In a significant development in the case of a missing 5-year-old girl from New Hampshire, a judge has ruled that she is legally dead and granted her mother the authority to administer her estate. This decision comes shortly after the child's father was convicted of killing her.

Crystal Sorey, the mother of the missing girl named Harmony Montgomery, presented evidence in court to demonstrate that her daughter had met a tragic fate and that her body has not yet been found. The probate judge agreed with Sorey's claims and issued the order, which was made public a day after the court hearing.

Sorey intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the state regarding Harmony Montgomery, as her lawyer argued that the second-degree murder conviction of Adam Montgomery, the child's father, along with his admission to lesser charges of tampering with evidence, merited a legal declaration of death for Harmony.

During the trial, testimony from Adam Montgomery's estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, revealed that she had handled the lifeless body of Harmony, further supporting Sorey's case.

However, there are certain procedures that still need to be completed before Sorey can fully assume her duties as the administrator of her daughter's estate. Her lawyer must provide a copy of the jury's verdict, as well as a probate surety bond to guarantee Sorey's compliance with her legal obligations.

The court documents state that Adam Montgomery and Crystal Sorey were not in a relationship at the time of Harmony's birth in 2014. The child had lived with both foster families and her mother until Sorey lost custody in 2018. Custody of Harmony was awarded to Montgomery in early 2019, and Sorey claims that she last saw her daughter during a FaceTime call around Easter of that year.

When questioned about the whereabouts of Harmony, both Adam and Kayla Montgomery initially informed the authorities that he had taken the child to live with Sorey.

Adam Montgomery, who is currently in prison awaiting sentencing, did not attend the recent probate hearing via Webex.

The ruling declaring Harmony Montgomery legally dead marks a significant turning point in this tragic case, bringing some closure to her grieving mother. The continued legal proceedings may shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the little girl's disappearance and tragic end.