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On Dec. 29, New Hampshire authorities had been simply days away from formally asserting that 7-year-old Concord Montgomery, who had not been bodily seen for 2 years, was lacking.
However the household’s frustration was mounting.
“I'm a single mom of three i at present solely have 2 of my children,” an e-mail apparently authored by Crystal Sorey and obtained by The Every day Beast through a information request reads. “My oldest daughter Concord shes [sic] 7 years previous.”
The blistering e-mail—whose creator is redacted—goes on to slam the state’s Division for Youngsters, Youth, and Households (DCYF), stating that regardless that they've an “open case” into Concord, they didn't take away her from the custody of Adam Montgomery, her father, even after they “witnessesed her bruises & the home at he time had no operating water.”
“[N]ow its a yr later & dcyf has executed NOTHING to assist me discover her,” the e-mail continued. “Shes presupposed to be in 1st grade [Adam] NEVER enrolled her into college this entire time. Shes missed essential medical doctors appointments shes had since a child as a consequence of her incapacity in her eye.”
Earlier than signing off the e-mail, the creator added, “My subsequent step goes the media to get no matter assist i would like to seek out her & convey her dwelling secure!”
Sorey didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.
The e-mail, which a spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace beforehand instructed The Every day Beast was forwarded to the Manchester Police Division, was despatched simply two days earlier than authorities put out a “lacking little one” alert for Concord.
Inside days of the alert, the investigation garnered nationwide consideration, FBI help, and the arrest of Concord’s father and stepmother on allegations of abuse and welfare fraud, respectively. Neither has been charged immediately in reference to the kid’s disappearance. On Monday, the New Hampshire Lawyer Basic’s workplace stated the police concluded a “multi-day” search of the house the place Concord was final seen—however that because it’s an ongoing investigation, “no further data will likely be launched at the moment.”
A spokesperson for DCYF didn't instantly reply for touch upon Monday. Final week, nonetheless, the company instructed The Every day Beast that “state and federal legislation requires us to guard the confidentiality of kids and households served by and people engaged with the Division for Youngsters, Youth, and Households.” A police spokesperson didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.
Adam Montgomery, 31, was arrested final week on fees together with felony second-degree assault in reference to 2019 conduct in opposition to his daughter. His spouse, 31-year-old Kayla, was arrested for the welfare fraud scheme by which she allegedly obtained greater than $1,500 in food-stamp advantages on Concord’s behalf even after she was lacking.
Regardless of the motion within the case, authorities have but to seek out the 7-year-old lady or cost anybody over her disappearance. Police have insisted that the investigation continues to be a lacking individuals matter till they've proof to point in any other case.
The Dec. 29 e-mail mirrors allegations Crystal Sorey made at a Saturday vigil for Concord in Manchester. Talking with NBC, she stated that she had been involved about Concord’s well-being because the little one was positioned in her father’s custody in 2019.
Sorey later instructed police she final noticed her daughter through Facetime in April 2019—earlier than Adam Montgomery allegedly blocked all contact.
"I have been begging for any sort of reply since 2019," Sorey stated, including that she has known as New Hampshire colleges, pushed by previous addresses related to Concord’s father, and even known as DCYF a number of occasions attempting to find her daughter.
“My daughter was failed by everyone,” she added.
In response to Adam Montgomery’s arrest affidavit, Sorey known as the Manchester Police Division on Nov. 18, reporting that her daughter “was lacking and that she hadn’t seen [her] in over six months.”
The decision prompted a police worker to contact the Division for Youngsters, Youth and Households in New Hampshire (DCYF).
On Dec. 27, two days earlier than theemail was despatched, DCYF notified police they had been unable to find Concord, prompting officers to open an investigation into the 7-year-old. They quickly realized from relations that she “had not been bodily seen since October/November 2019,” the affidavit states.
That very same day, the affidavit states, “members of the Manchester Police Division actively made makes an attempt to trace down Adam and speak to concerned relations to determine the final time [Harmony] was bodily noticed, and identified to be secure.”
“Officers and investigators had been initially unable to make contact with Adam through telephone,” the affidavit added.
In response to the Dec. 29 e-mail despatched the identical day, a spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace wrote, “Sadly, the Metropolis would not have jurisdiction over DCYF or the court docket system” and inspired the mom to achieve out to police if she believed Concord was in “rapid hazard of bodily hurt.”
“You probably have already tried to do these items however haven't heard again, please let me know and I'll test on the standing of your case for you,” the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for the Mayor’s workplace declined to reply to The Every day Beast’s request for remark and directed all inquiries to the New Hampshire Lawyer Basic’s Workplace “since they’re main the investigation” into Concord’s disappearance. The AG’s workplace didn't instantly reply for remark.
The affidavit for Adam Montgomery’s arrest notes that authorities had been actively investigating Concord’s case by the point the e-mail was despatched. On Dec. 30, investigators spoke to Adam’s brother, Michael, who they stated raised considerations concerning the little one.
“Michael recalled throughout his final bodily contact with [Harmony] and Adam, he had considerations that Adam was bodily abusive in direction of [Harmony],” the affidavit states. “Michael recalled Adam was ‘tremendous quick’ with the kid, and he realized by way of different relations that Adam had given [Harmony] a black eye.”
The affidavit additionally states that Adam Montgomery admitted he inflicted a black eye on the kid to his uncle, Kevin, in July 2019. “I bashed her round the home,” Montgomery allegedly instructed Kevin Montgomery.
Kevin Montgomery additionally beforehand described witnessing the aftermath of abuse—together with a black eye—to The Every day Beast, noting that he known as DCYF after in 2019 however nothing occurred. That abuse, he instructed investigators, included Concord being spanked “arduous on the butt,” being pressured “to face within the nook for hours,” and being ordered “to clean the bathroom along with her toothbrush.”
“I stated in 2019 that I assumed Concord ought to be out of Adam’s custody,” Kevin Montgomery instructed The Every day Beast final week. “The primary concern was maintaining her secure.”
Determined pleas for assist, Sorey instructed NBC on Saturday she believes her daughter continues to be alive.
“I don’t really feel like she's gone. I simply don’t really feel that in my coronary heart,” Sorey stated. “Like, I don’t really feel like I misplaced her. And a mom is aware of, a mom is aware of in case your child’s right here or not. I do know she's right here.”