Stalking and Murder in Hollywood: The Tragic Death of Sex Therapist Amie Harwick

A Life Built on Determination: The Story of Amie Harwick

February 2020: A Desperate Fight for Survival

Hollywood is known for its bright lights and red carpets, but on one February night in 2020, the focus wasn’t on a star-studded event—it was on the lifeless body of a woman clinging to survival. First responders raced through the city’s winding streets to an apartment complex where 38-year-old Amie Nicole Harwick lay, barely holding on.

From Adoption to Ambition: Amie’s Relentless Pursuit of Success

Amie’s journey to that moment had been anything but easy. She had been adopted as a child, and even from a young age, she understood that nothing in life was guaranteed—except the work she put into it. That second chance at life her adoptive family gave her? She took it seriously.

She excelled academically, pushing herself through every challenge until she secured a spot at California State Polytechnic University, where she studied psychology. Helping people wasn’t just a career path for Amie—it was her calling. But she wasn’t waiting around for anyone to make things easier for her. If she wanted to build a life of independence, she was going to do it herself.

The Relentless Drive of Amie Harwick: From Student to Hollywood’s Go-To Therapist

Dancing Through Degrees: Funding Her Own Future

Amie Harwick wasn’t handed her education—she earned it, one hard-fought step at a time. She paid her way through college by dancing, covering tuition for her psychology degree at California State Polytechnic University. Then she did it again for her master’s in clinical psychology. And again for her Ph.D. While some people took out loans or relied on family support, Amie hustled.

Her work ethic paid off—literally. She became a marriage and family therapist, specializing in human sexuality and intimate relationships. It wasn’t just a job; it was her passion. She didn’t just want to help people—she wanted to change lives.

Hollywood’s Relationship Expert: TV, Podcasts, and The New Sex Bible for Women

Amie quickly became one of Hollywood’s most respected therapists, working with clients to rebuild their relationships and redefine intimacy. Her expertise landed her regular spots on TV and podcasts, and she even launched her own YouTube channel to share her insights with a wider audience.

She put her philosophies into writing with The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy. Despite what the title might suggest, the book wasn’t just about the mechanics of sex—it was about emotional connection, self-discovery, and breaking down societal stigmas around intimacy. Readers praised it for offering practical, meaningful advice that helped them reconnect with their partners on a deeper level.

Advocating for Mental Health in the Adult Industry

Amie never shied away from conversations about sex or the complex emotions tied to it. She had firsthand experience with the industry’s realities—her time as a dancer and modeling for Playboy had given her an inside look at a world that most only see through a filtered lens.

In 2017, a series of suicides in the adult entertainment industry exposed a growing mental health crisis. Amie saw the problem and got to work, partnering with Pineapple Support to connect sex workers with critical therapy and crisis resources.

The adult industry had long been overlooked when it came to mental health resources, and Amie worked to close that gap, making sure people got the care they needed before it was too late.

A New Chapter, A Dangerous Encounter

While Amie’s professional life was thriving, her personal life was about to take a dangerous turn.

She was a fixture at LA’s high-profile parties, mingling with celebrities, socialites, and industry insiders. At one of these events in the early 2010s, she met photographer Gareth Pursehouse.

At first glance, Gareth seemed harmless—reserved, a little eccentric, but charming and funny enough to make a solid first impression. But as Amie would soon find out, first impressions aren’t everything.

A Relationship Turned Dangerous: The Descent of Gareth Pursehouse

From Attraction to Abuse

At first, Amie Harwick and Gareth Pursehouse hit it off. He was quirky, a little shy, but charming in the way that makes someone seem interesting rather than awkward. Amie, known for her empathy, was drawn to people who didn’t fit the mold. But Gareth wasn’t just different—he was dangerous.

Over the course of their 18-month relationship, the charm wore off, replaced by violent outbursts. Amie filed multiple police reports, detailing the abuse—beatings, choking, suffocation, and full-force punches. She had the injuries to prove it, documented in photos that left no room for doubt.

She took every step she could to protect herself. Two restraining orders were filed. Eventually, the relationship ended. Gareth was out of her life.

A New Love, A Fresh Start

With Gareth in the rearview, Amie moved forward. A few years later, she met comedian Drew Carey, and within a year, they were engaged. The relationship was different—full of love, laughter, and mutual respect. But even with all the right ingredients, it wasn’t meant to last. They called off the engagement after a year, but stayed friends.

Drew would later describe Amie as “a positive force in the world and an unapologetic champion of women.”

Amie kept moving, shifting between professional circles, raising awareness for mental health, and staying focused on her work.

A Chance Encounter with a Nightmare

Then, at the XBIZ Awards, a red-carpet event celebrating the adult industry, Amie’s past came crashing into her present.

Standing in front of her was Gareth Pursehouse. But instead of intimidation or confrontation, what unfolded was something else entirely—Gareth unraveled.

He broke down in front of her, sobbing, shaking, hyperventilating. “Why are you here? Why are you here?” he screamed. His face contorted in anger and despair.

Amie later described the encounter in chilling detail: “He recited text messages that I had sent… about nine years ago. Recited the date, who they were to, and exactly what they said word-for-word. I couldn’t believe it. I was very scared.”

To her mother, Penny Harwick, she recounted the scene in even starker terms. “He called her a btch,”* Penny told 48 Hours. “He told her she ruined his life. And she said, ‘Mom, I went into therapist mode. I just tried to calm him.’”

For the next hour, Amie—someone who had spent her career helping others—did what she did best. She helped. Even though he had terrorized her, she stayed, talked, and tried to diffuse the situation. But as soon as she walked away, the fear set in.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Preparing for the Worst

Amie’s instincts screamed that this wasn’t over. She installed security cameras, carried pepper spray, and made sure friends knew where she was at all times. She even documented her fears in private emails:

“Tonight I felt very scared. It terrifies me that he’s been obsessed with me for nine years, thinks about me every day.”

The restraining orders that had once kept Gareth at bay had long since expired. Legally, there was nothing standing between her and the man who had fixated on her for nearly a decade.

February 13, 2020: A Violent End

Amie did everything right. She took precautions. She voiced her fears. She tried to protect herself.

But on the night of February 13, 2020, someone broke into her apartment. Moments later, she was found battered, strangled, and thrown from her third-floor balcony.

A neighbor, realizing who it was lying on the pavement, scrambled for help. He couldn’t find his phone, so he ran to a neighbor’s apartment, desperate to call 911.

First responders arrived to find Amie still clinging to life. They rushed her to the hospital, but the damage was catastrophic. She didn’t make it.

Justice for Amie Harwick: The Trial of Gareth Pursehouse

Connecting the Dots: A Murder That Shocked Hollywood

It didn’t take long for law enforcement—or anyone paying attention—to figure out who was responsible for Amie Harwick’s murder. Just a month earlier, she had come face to face with Gareth Pursehouse at the XBIZ Awards, and it was clear to everyone that he was still obsessed with her. The man who had once been a footnote in her past had forced himself back into her story—this time, with fatal consequences.

On the same day Amie died, police arrested Gareth, now 45 years old, and charged him with her murder. He posted a $2 million bond and was released, but the freedom didn’t last. When he pleaded not guilty, he was taken back into custody, where he would await trial.

A Defense Built on Denial

Three years later, Gareth finally faced a judge. His defense? He hadn’t gone to Amie’s apartment to harm her—he had gone to talk. According to him, the conversation had turned physical, but only because Amie attacked first. He was simply defending himself. And since there were no witnesses to say otherwise, how could anyone be sure he was the one who threw the first punch?

It was a flimsy excuse, but flimsy was all he had.

Amie’s Words Speak from the Grave

The prosecution didn’t have to speculate. Amie had left behind the strongest evidence imaginable—her own words.

Her emails, written in the weeks leading up to her murder, painted a picture of a woman living in fear of a man who had never let her go.

“He couldn’t stop obsessing over me,” she wrote. “He recited text messages that I had sent… about nine years ago. Recited the date, who they were to, and exactly what they said word-for-word. I couldn’t believe it. I was very scared. … I’m pretty nervous that I’m more on his radar now. … He’s focused on harming me. I’m hoping that this interaction and listening and giving him time may cause a neutralization in his anger towards me.”

Amie had tried to calm him, tried to protect herself, and even tried to reason with his obsession. But none of it mattered.

The jury didn’t buy Gareth’s version of events. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A man who had spent nearly a decade fixated on Amie had stolen her future, but in the end, justice ensured he would never walk free again.