Heck of a lot of hail Wednesday in the storms. While not widespread, it did hit hard in parts of central and southeast Massachusetts. It was all because of the strong updrafts in the storms.
Air going straight up (at speeds of over 60 miles per ho…
Massachusetts
Parents of Harmony Montgomery’s half-brother fight to make victim impact statement at killer’s sentencing
Thursday is sentencing day for Adam Montgomery, the New Hampshire man convicted of killing his daughter.
The disappearance of Harmony Montgomery made national headlines.
The two fathers of Harmony’s half-brother, Jamison, are raising red flags about Thursday’s hearing.
Jamison’s adoptive parents, Johnathon and Blair, say they deserve to be among the family members making a victim impact statement.
“It’s important we look Adam Montgomery in the eye and tell him what he’s done to Jamison,” said Johnathon Bobbitt-Miller.
Jamison’s dads have been told that they can make a statement at the sentencing hearing, but only if they use Jamison’s words, which they say would be much too traumatic for their son.
“What 7-year-old can walk into a courtroom and articulate the pain Adam caused?” asked Johnathon. “Jamison knows Harmony passed away, he knows someone hurt her, and didn’t take care of her, but he doesn’t know these graphic details, and quite frankly, he shouldn’t.”
Retired Massachusetts juvenile court judge Carol Erskine, who handled Jamison’s adoption, says it would be highly inappropriate to allow Jamison to address a convicted killer, or to have him write a statement.
“It seems obvious to me a 7-year-old can’t stand up in court and talk about the devastation and sadness that he feels over the death of a sibling,” said Erskine.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office told NBC10 Boston that Jamison’s parents, by state law, are only allowed to make a statement that’s “a reflection of the victim’s words or other expression of their feelings,” and they are not allowed to read their own statement.
“Our son will forever have a void in his heart,” said Johnathon Bobbitt-Miller. “He will forever miss his sister, he will forever question why was I given a safe family and why was she given to a monster.”
The boy’s parents will be given a chance to make their case to the judge on Thursday before the sentencing hearing gets underway, in a last-ditch effort to show the judge they be allowed to speak.
More on the death of Harmony Montgomery
FBI searches Stoneham home of man previously convicted of child pornography charge
The Federal Bureau of Investigation searched a home in Stoneham, Massachusetts, registered to a man who was previously convicted of distributing child pornography.
Neighbors on Hancock Street took photos Wednesday of law enforcement at the home of James McCarty.
In March, McCarty was caught trying to enter the South Elementary School campus armed with two knives. Authorities have not said whether the search Wednesday was related to that incident.
Investigators said McCarty was believed to have been having a mental health crisis at the time of the incident in March. He was never in contact with any kids.
Parents criticized the district for not notifying them about the incident until days later, with some calling for the resignation of Superintendent David Ljungberg.
The school committee apologized to parents for “distress” caused by the incident, and Ljungberg did not resign.
McCarty was previously registered as a level one sex offender for dissemination of child pornography after a conviction in 2013. He is no longer required to register. He was investigated by the FBI Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force, NBC10 Boston learned after the incident at the school.
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