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Grim footage shows inside New Hampshire home after search for missing Harmony Montgomery

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Grim footage shows inside New Hampshire home after search for missing Harmony Montgomery


Disturbing new footage reveals how a New Hampshire condominium was ripped aside by police looking for a lacking eight-year-old lady final seen alive in 2019. 

The FBI and New Hampshire State Police descended on the small, one-bedroom house on Union Road in Manchester on June 14 the place Concord Montgomery lived till she vanished. Cops say the probabilities of discovering the teen alive are ‘slim’.

As soon as there, they ripped up carpet and different flooring in a number of rooms, with a small closet room additionally torn aside, and a fridge taken away whereas wrapped in black plastic. 

The present resident, who requested to be often called Ginger, instructed Boston25 that she’s unsure why police took the fridge. It has since been changed with one other one. 

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She additionally revealed that police tore out a closet wall, minimize a gap within the ceiling over the bathtub so they may entry water pipes, and eliminated all of the doorknobs and water taps. 

The condominium is the place Concord Montgomery had lived along with her father, Adam Montgomery, and stepmom, Kayla Montgomery, earlier than her disappearance someday throughout fall 2019. 

Adam Montgomery has been in jail since January on a number of costs, together with an allegation that he struck Concord in July 2019, shortly earlier than she vanished.  

Grim footage reveals a primary glimpse within a New Hampshire condominium on the middle of a renewed seek for lacking Concord Montgomery, 9, after police ripped up flooring

A new fridge has replaced the old one, which was removed by police during the search

A brand new fridge has changed the previous one, which was eliminated by police through the search 

Harmony Montgomery, 9, has not been seen since November or December 2019, but cops were only made aware of her disappearance last fall

Concord Montgomery, 9, has not been seen since November or December 2019, however cops had been solely made conscious of her disappearance final fall

It is the second time investigators have searched the property – doubtless because of the reality it is linked to Adam Montgomery, an allegedly abusive father who, whereas not charged in Concord’s disappearance, has emerged as one of many key individuals within the case.

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Now, a alternative fridge is within the kitchen, changing the one which was eliminated within the June 14 search.  

‘That fridge is supposedly a more moderen fridge,’ Ginger mentioned. ‘It wasn’t right here after they had been right here. A whole lot of the stuff, the upkeep man was telling me, was not right here after they had been right here. There have been three tenants earlier than me.’

An extra look into the condominium confirmed components of the entrance hallway and bed room the place police had ripped up sections of the tile flooring and carpet. 

Video showed parts of the front hallway and bedroom where police had ripped up sections of the tile flooring and carpet. Police had also cut a hole in the ceiling over the bathtub in the bathroom in order to access pipes

Video confirmed components of the entrance hallway and bed room the place police had ripped up sections of the tile flooring and carpet. Police had additionally minimize a gap within the ceiling over the tub within the rest room with the intention to entry pipes

FBI agents were seen wrapping the large object in biohazard tape and loading it and a slew of other items into a truck on June 14. It has since been revealed to be a refrigerator

FBI brokers had been seen wrapping the big object in biohazard tape and loading it and a slew of different gadgets right into a truck on June 14. It has since been revealed to be a fridge 

The closet within the bed room was ripped aside with a part of the partitions torn out. 

‘The closet was all simply ripped up,’ Ginger mentioned. ‘They took my issues out of the closet. Then they took the partitions off the closet. There was a shelf and a bar, that is all gone.’

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Police had minimize a gap within the ceiling over the tub within the rest room with the intention to entry pipes, Ginger mentioned. She added that every one the door knobs and taps had additionally been eliminated.  

Ginger instructed Boston25 that she has by no means met the household, however says that Concord is at all times on her thoughts. 

‘It is heartbreaking to be in an condominium that you simply suppose one thing may need occurred in,’ Ginger mentioned.

Authorities didn’t disclose what sparked the second search, however did concede Thursday that the Union Road house has change into ‘the main focus of the investigation.’

Authorities first descended on the area earlier this month for the search of the home. Authorities have not disclosed what they were looking for nor what led them to the home

Authorities first descended on the world earlier this month for the search of the house. Authorities haven’t disclosed what they had been searching for nor what led them to the house

Authorities were seen removing evidence from the Manchester, New Hampshire, apartment, where Harmony had lived with her father and stepmom before her disappearance nearly three years ago, in the fall of 2019

Authorities had been seen eradicating proof from the Manchester, New Hampshire, condominium, the place Concord had lived along with her father and stepmom earlier than her disappearance almost three years in the past, within the fall of 2019

Following the search two weeks in the past, the household has been warned by investigators that the probabilities of the little lady’s survival are slim.  

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Johnathon Miller, the adoptive father of Concord’s youthful brother, Jamison, instructed reporters cops had instructed them the result of the search would doubtless not be a superb one.

‘We have now been instructed by officers that this in all probability is not going to have a superb consequence or not the result we had hoped for, for Jamison and Concord to be reunited collectively,’ Miller instructed Fox Information Tuesday shortly after officers left the scene.

‘We have now at all times held onto hope that Jamison and Concord may very well be collectively once more, however right this moment that hope feels prefer it’s being ripped away from us, particularly Jamison,’ an emotional Miller instructed the outlet.

Authorities didn’t disclose what sparked the second search, however did concede Thursday that the Union Road house has change into ‘the main focus of the investigation.’ 

Concord vanished someday in late November or early December of 2019, however cops had been solely made conscious of her disappearance final fall. A months-long investigation, spearheaded by the FBI, has since ensued. 

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It is the second time investigators have searched the property – doubtless because of the reality it is linked to Montgomery, an allegedly abusive father who, whereas not charged in Concord’s disappearance, has emerged as one of many key individuals within the case.

Mossaides claims officials prioritized placing Harmony with her father, Adam Montgomery, 32, after failing to conduct a through assessment of him

Officials never conducted a visit to the home where Adam Montgomery resided with his wife, Kayla Montgomery (pictured), before placing Harmony in their care

The house being searched by officers belonged to Concord’s father, Adam Montgomery (at left), and his estranged spouse Kayla – Concord’s stepmom. Montgomery has been in jail since January on costs surrounding the kid’s disappearance, whereas Kayla was hit with a felony rely of welfare fraud after she allegedly took out over $1,500 in meals stamps from December 2019 to June 2021 in Concord’s identify

Law enforcement officials were also seen setting up a green privacy tent so that investigators could pack the materials discreetly

Regulation enforcement officers had been additionally seen establishing a inexperienced privateness tent in order that investigators may pack proof taken from the house extra discreetly

At the moment incarcerated, Montgomery, 31, has been in jail since January in reference to a second-degree assault cost involving his daughter, together with with failing to have her in his custody and endangering her welfare. 

In April, he was hit with additional costs of stealing a rifle and a shotgun earlier than Concord’s disappearance. His estranged spouse, 31, has been charged with welfare fraud after taking out meals stamps within the kid’s identify after she was final seen alive.

Concord, who was blind in a single eye, was in her father’s care on the time of her disappearance after her mom, Crystal Sorey, misplaced custody in July 2018 because of her substance abuse points.

He has but to be charged in Concord’s disappearance.

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On January 4, investigators descended on the house and the condominium advanced’s backyard, with aerial footage on the time exhibiting a criminal offense scene tent arrange within the yard.

This time round, officer took comparable measures, with native authorities first arriving and shutting off the world Monday night time, earlier than federal investigators’ arrival early Tuesday.

The search noticed the lawmen, many sporting protecting plastic fits, repeatedly enter the condominium and exit with gadgets that doubtless served as proof within the case – most of them packed away in tape and cardboard.

Regulation enforcement officers had been once more seen establishing a inexperienced privateness tent through the search – which attracted crowds of curious residents who’ve been left questioning to Concord’s destiny – in order that investigators may pack the supplies discreetly. 

The fridge, nonetheless, doubtless because of its dimension, was rolled out and wrapped exterior, with press capturing it on movie. 

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Seeing lawmen swarm the house, Concord’s mom, Sorey, mentioned she fears the worst her solely daughter, saying that she believes investigators are ‘searching for a physique.’

‘That is tough,’ the emotional mother instructed Boston 25. ‘I do know in my coronary heart that is now not a rescue mission. They’re searching for a physique.’

Sorey added that the officers’ search of the property served as a ‘step nearer to discovering Concord and getting her the justice she deserves.’ 

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Sorey beforehand instructed police the final time she final noticed Concord was on a video name round Easter 2019 whereas she was dwelling on the condominium with Montgomery, the place she mentioned the the younger lady regarded ‘frightened.’  

FBI agents tasked with finding missing eight-year-old Harmony Montgomery were seen Tuesday removing a refrigerator wrapped in biohazard tape from a home previously linked to the girl's allegedly abusive father

Lacking Concord Montgomery disappeared between November 28 and December 10, 2019, whereas she was dwelling along with her dad on the residence, a second-floor condominium

Harmony's stepmom told police she hadn't seen Adam since October and had not spoken to him since November

Concord’s stepmom instructed police she hadn’t seen Adam since October and had not spoken to him since November

Timeline of Concord Montgomery’s disappearance 

July 2018: Concord Montgomery’s mom Crystal Sorey loses custody of her because of substance abuse points

April 2019: Sorey speaks to her daughter on FaceTime over Easter. It is the final time she noticed her daughter alive

July 2019: Adam Montgomery admits to a relative that he ‘bashed’ Concord throughout one occasion after she tried to get her youthful brother to cease crying throughout a shower. A Division of Youngsters case employee who visited the house discovered Concord had a black eye

August 2019: A case employee from DCYF visits the house a second time and observed a pink mark in Concord’s eye and pale bruising underneath her eyelid. The accidents are blamed on ‘horseplay’ with a youthful sibling

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October 2019: A case employee visits the house and notes that the household is ‘glad’ 

November 27, 2019: The Montgomery household is evicted from their New Hampshire condominium. Investigators mentioned that Concord was homeless and dwelling out of a automotive along with her household within the days earlier than her disappearance

November – December 2019: Concord is final seen alive. Her stepmother, Kayla Montgomery later instructed police that on the time her husband was driving Concord to the kid’s mom in Massachusetts 

January 2020: A case employee with DCYF contacts Adam Montgomery to test on the kid. He tells them that she was dwelling along with her mom 

2021: Case staff twice go to the Montgomery house

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September 2021: A ‘shut contact’ of Concord’s mom contacts authorities over issues that Sorey hadn’t seen her daughter since 2019 and hadn’t been capable of contact Adam Montgomery 

November 2021: Concord is formally reported lacking 

January 2022: Investigators search the house and backyard in New Hampshire the place Concord lived along with her father earlier than her disappearance. Her father is jailed on costs of endangering her welfare over the July 2019 assault, and numerous different costs. He’s not charged over her disappearance. 

April 2022: Adam Montgomey is hit with additional costs of stealing a rifle and a shotgun within the months earlier than Concord’s disappearance 

June 2022: FBI officers search the Montgomery household’s former house for a second time and are seen eradicating a fridge and different items of furnishings

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Investigators revealed earlier this yr that Concord had been homeless and dwelling out of a automotive along with her household within the days earlier than her disappearance, after being evicted from the Union Road condominium on November 27 – a date that falls throughout the span of the lady’s disappearance.

Throughout that point, Concord’s household was both dwelling out of a silver 2010 Chrysler Sebring, or a darkish blue 2006 Audi S4. 

Adam, in the meantime – who had come underneath suspicion of case staff of abusing Concord within the months earlier than her disappearance – was arrested greater than two years later, in January, shortly after police had been made conscious of Concord’s vanishing.

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He was arrested on a number of counts associated to his daughter’s disappearance, together with  felony second-degree assault, one misdemeanor cost of interference with custody and two misdemeanor costs of endangering the welfare of a kid – however was not charged along with her disappearance.

He pleaded not responsible and was jailed in New Hampshire with out bail, the place he has remained since.

He was additionally hit with extra unrelated costs in April, after he allegedly stole a rifle and a shotgun between September 29 and October, 3, 2019 – mere weeks earlier than Concord was final seen.

It has since been revealed he was additionally thought of a suspect within the February 2008 killing of Darlin Guzman, a 28 year-old laptop repairman who was fatally shot within the car parking zone of a comfort retailer in Lynn, Massachusetts. 

Adam, who has a prison report that goes again no less than to 2007, has been in jail since January in reference to the second-degree assault cost. 

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Family members have accused Adam Montgomery of abusing Concord, inflicting case staff to go to the Manchester condominium a number of occasions in 2019, 2020, and 2021 – a number of coming after the lady was final seen.

These visits noticed the dad instructed town officers the kid had went to stay along with his mother.

Family members, together with Montgomery’s uncle, Kevin Montgomery recounted incidents together with spanking, forcing the then five-year-old to clean the bathroom along with her toothbrush, and leaving her standing within the nook for hours, investigators say. 

Kevin instructed police his nephew as soon as admitted him that he ‘bashed her round this home’ throughout one occasion in 2019, after the daddy reportedly discovered her making an attempt to get her youthful brother to cease crying whereas she was bathing him. 

In response to the uncle, Adam Montgomery defined that he had left Concord, then age 5, answerable for her toddler brother whereas he was within the rest room.

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When the infant began crying, Adam Montgomery mentioned he got here out of the lavatory to search out Concord along with her hand clamped over her brother’s mouth to cease him from crying.

‘Adam instructed Kevin that he responded by placing [Harmony] within the face and inflicting the black eye,’ in line with the affidavit.

Kevin Montgomery instructed police he reported the 2019 assault to the Division of Youngsters of Youngsters Youth and Their Households (DCYF). 

A caseworker visited Montgomery’s house in July 2019 and located the declare Concord had a black eye unfounded. 

Nevertheless, the household had been ‘recognized as excessive danger of repeat baby welfare system involvement’ and got referrals for housing helps, the overview acknowledged. 

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This aerial photo shows police searching the backyard at 77 Gilford Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 4 - the first time they searched the property

This aerial photograph reveals police looking the yard at 77 Gilford Road in Manchester, New Hampshire, on January 4 – the primary time they searched the property

Throughout a second go to that August, the employee observed a pink mark in Concord’s eye and pale bruising underneath her eyelid. The employee was instructed by Concord and her father that the mark was attributable to ‘horseplay with one other sibling when a toy gentle saber struck Concord Montgomery close to her eye.’

Two different visits that yr confirmed ‘the kids appeared glad and wholesome,’ the overview mentioned. The final go to was on October 1, 2019.

The division did not have contact with Adam Montgomery once more till January 2020. When requested about Concord, he mentioned the kid was dwelling with Sorey in Massachusetts.

A toddler protecting companies employee left a voicemail for Sorey, however the name wasn’t returned and there’s no proof of any further makes an attempt to contact her, the overview mentioned.

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Police believe Harmony disappeared  between November 28 and December 10, 2019

Police imagine Concord disappeared  between November 28 and December 10, 2019

Seeing lawmen swarm the home, Corey Sorey, pictured here earlier this year, said she fears the worst her only daughter, saying that she believes investigators are 'looking for a body'

Seeing lawmen swarm the house, Corey Sorey, pictured right here earlier this yr, mentioned she fears the worst her solely daughter, saying that she believes investigators are ‘searching for a physique’

Adam Montgomery made comparable feedback about Concord when a case employee visited the home twice in 2021, the overview mentioned.

In September, a ‘shut contact’ of Concord’s mom contacted the division and ‘raised issues’ that Sorey hadn’t seen her daughter since 2019 and hadn’t been capable of contact Adam Montgomery, the overview mentioned. The division confirmed that Concord had by no means been registered for varsity within the public college system.

The division tried to search out the Montgomery household and communicate with Sorey, who later instructed police she hadn’t seen her daughter since a Facetime name round Easter 2019.  

In the meantime, Concord’s 31-year-old stepmom has pleaded not responsible to a felony rely of welfare fraud after being accused of accumulating $1,500 value of meals stamps within the kid’s identify for a yr after her disappearance. 

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In an interview with police on New Yr’s Eve, Kayla – who shares three kids along with her husband, ages 4, 2 and 1 – mentioned she final noticed Concord in November or December 2019.

She mentioned her husband was driving Concord to the kid’s mom in Massachusetts. She mentioned she believed Concord had been returned to the mom, and by no means noticed or heard about Concord after that day, in line with the police doc.

She additionally instructed police she hadn’t seen Adam since October and had not spoken to him since November.

She additional asserts that the final noticed the Concord the day after Thanksgiving in 2019. 

Concord was born in June 2014 whereas her father was incarcerated as he awaiting trial for allegedly taking pictures a person within the head throughout a drug deal.

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Crystal tried to take care of her new child daughter whereas battling her substance use dysfunction, however regardless of her efforts DCF obtained three reviews of neglect the month Concord was born.

Investigators tried to offer service to Crystal, nonetheless the neglect continued, with two further reviews filed in August 2014.

Officers decided the toddler’s wellbeing was in danger and he or she was faraway from Crystal’s care. 

Concord was positioned in a foster house for the primary time and officers labored to develop an motion plan for Crystal.

In September of that yr, DCF devised an motion plan with Adam, whereas he was incarcerated, indicating he would interact with supplied applications to assist with parenting, substance use dysfunction and anger administration. 

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Officers made quite a few makes an attempt to contact Adam concerning the plan however he didn’t reply, the report states. 

When DCF lastly linked with Adam in December 2014 he issued help for Concord to return to Crystal’s care. He additionally requested for a go to with Concord.

The convict met his daughter for the primary time in January 2015, when she was six months previous, throughout a supervised go to along with her DCF care workforce. Instantly following the go to, Concord was positioned in Crystal’s care however remained underneath custody of DCF.

Roughly 4 months later, Concord, then 10-months-old, was returned to foster care after Crystal failed to keep up the necessities of her motion plan.

Concord remained in foster care till March 2017 when she was positioned again in Crystal’s care, however nonetheless underneath custody of DCF. The lady’s mom had met with DCF staff on quite a few events to watch her progress and readiness to behave as Concord’s guardian. 

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Crystal Sorey (right) - Harmony's biological mother - lost custody of the young girl in 2018 because of her drug addiction

Crystal Sorey (proper) – Concord’s organic mom – misplaced custody of the younger lady in 2018 due to her drug habit 

Almost three years after Harmony was placed in Adam's care, on December 31, 2021, the city of Manchester, New Hampshire police announced seven-year-old Harmony's disappearance and their search for her. They estimated her disappearance to have taken place in late 2019. She still remains missing

Nearly three years after Concord was positioned in Adam’s care, on December 31, 2021, town of Manchester, New Hampshire police introduced seven-year-old Concord’s disappearance and their seek for her. They estimated her disappearance to have taken place in late 2019. She nonetheless stays lacking 

In January 2018, Concord, now three-and-a-half, was faraway from Crystal’s take care of the third time because of her relapsing. She was positioned again into foster care.

In August 2018, Adam resumed supervised visits with Concord, then 4, after having not visited along with her for the prior eleven months.

He was granted guardianship of his daughter in February 2019, the place she seemingly resided till her disappearance.

State officers have since discerned that the lady, who would now be 8, was repeatedly failed by the Massachusetts baby welfare system since infancy, being positioned within the care of violent prison Montgomery regardless of opposition from her caseworkers.

Officers additionally did not prioritize Concord’s medical and particular wants when making choices about her guardian, which the state mentioned in a scathing report penned by Massachusetts Division of Youngsters and Households ought to have been ‘central to the decision-making’.

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‘Concord’s wants, well-being and security weren’t prioritized,’ Massachusetts baby advocate Maria Mossaides mentioned throughout a press convention in Might. ‘We have no idea Concord Montgomery’s final destiny, and sadly, we might by no means.

‘However we do know that this stunning younger baby skilled many tragedies in her quick life, and that by not placing her wants first, our system in the end failed her.’

Police and feds have since obtained a whole lot of suggestions within the 5 months they’ve been looking for the kid. They’re providing $150,000 for data that may result in her being discovered.

No costs have been filed in Concord’s disappearance.





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New Hampshire

NH Patch, News Partners Win New Hampshire Press Association Awards

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NH Patch, News Partners Win New Hampshire Press Association Awards


MANCHESTER, NH — Patch.com in New Hampshire won four press association awards for government, political, and spot news reporting, while news partners affiliated with the site also earned many honors.

Tony Schinella, a senior local editor with Patch, won four awards for stories published in 2023 as Class II Division entries. The Class II Division is for freelancers or media outlets with less than four employees.

In the Political Reporting category, Schinella took first place for Concord NH Patch’s 2023 municipal election coverage package which included five stories — the announcement that the city’s longest-serving mayor was stepping down, a story about non-compliant campaign signs, a story about all the money being raised and spent by city candidates for what are essentially volunteer positions, a data piece analyzing incomes, home values, and political affiliations of the outgoing city and school officials as well as the candidates, and a results story. In the entry, it was also noted that Schinella co-hosted debates between candidates in 12 of the 13 competitive city and school races in an eight-week campaign sprint — an unprecedented accomplishment for one journalist and two cable access employees. Patch also offered free profiles to candidates, with dozens of links included in the 2023 campaign stories.

The third-place entry concerned a gun threat incident at the Concord Heights Burger King, which was published not long after the incident and included video and updates as police and state troopers searched for the suspect.

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In Government Reporting, Schinella also earned a third-place award for the story about the city’s longest-serving mayor in Concord deciding not to run for reelection.

New Hampshire Patch news partners and freelancers also won several awards.

Jeffrey Hastings, who covers breaking news in the southern part of the state as a freelancer for Patch, won seven awards for General News and Spot News photography.

A number of freelancers at InDepthNH also won awards, including Paula Tracy, Damien Fisher, columnist Michael Davidow, Beverly Stoddard, another columnist, and Ani Freedman, who won the Rookie of the Year award. Some of Freedman’s impressive coverage included PFAS issues in Merrimack and surrounding communities.

Fisher also won awards with NH Journal — including a piece on RFK Jr. and his reporting on disgraced former Strafford County Sheriff Mark Brave involved with theft charges, accused of using money to fund activities with a mistress and trips, and a combined award with Michael Graham, publisher of the site, for their coverage of the riot and siege of a Merrimack defense contractor owned by an Israeli company as part of Palestinian protests. Graham also won for Best Video for his Dinner Table Economics series.

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New Hampshire Bulletin, another news partner, won several awards for stories published, including second and third-place finishes for Journalist of the Year for Annmarie Timmins and Ethan Dewitt.

Carole Soule of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, who writes a weekly column published on the Concord NH Patch site, won a third-place award for a feature photo.
All won entries in the Class II Division.

The full list of winners in the state will be listed here when published.



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Teacher in N.H. fired for secretly helping pregnant student access abortion services – The Boston Globe

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Teacher in N.H. fired for secretly helping pregnant student access abortion services – The Boston Globe


“How should the Department respond when a parent has reached out to express concern that a teacher had called a student a ‘White supremacist’ and confiscated their Trump flag while ignoring the student wearing the Pride flag? … Or when an art teacher, rather than teaching art, introduces children to Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ for Kids, without consulting with parents or school leadership,” he wrote. “Should we look the other way?”

In that list, Edelblut briefly mentioned a teacher having been accused of lying to take the student to “get an abortion” without their parents knowing.

“Should we turn a blind eye?” he asked, rhetorically.

By stoking concerns about secrecy between school personnel and students, Edelblut’s op-ed echoed a contentious debate over “parental rights” legislation that state lawmakers considered in 2022 and 2023. Edelblut, a socially conservative former GOP candidate for governor, expressed disappointment last year when the legislation was defeated.

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His op-ed included enough detail to inspire public mistrust of New Hampshire educators, but not enough detail to verify its allegations. It didn’t cite evidence to substantiate the abortion-related allegation, and neither Edelblut nor a spokesperson for the Department of Education would tell the Globe in April whether the allegation had been investigated and deemed credible.

A month later, in late May, in response to a public records request from the Globe, the department released a heavily redacted one-page report about the incident, and posted it publicly online. The letterhead, address, and name of the investigating party were redacted.

The document said the teacher had told investigators she helped the student “determine how far along they were … so the student knew what options they’d have available,” located a “safe” facility for the procedure, spoke with the student for two and a half weeks about the appointment, and offered to accompany them based on a belief that the student “didn’t have anyone to support them.”

The teacher was placed on administrative leave through the remainder of her employment contract, at which point her termination would take effect, according to the redacted report, which does not reveal the year in which her firing was or will be finalized.

The department released two additional records on June 7. Although the names of the teacher and the school were redacted, the teacher’s last name was included in the metadata for one of the documents. An attorney for the department, Elizabeth A. Brown, acknowledged the name had been divulged mistakenly.

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No one with the teacher’s last name appears on the department’s public list of educators with suspended or revoked credentials. One person with that last name is included among educators with active certifications.

A Regional Services and Education Center Inc. school facility in Antrim, N.H., is seen in this photo taken on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

That teacher, who holds an experienced educator license, was listed on a school website as working for Regional Services and Education Center Inc., a nonprofit based in Amherst, N.H., that has been providing special education services for more than four decades. The nonprofit, which serves students from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, runs small non-public schools that cater to students in grades 5-12 with special needs and learning disabilities.

While superintendents and school board members from surrounding public school districts serve on RSEC’s board, the state lists the private nonprofit’s facilities as non-public schools.

The nonprofit’s executive director, Devin Bandurski, declined to answer questions about the teacher.

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“Matters involving personnel will not be discussed,” she said through a spokesperson.

Shortly after the Globe contacted RSEC with questions about the teacher and the abortion-related allegation, the teacher’s name was removed from the list of faculty and staff on the school’s website. A years-old post about her having received special recognition was removed as well.

The teacher did not respond to interview requests. The Globe is not naming her at this time to protect the student’s privacy.

The records that the Department of Education released on June 7 include an email showing that someone — their name, title, and employer are redacted — sent the initial one-page investigative report to Richard Farrell, an investigator for the department, on Oct. 19 (the year is redacted).

The records also include a letter that Deputy Education Commissioner Christine M. Brennan sent using official state letterhead on Nov. 9 (the year is redacted) to notify the teacher that the department had opened an investigation into possible violations of the educator code of conduct.

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“Namely, the allegation is that you failed to properly supervise and abide by ethical standards regarding student boundary protocols with a student under your care,” the letter states.

Brennan’s letter says the teacher’s license and credential are valid during the pending investigation, but the reason for that is redacted.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education declined to answer questions about the case, citing the “investigatory nature” of this matter.

It’s illegal in New Hampshire to perform an abortion on an unemancipated minor younger than 18 years old until 48 hours after providing written notice to the pregnant minor’s parent. In Massachusetts — the state line is a 20-minute drive from Amherst, N.H. — pregnant patients who are 16 or 17 can consent to an abortion without involving their parents. Each state also has a process for minors to persuade a judge to grant an exception.

None of the records obtained by the Globe specify whether the medical facility was located within New Hampshire, whether the student was an unemancipated minor at the time, or whether the teacher made any representations to medical staff concerning her relationship to the student. They also do not confirm whether an abortion was performed.

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Bandurski did not say whether RSEC reported the matter to law enforcement. Spokespeople for the Amherst Police Department and New Hampshire Department of Safety, which includes State Police, said their departments had no record of reports about the incident.

A spokesperson for the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, which includes the Board of Medicine, an agency that oversees health care providers, declined on Tuesday to comment.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said on Tuesday that staffers for the state’s Board of Registration in Medicine had checked their files and found no records responsive to the Globe’s request.

The teacher has since been hired to work at a public school district in New Hampshire, according to school board meeting minutes. The school board for the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District voted in early May to accept the teacher’s nomination for a job beginning in August, according to meeting minutes. The superintendent for that district, Reuben Duncan, did not respond to questions regarding whether the district became aware of the abortion-related allegation before the hiring process concluded.


Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.





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Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court • New Hampshire Bulletin

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Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court • New Hampshire Bulletin


TikTok and its parent company argued Thursday in a federal court in the District of Columbia that the recently enacted law forcing a nationwide ban or sale of the popular platform violates the First Amendment.

TikTok Inc., which operates the video-sharing service in the United States, and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., which was founded by a Chinese national, filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit calling the law President Joe Biden signed in April an unprecedented restriction on the constitutional right to free speech.

“Never before has Congress expressly singled out and shut down a specific speech forum,” the brief reads. “Never before has Congress silenced so much speech in a single act.”

Upholding such an “extraordinary speech restriction” would require the court to undertake “exacting scrutiny” of Congress’ action, but Congress provided only a hypothetical national security argument to advance the bill, the companies said.

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“Congress gave this Court almost nothing to review,” the brief continues. “Congress enacted no findings, so there is no way to know why majorities of the House and Senate decided to ban TikTok.”

Many individual lawmakers who supported the law raised national security concerns, saying ByteDance’s relationship with the Chinese government meant the country’s Communist Party leaders could demand access to TikTok users’ private data.

They also said the platform, which the company says has 170 million users in the U.S., could be used to spread propaganda.

But under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, labeling speech as foreign propaganda does not allow the government to overlook First Amendment protections, TikTok said in its brief.

Speculation about how the app “might” or “could” be used, rather than any concrete examples of misconduct, do not clear the high bar required to restrict speech, the companies added.

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“A claim of national security does not override the Constitution,” the companies wrote Thursday.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department, which is defending the law, highlighted the intelligence community’s national security concerns with TikTok and said the law was consistent with the First Amendment.

“This legislation addresses critical national security concerns in a manner that is consistent with the First Amendment and other constitutional limitations,” the spokesperson wrote in a statement to States Newsroom. “We look forward to defending the legislation in court.

“Alongside others in our intelligence community and in Congress, the Justice Department has consistently warned about the threat of autocratic nations that can weaponize technology – such as the apps and software that run on our phones – to use against us. This threat is compounded when those autocratic nations require companies under their control to turn over sensitive data to the government in secret.”

Response to lawmakers

The brief said Congress had not included any official findings of harm from TikTok, but several individual members raised specific concerns about the kind of speech found on the platform.

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The companies said Thursday those specific complaints bolstered the argument that TikTok is being denied free speech protections.

The brief cited several lawmaker statements:

  • U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat who is ranking member on the House Select Committee on China, and former Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who chaired the panel, said the platform’s algorithm fed an overwhelming share of pro-Palestinian content over videos that favor Israel.
  • Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, said the platform “exposes children to harmful content.”
  • Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said the law would “make TikTok safer for our children and national security.”
  • Nebraska Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts noted the popularity of the hashtag #StandwithKashmir, which protests a policy of India, a geopolitical rival of China.

“Legislators’ perception of the content reflected on TikTok was misinformed,” the companies said. “But well-founded or not, governmental policing of content differences is antithetical to the First Amendment.”

Oral arguments in September

Both chambers of Congress passed the law with bipartisan votes as part of a package that included aid to Israel and Ukraine. Biden signed the measure April 24.

TikTok pledged to sue and filed its legal challenge last month.

Tuesday’s brief expands on the company’s arguments. The government’s response is due July 26 and oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 16.

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Divestment unworkable, TikTok says

TikTok and ByteDance said Thursday the provision in the bill to avoid a ban by divesting the service to a company without ties to China is unworkable, especially within the nine-month timeline required by the law.

Such a move would be technically complex, requiring years of engineering work, the companies said. It would also isolate the U.S. user base from the rest of the world, limiting revenue from advertisements.

And even if it were feasible from a technical or business standpoint, selling the platform would likely be rejected by the Chinese government, which has the authority to block exportation of technology developed in the country, the companies said.



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