'I miss her;' 7-year-old brother offers touching words to Harmony

May 9—Blair Miller and Johnathon Bobbitt-Miller had asked about adopting Harmony Montgomery before being told she had been placed in the custody of her father, Adam Montgomery, in 2019.

That placement still haunts them, as was evident by an impact statement made in court Thursday at Adam Montgomery's sentencing for murdering his 5-year-old daughter.

The adoptive fathers of Harmony's brother, Jamison, got to read a complete victim-impact statement at Thursday's sentencing of Adam Montgomery for the girl's murder after initially being told they wouldn't be able to.

The words of Harmony's now-7-year-old brother brought many in the courtroom to tears as they were shared by Johnathon Bobbitt-Miller.

"Tell everyone my name is Jamison. I'm 7 years old. My sister is Harmony. I love Harmony, I miss her," Bobbitt-Miller read. "I hope I get to see her again."

He spoke of a broken Elmo toy Harmony had given him that was hers that he has kept ever since. He said he has a Minnie Mouse pillow and new Elmo he planned to give to her.

"I keep it in my closet for her," Bobbitt-Miller read. "I am really sad she is an angel. I miss her. She was my best friend. I hope she can see me playing basketball and being silly with my brothers and I wish I could bring Harmony to my school to meet my friends and teacher."

Bobbitt-Miller spoke directly to Montgomery, who kept his head down for most of the two-hour hearing.

"Adam, you took away his best friend, his sister," Bobbitt-Miller said. "You introduced murder into his life and forever created a void that can never be filled."

Jamison created a purple and red heart with mirrors in hopes he can see her in heaven.

He added, "I hope she is eating M&Ms in heaven. I hope her glasses are safe and not broken."

Jamison would search for his sister at school, or the playground or run to the front door hoping it was her. He remembers Harmony helping to feed him, playing at the playground and the glasses she wore.

"Adam, he would plead with you to please tell us where she is," Bobbitt-Miller said. "Please give him a place to go to remember his sister. Please."

After the hearing, the couple spoke of continuing to prevent similar abuse from happening in the future. The two testified in Massachusetts on the formation of a "Harmony Commission" to study and make recommendations related to the welfare and best interests of children in child-protection cases.

"We also need to be looking at child welfare and to make sure this doesn't happen again whether it is the state of Massachusetts, New Hampshire or any other state," Miller said.

"This was preventable," Bobbitt-Miller said. He wonders how Montgomery got custody with Harmony in a loving foster home.

"How were they ripped apart?"

Jamison is Harmony's half brother with the same mother, Crystal Sorey.

Blair Miller showed those gathered outside the courtroom a necklace with Harmony's picture on it that Sorey had given to Jamison.