New Hampshire to Pay $2.25 Million to Mother of Murdered Girl
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – In a settlement agreement reached last month, the state of New Hampshire has committed to pay $2.25 million to Crystal Sorey, the mother of Harmony Montgomery, a 5-year-old girl who was murdered by her father. Adam Montgomery, currently serving a minimum 56-year prison sentence, was convicted of killing Harmony and moving her remains, which have yet to be found.
Sorey filed a negligence lawsuit last May, accusing state social workers of failing to recognize signs of abuse after Montgomery was awarded custody in early 2019. Though the settlement does not involve any admission of wrongdoing, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella stated that the agreement aims to avoid protracted litigation and provide some closure for the grieving families.
This settlement follows another recent $5.75 million payout by the state related to the death of a boy placed by the state with a now-charged grandmother. In light of these cases, lawmakers are reconsidering the future of the Office of the Child Advocate, established in 2018 to oversee child welfare issues, amid discussions of budget cuts.
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