Kayla Montgomery's letter raises doubts over her role in the death of five-year-old Harmony Montgomery.
In a dramatic turn of events during the New Hampshire trial, the defence presented a letter written by Kayla Montgomery, the estranged wife of Adam Montgomery, which sheds light on her intentions to betray him. The letter, written while she was in prison, was revealed by defence attorneys as part of their strategy to undermine the prosecution’s case in the trial over the tragic death of five-year-old Harmony Montgomery.
Kayla Montgomery, who is serving an 18-month sentence for perjury after lying to authorities about Harmony’s whereabouts, took the stand last Friday as the prosecution's key witness. She testified about the death of Harmony in December 2019, allegedly at the hands of her husband, Adam Montgomery. Prosecutors claim that Adam hit Harmony in the head after she soiled herself while in the car where the family was living. Her death went unreported for two years until an investigation was launched in 2021 following attempts by Harmony's mother to locate her.
Kayla, who is Harmony’s stepmother, was reportedly involved in the disposal and relocation of Harmony’s remains over several months, from a cooler in her mother’s home to a ceiling vent at a shelter. Montgomery then reportedly attempted to destroy the body and dispose of it in March 2021.
In contrast, the defence argues that it was Kayla who was responsible for Harmony’s death, with Adam allegedly trying to protect his wife and their children by agreeing to cover up the murder. In court, defence attorney Caroline Smith read from the letter Kayla had written in prison, dated 2022, where she demanded immunity and custody of her children in exchange for providing information about the murder. Kayla also expressed a desire to see her husband one last time, which Smith used to question her sincerity and challenge the prosecution’s narrative that Kayla had been intimidated by Adam.
Smith further confronted Kayla about the lies she had told to a grand jury in 2021, including details about Harmony’s last known whereabouts. Smith pointed out discrepancies, such as Kayla’s description of what Harmony had been wearing, which contradicted evidence that Kayla had cut the clothing off Harmony’s body.
Kayla testified that she feared for her life and that of her children under Adam's control, but her testimony raised questions about her involvement in the cover-up. The defence is trying to shift the blame onto Kayla, arguing that she, not Adam, played a more direct role in the girl's death.
Adam Montgomery, who has waived his right to attend the trial, faces a second-degree murder charge in connection to Harmony's death. Earlier in the trial, Montgomery indicated that he would plead guilty to charges of abuse of a corpse and falsifying information.
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The first day’s journey was through the pink fields
The first day’s journey was through the pink fields
The first day’s journey was through the pink fields