The home of a girl who went missing in 2019 is being searched in New Hampshire after her disappearance was only reported at the end of last year.
Harmony Montgomery, now aged seven, was last seen in New Hampshire in 2019, but officers were not made aware she had vanished until November – more than two years after her disappearance.
State attorney general John M Formella said that a home in Manchester, New Hampshire, was currently being searched, but declined to offer up any more details about the investigation.
In the time since police have known about the disappearance, Harmony’s father, Adam, 31, has been arrested and charged with failing to have his daughter in custody, second-degree assault, custody and child endangerment allegations.
Her stepmother, Kayla, 31, was also arrested, and charged with using $1,500 (£1,100) worth of food stamps between December 2019 and June 2021 for Harmony, despite her not living with her parents.
Both deny the allegations.
Police were made aware that Harmony was missing when they were called by her mother in November, saying she had been trying to find her for the last few months.
An affidavit shows Harmony “had not been physically observed in over two years”, and that police “had concern for whether or not she was still alive.”
‘You stay strong’ – Harmony’s mother appears publicly for the first time
On Saturday night, a candlelit vigil was held in Manchester, New Hampshire, in an effort to raise awareness of Harmony’s disappearance.
Crystal Sorey, Harmony’s birth mother, made her first appearance since the search began, telling the local NBC station that she does not feel as if her daughter is gone.
“I just don’t feel that in my heart,” Ms Sorey said.
“Like, I don’t feel like I lost her. And a mother knows, a mother knows if your baby’s here or not. I know she’s here.”
Speaking directly to her daughter, she added: “Hi, baby. If you can see me and hear me, I want you to know that I never stopped looking for you and I won’t stop fighting until I find you, okay? You stay strong and mommy’s right here fighting for you. I love you.”
She had previously lost custody of her daughter in 2018, claiming that she was banned from contacting Harmony by her ex-husband.
Police in the town say there is a significant financial reward for information that leads to the discovery of Harmony, currently at $94,000 (£69,000).