(NewsNation) — Adam Montgomery is set to stand trial on charges alleging he killed his 5-year-old daughter and spent months moving and hiding her body before disposing of it.
Jury selection begins Tuesday in a New Hampshire court.
Montgomery, 34, has pleaded not guilty to killing his daughter Harmony Montgomery, who was reported missing in November 2021, nearly two years after police believe she was killed. Her body has not been found.
Here’s a timeline retracing key moments of the case.
Harmony Montgomery born, moves in and out of foster care
June 2014: Harmony is born while her father, Adam, is in prison, according to WMUR-TV. Custody is granted to Crystal Sorey, Harmony’s sole caretaker.
Over the next several years, Harmony would be removed from Sorey’s care multiple times because of Sorey’s drug use.
July 2018: Sorey loses custody, and Harmony is placed in the foster care system.
February 2019: Adam is granted custody of Harmony following his 2015 release from prison and supervised visits with Harmony in the following years.
Killing of Harmony allegedly occurs
December 2019: According to court records released in 2023, Kayla Montgomery, who was Harmony’s stepmother, told police that Adam killed Harmony on Dec. 7, 2019, while the family lived in their car.
Kayla said Adam was driving to a fast food restaurant when he turned around and repeatedly punched Harmony in the face and head because he was angry that she was having bathroom accidents in the car.
“I think I really hurt her this time. I think I did something,” he said, according to Kayla Montgomery.
Harmony reported missing
November 2021: Crystal Sorey tells police she hasn’t seen her daughter in 2 1/2 years and reports her missing.
At the time, police revealed that authorities, including family services, had visited Montgomery’s family in the past.
Searches are conducted, but Harmony is not located.
Father arrested on neglect, assault charges
January 2022: Manchester Police arrest Montgomery while he is sleeping in a car after he gave contradictory statements about the whereabouts of Harmony.
New Hampshire prosecutors say they have evidence Montgomery showed a pattern of abuse while Harmony was in his custody, allegedly telling his brother, “I bashed her around this house.”
Montgomery is charged with one charge of felony second-degree assault, one charge of interference with custody and two charges of endangering the welfare of a child.
Investigation shifts to homicide; dad charged with murder
August 2022: Months after Harmony’s father is arrested on abuse and neglect charges, police announce they are investigating Harmony’s disappearance as a homicide.
October 2022: Adam Montgomery is charged with murder.
April 2023: Searches are again conducted for Harmony’s body, but this time in Florida.
Pre-trial legal motions
September 2023: Montgomery’s trial is delayed because the defense says it needs time to prepare a new co-counsel.
January 2024: Montgomery’s defense team files a motion requesting the charges against him be split into separate trials. His lawyers are seeking one trial for an assault charge and another for a charge of second-degree murder.
Adam Montgomery Trial
Feb. 7, 2024: The jury is seated in the case.
Feb. 8, 2024: Opening arguments are heard and testimony begins. Jurors hear from Harmony’s mother, Crystal Sorey, her great-uncle Kevin Montgomery and her foster mother. Montgomery does not appear in court.
This timeline will updated as the case progresses.
The Associated Press and NewsNation digital producers Liz Jassin, Sean Noone and Urja Sinha contributed to this report.
