued that Kayla Montgomery did not disclose to Adam Montgomery the details of Harmony’s death. However, they claimed that Adam proceeded with a plan to dispose of Harmony’s remains in an effort to “protect” his family.
A Parent’s Dilemma in Preserving Family Bonds
According to Mr. Brooks, the couple postponed the decision to handle the body due to their uncertainty about what steps to take.
He had a responsibility to ensure Kayla’s safety. “He had to protect their children,” Mr. Brooks said. “If anyone discovered the truth, her children would be at risk of being separated from her.”
A prison letter was presented by the defense, claiming to be written by Kayla Montgomery following her arrest on theft charges. The charges were related to her alleged collection of welfare benefits for the missing child from December 2019 to June 2021. In the letter, she supposedly listed her demands in return for “betraying Adam.”
According to sources, she made a series of requests that included seeking immunity from all charges she was facing, potentially wearing an ankle bracelet or being placed on probation or in drug rehabilitation, and ensuring that she would not lose custody of her children.