Kayla Montgomery: Murder accused Adam Montgomery's estranged wife admits to hiding stepdaughter's body in freezer during trial

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

CONCORD, NEWS HAMPSHIRE: Kayla Montgomery, estranged wife of Adam Montgomery who is accused of killing his five-year-old daughter, appeared as the key witness for the state in the trial against her husband.

Testifying at New Hampshire’s Hillsborough County Court on Friday, Kayla recounted witnessing the lifeless body of Harmony in the back seat of a car, allegedly as a result of physical abuse by the defendant.

Rather than contacting emergency services, Kayla stated that Adam Montgomery concealed the child's body. She also admitted to hiding Harmony’s body in the freezer of a restaurant, as per CrimeOnline.

How did Harmony Montgomery die?

The tragic incident involving Harmony occurred on December 7, 2019, while Harmony, along with the co-defendant, Kayla, and their other children, resided in a Chrysler Sebring following an eviction from their apartment. 

According to Kayla, they typically parked the car in the Colonial Apartments parking lot in Manchester when not in transit.

Adam was driving the vehicle on the fateful day, and Kayla alleges that he turned his body and repeatedly struck Harmony's face and head while she was seated in the rear passenger side.

Kayla stated that he continued to strike her until he grew concerned after the final blow.

During opening statements on Thursday, prosecutor Christopher Knowles alleged that after assaulting his daughter, Montgomery proceeded to place a fast food order, showing no concern for the victim as he consumed his meal.

Knowles said, “He pulled into that parking lot at Burger King and he ordered his food. He ordered his food and he ate. He didn’t stop to check on Harmony.” He added, “He didn’t look back at her. He didn’t show any concern for this innocent little girl, the child he had just eaten. He ordered his food, and he ate. And he didn’t stop”

It's important to note that the defendant is accused of fatally assaulting Harmony by repeatedly striking her in the head with a closed fist. Although Harmony has not been located, officials have pronounced her deceased based on information provided by Kayla to investigators.

Kayla Montgomery testifies during Harmony’s murder trial

On Friday, Kayla testified in court, confirming that she was with Montgomery as they drove to Burger King. Subsequently, they went to purchase crack cocaine and indulged in substance use. "I was fearful," she tearfully admitted.

Under prosecution questioning, Kayla testified that Montgomery initially concealed a bag containing Harmony's body in a snowbank near dumpsters, in close proximity to the Colonial Village apartments.

According to Kayla's testimony, Adam relocated Harmony's body to multiple locations over the ensuing months. The family subsequently moved into an apartment with Adam's mother, where he stored Harmony's body in a duffel bag concealed within a cooler. 

Adam placed the cooler in the common hallway of the apartment building and left it there until the year's end. Upon leaving the apartment, they temporarily stayed at a transition center, bringing the duffel bag with them. Adam purportedly stashed the bag inside a ceiling vent at the center.

Kayla testified about the putrid odor emanating from the vents. She confessed to transporting the bag, with Harmony's body still inside, to a Portland Pie Company restaurant and placing it inside a freezer as requested by Montgomery. 

They later moved to a residence on Union Street in Manchester, where Adam stored Harmony's body in their refrigerator. 

Kayla recounted Montgomery's discussions about using a hand saw and a NutriBullet blender to dispose of Harmony's remains.

Montgomery spent hours in a hot shower with the child's body, attempting to thaw her from freezing. Kayla admitted to assisting him by cutting Harmony's clothes off with scissors. However, Montgomery never disclosed to Kayla where he disposed of the body.

“He said that he wanted to get rid of her body soon because he was scared that if anything ever happened, he was scared of what would happen to him, and me, and the kids,” Kayla disclosed.

Montgomery's lawyers scrutinized Kayla's testimony, including her prior grand jury testimony, during which she pleaded guilty to perjury and is currently serving an 18-month sentence.

"Only she knows the truth," public defender James T Brooks emphasized to the jury and added, "And only she has benefitted from all the lies she has told."

“Adam Montgomery did not cause Harmony’s death. Kayla Montgomery was the last person to see Harmony alive,” Brooks argued on Thursday.

Prosecutors prompted Kayla to address the jurors directly when asserting that she did not kill Harmony. However, defense attorney Caroline Smith questioned if Kayla had done the same during her grand jury testimony when she claimed ignorance regarding Harmony's fate.

"So, looking at jurors while you're lying doesn't change the lie, right?" Smith queried.

"Right," Kayla responded.

Later, under more questioning about her plea deal, Kayla Montgomery, who was on the stand the entire day Friday, cut short the court session, saying she had a migraine. She is due back on the stand on Monday.