“Justice for Amie Harwick”: 48 Hours Reports February 15 2025

On February 15, 2020, Hollywood family therapist Amie Harwick was brutally murdered in her Los Angeles home. 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty revisits the harrowing case in the encore presentation of “Justice for Amie Harwick,” airing this Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET/PT. This episode explores the chilling events of that night and the relentless pursuit of justice for a woman whose life was cut short by an obsessed ex-boyfriend.

Harwick’s roommate, Michael Herman, woke to the sound of her screams. Unable to find his phone, he ran to a neighbor’s house for help. By the time authorities arrived, Harwick was discovered gravely injured beneath her third-story balcony. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after. Investigators quickly determined that she had been strangled and thrown from the balcony in a violent attack.

A Prominent Therapist’s Life Cut Short

Amie Harwick was a respected family and sex therapist in Los Angeles, known for her advocacy work and authorship of The New Sex Bible for Women. She appeared on television and podcasts to discuss relationships, mental health, and women’s issues. Her career was dedicated to helping others navigate trauma and abuse—tragically, she became a victim of the very dangers she warned about.

Harwick had a history of success and resilience. She worked as a model and dancer to fund her education, earning degrees in psychology and clinical therapy. Beyond her professional work, she was deeply involved in mental health initiatives, including Pineapple Support, a nonprofit providing counseling for those in the adult entertainment industry.

The Violent Crime Scene

Police found signs of a struggle inside Harwick’s home. A broken necklace and a syringe containing an unknown substance pointed to a premeditated attack. A shattered window indicated forced entry. The immediate suspicion was that this was not a random break-in but a targeted crime.

Through their investigation, authorities identified the perpetrator as Gareth Pursehouse, Harwick’s ex-boyfriend. He had dated Harwick for 18 months nearly a decade earlier. Their relationship ended badly, with Harwick filing restraining orders against him due to his obsessive and aggressive behavior. The most recent restraining order had expired in 2015, leaving her without legal protection from his escalating obsession.

A Stalker’s Revenge

One month before her murder, Harwick encountered Pursehouse at the XBIZ Awards, an event where he worked as a photographer. Witnesses reported that he became enraged upon seeing her, berating her in public. Harwick confided in friends that she felt unsafe and even wrote an email to herself documenting her fears. “Tonight I felt very scared,” she wrote. “It terrifies me that he’s been obsessed with me for nine years, thinks about me every day.”

Prosecutors later revealed that this encounter reignited Pursehouse’s fixation on Harwick. He began tracking her, planning his attack for Valentine’s Day weekend. Surveillance footage showed him staking out her residence before breaking in, hiding, and waiting for her return. When she arrived home, he ambushed her, strangled her, and ultimately threw her from her balcony.

The Investigation and Arrest

Police swiftly arrested Pursehouse on the day of the murder. He was initially released on a $2 million bond but was rearrested when prosecutors filed additional charges, including first-degree murder with special circumstances of lying in wait, breaking and entering, and home burglary. These charges made him eligible for life without parole.

Evidence against him was overwhelming. Surveillance footage placed him at the crime scene. Harwick’s email provided a chilling prediction of his intentions. Investigators also found Pursehouse’s DNA at the scene, and neighbors reported hearing a man’s angry voice before Harwick’s fatal fall.

The Trial and Sentencing

Pursehouse’s trial began in August 2023, three years after Harwick’s death. Prosecutors argued that his actions were fueled by long-standing obsession and resentment. They presented Harwick’s own words, written weeks before her death, as a testament to her fear. They detailed how Pursehouse’s anger had festered for years, culminating in a premeditated attack.

The defense, however, claimed that Pursehouse had not planned to kill Harwick. They argued that his intention was to speak with her and that her fatal fall was not deliberate. This argument failed to convince the jury. On September 29, 2023, Pursehouse was convicted of first-degree murder. On December 6, 2023, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Remembering Amie Harwick

Harwick’s murder highlighted the dangers of intimate partner violence and stalking. Her friends and family have since advocated for stronger legal protections for domestic violence victims. The case also renewed discussions about the effectiveness of restraining orders and the need for more robust measures to protect survivors from obsessed former partners.

Drew Carey, Harwick’s former fiancé, described her as “a positive force in the world” and called for increased awareness of the risks posed by abusive ex-partners. Her loved ones continue to honor her legacy by supporting causes she was passionate about, including mental health advocacy and domestic violence prevention.

Conclusion

The 48 Hours episode “Justice for Amie Harwick” provides a heartbreaking yet important examination of the dangers of unchecked obsession and domestic violence. Through exclusive interviews and firsthand accounts, it sheds light on Harwick’s tragic final moments and the relentless pursuit of justice that followed.

As viewers tune in this Saturday, they will not only learn about the details of this horrific crime but also gain a deeper understanding of the systemic issues surrounding domestic violence and stalking. Harwick’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers many victims face and the ongoing need for legal reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.