Kayla Montgomery, Stepmother Of Missing NH Girl, Appears In Court

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police arrested Kayla Montgomery, 31, the stepmother of missing 7-year-old, Harmony Montgomery.

Kayla Montgomery is charged with felony welfare fraud. The state is accusing her of obtaining $2,450 in food stamps for the child when she was not living with the family.

According to court documents, Kayla Montgomery filed for food stamp benefits for Harmony Montgomery, when her husband, Adam Montgomery, obtained full custody of his daughter on Feb. 22, 2019. The child went missing in November 2019. During that time, Kayla Montgomery was accused of continuing to collect food stamps for the missing girl for an additional 19 months, from Dec. 2019 through June 2021.

The family’s monthly food stamps allotment increased by $129 per month beginning March 1, 2019, when the girl was added.

The amount did not include additional COVID-19 supplemental benefits.

Kayla Montgomery acknowledged to the New Hampshire Division of Health and Human Services, Division of Family Assistance personnel that Harmony Montgomery continued to be on the account even though she was not living with the family but said she tried to remove her from her but was unsuccessful, according to investigators. According to case management documents obtained by police, she did not make any request or attempt to remove Harmony Montgomery from her household account until June 2, 2021.

On Thursday, Kayla Montgomery appeared in Hillsborough County Superior Court for an arraignment and to set bail. Prosecutors requested $5,000 cash bail and other stipulations including she go to Manchester police daily and check-in. Defense asked she be released on personal recognizance bail. They argued that she has a very minor criminal history and no cases that she failed to show up in court. They also asked Judge Amy Messer to take into consideration that these charges would not normally warrant cash bail. They also stated that she had no ability to pay any level of cash bail.

UPDATE: Honorable Judge Amy Messer set bail at $5,000 cash/surety with the stipulation that she has no contact with Adam Montgomery. Shall not travel outside of New Hampshire, shall not possess a firearm, destructive device, dangerous weapon, or ammunition.

Messer stated she would take the matter under advisement and make a ruling, possibly later on Thursday.

Kayla Montgomery appeared in court in handcuffs and had been transported to the court from the Hillsborough House Of Corrections by Sheriffs. She was returned to the House of Corrections after the hearing.

It was revealed in court documents and in court that Kayla Montgomery had been staying at Families In Transition on Lake Avenue with her three children. When she was arrested Wednesday, her mother, Christine Lubin, picked up the three children and took custody of them.

Prosecutors indicated if Kayla Montgomery was released on bail, she would not be able to return to Families in Transition because she did have custody of the children and the shelter would not allow her to stay there.

It was revealed that Kayla Montgomery's mother, who lives on the west side of Manchester would allow Kayla Montgomery to live with her and the children.

Prosecutors raised a concern that when Kayla was arrested her mother told her “don’t talk to police.”

After the court hearing, Lubin spoke on camera from the front door of her westside house.

The video of what she shared can be seen on YouTube.com.

ALSO READ:

• Stepmother Of Missing NH Girl Arrested On Welfare Fraud Charge
• Court Docs Claim Father Of Missing NH Girl Admitted To Assault
• Father Of Missing New Hampshire Girl Arrested: Attorney General
• New Investigation Tip Line Set Up For Missing Manchester Girl
• Manchester Police Search House In Missing Child Investigation
• New Hampshire Child Last Seen In 2019; Police Seek Help With Case

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news