Murder of Dr. Amie Harwick — The Hollywood Sex Therapist

A man accused of pushing her off balcony

Dr. Amie Harwick was a well-known therapist based in Hollywood, California. She specialized in relationships, sex, and mental health. Dr. Harwick authored a book called “The New Sex Bible for Women.”

Many people knew her because of her engagement to comedian Drew Carey, but they later broke up. As a licensed therapist, she helped many people with their personal and relationship issues.

Her insights and advice were highly valued. Apart from her private practice, she also appeared on TV shows and podcasts where she shared her expert knowledge. But why would someone murder her that, too, on Valentine’s Day?

The Night of the Crime

Dr. Amie Harwick started her Valentine’s Day in 2020 by going for a walk with a friend and having a meal. Later in the evening, at 7:30 p.m., she met with some friends at a burlesque show.

Amie came back home after the show. She texted her friend, asking for photos from the show past midnight. Then she messaged another friend, Robert Koslin, about a restaurant for a future trip. But, just a little while after these messages, someone attacked her at home.

Attack and Immediate Aftermath

Dr. Harwick lived in a three-story home. She was on the third floor when the attack happened. Her roommate was sleeping on the first floor and woke up to her screams. He couldn’t find his phone quickly enough, so he shouted at the attacker, hoping he would stop hurting Dr. Harwick.

The roommate then ran out, looking for help. He knocked on many doors until he found someone on the street with a phone. Together, they called 911 at 1:14 a.m. When the police arrived, they found Dr. Harwick badly injured.

They believed she was thrown off her third-floor balcony. Doctors later said she died from strangulation and injuries from a brutal hit. She reached the hospital but was declared dead at 3:30 a.m.

Investigation and Arrest

The police worked fast and saw signs of a break-in at her home and a struggle. There was blood on her bed and bedroom door. Even beads from her necklace lay scattered in her room.

Her roommate told police he had heard a loud noise earlier in the night but thought it wasn’t serious and went back to sleep. The police believed that the noise was the killer breaking in.

They believed he waited inside the house for hours before attacking Dr. Harwick. The big question was — who did it? Just one day after the crime, police arrested Gareth Pursehouse.

Who Was Gareth Pursehouse?

Gareth Pursehouse was a software engineer who sometimes worked as a professional photographer. He also tried his hand at comedy. Dr. Amy Harwick and Gareth Pursehouse had a past romantic relationship.

They previously dated and were once involved, but over time, the relationship ended. Dr. Harwick had, at some point, expressed concerns about Pursehouse and his behavior.

She even obtained restraining orders against him due to fears for her safety. Furthermore, the quick timeline between the crime and his arrest suggests they might have had immediate reasons to suspect him. He was arrested 24 hours after the murder.

Did He Face Charges?

Gareth Pursehouse faced charges of murder and burglary in connection to Dr. Harwick’s death. The prosecutors highlighted key evidence, which included DNA from underneath Dr. Harwick’s fingernails and one of the doors in her home. This DNA matched Pursehouse’s DNA.

Additionally, officers found a syringe filled with liquid at the crime scene. They later discovered an identical syringe with the same liquid inside Pursehouse’s home. Tests showed that this liquid was a lethal dose of nicotine. Friends of Dr. Harwick confirmed that she never used nicotine, whether through smoking, vaping, or injections.

He Pleaded Not Guilty

Pursehouse pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense argued that the evidence wasn’t strong enough to tie him to the murder. If the court finds him guilty, Pursehouse might spend the rest of his life in prison.

Due to certain components of the crime, he could even be eligible for the death penalty. The jury hearing reopned when the friends and neighbours of Amie came forward with more evidences against Pursehouse.

The trial is currently postponed until Monday, Sept. 11, as the attorney is ill.