In a first-time public account, Herman sheds light on the chilling events that transpired on Valentine’s Day 2020 and the early hours of the following day. Recounting the terror he experienced, Herman describes the unsettling sounds that first alerted him to the danger his partner, Amie, was in. As the night unfolded, Herman’s quick thinking and bravery in seeking help became crucial in the face of a potential intruder. The discovery of a broken window at the scene reaffirmed Herman’s account, leading investigators to consider the validity of his narrative. With the revelation of a potential suspect, Gareth Pursehouse, the pieces of the puzzle slowly started to come together, shedding light on a tragic crime that rocked the community.
German: Amie passed away at the hospital at the age of 38.
Erin Moriarty: How did you feel when you found out that Amie didn’t survive?
Michael Herman: It’s still hard to accept…
As investigators searched for Amie’s ex-boyfriend, they also tried to locate Amie’s parents, Penny and Tom Harwick, in Pennsylvania. The Harwicks recall the moment when the police arrived at their door while they were getting ready for bed.
Penny Harwick: The officer said, “Amie has been murdered” (sobs).
Tom Harwick: It’s all a blur right now.
Penny Harwick: I can’t even put it into words, I—
Tom Harwick: Absolutely devastated.
Penny and Tom’s journey with Amie began when they adopted her as a baby at 11 months old.
Erin Moriarty: What was it like when you first saw your little girl?
Penny Harwick: I vividly remember… it felt like a fairy tale. There was this beautiful little girl waiting for us, ready to come home with us and become our daughter. It was magical.
Tom Harwick: And surprisingly, she had a head full of curls.
Penny Harwick: Her hair was a lovely honey color… By the age of four, it had darkened considerably.
Around the same time, the Harwicks also adopted their son, Chris.
Penny Harwick: She was fine with it for a couple of weeks. Then she asked, “When is he going back?” (laughs)… And I told her, “He’s not going back. He’s your brother, and he’s here to stay forever.”
Erin Moriarty: How would you describe your sister?
Chris Harwick: Amie was a unique character… She loved heavy metal and rock music, attending concerts.
Amie even got her parents involved in the music scene.
Tom Harwick: She turned both Penny and me into metal fans.
Penny Harwick: That’s true.
Erin Moriarty: Really?
Penny Harwick: Absolutely.
Tom Harwick: She always found a way to go backstage or meet the performers. That was just who she was.
After high school, Amie met Tommy Decker, a drummer from L.A., at a local concert. They began a long-distance relationship.
Penny Harwick: She expressed her desire to move to L.A…
In 2001, at the age of 20, she made the move westward to find herself.
Penny Harwick: She needed to discover her identity. It was something she had to do for herself.
The couple eventually got married, but after three years, they divorced. In 2009, Amie met Gareth Pursehouse, the man suspected by police
When “48 Hours” initially interviewed Rudy Torres in 2020, he shared the story of how Amie and Pursehouse first crossed paths at glamorous events in Los Angeles. Amie, a model and dancer at the time, would frequently encounter Pursehouse, who worked as an events photographer, at these gatherings.
Rudy Torres described Pursehouse as charming, a bit goofy, and kind of dorky. Amie’s mother, Penny, mentioned that her daughter didn’t disclose much about Pursehouse beyond his computer expertise and aspirations as a comedian. Penny speculated that perhaps Amie was beginning to realize that Pursehouse wasn’t who she thought he was.
Detectives discovered that Amie had reported multiple violent incidents involving Pursehouse to the police, including instances where she was choked, suffocated, and punched with a closed fist. Despite these troubling events, Amie never fully confided in her family about the severity of the situation.
Following the end of their relationship, Amie obtained a restraining order against Pursehouse in 2012 to protect herself. However, Pursehouse continued to pursue her against her wishes, leading to further distress for Amie and those close to her.
Despite these challenges, Amie pursued a career in therapy, working towards becoming a licensed therapist. She shared therapy videos on social media to promote mental health awareness and self-improvement. Additionally, she pursued a Ph.D. in human sexuality, focusing on supporting marginalized communities such as sex workers and vulnerable women.
Amie faced setbacks, including the loss of a job as a youth counselor due to an anonymous delivery of nude photos to a potential employer, which she believed was orchestrated by Pursehouse. Despite these obstacles, Amie remained resilient, continuing her advocacy work and dedication to helping those in need.
Emily Sears, a model who has been featured on the cover of Maxim Magazine, had high praise for Dr. Amie Harwick’s impeccable reputation. Sears sought Harwick’s help in 2017 to address her anxiety surrounding dating and intimacy, finding her to be relatable. Despite sharing her past experiences with an abusive ex-boyfriend, Sears was surprised to learn of Harwick’s similar history. Meanwhile, as Harwick provided guidance to Sears, she was embarking on a new relationship with comedian Drew Carey, known for hosting “The Price is Right.” Carey spoke fondly of Harwick’s beauty, intelligence, and desire to help others, particularly women. The couple’s whirlwind romance culminated in a romantic proposal in Paris, but their engagement was short-lived due to the pressures of fame. Following their breakup, Harwick feared for her safety due to increased public attention. Tragically, Harwick’s concerns were validated when she was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse. The case was meticulously investigated, revealing Pursehouse’s calculated actions leading up to the murder, fueled by an obsessive fixation on Harwick. The tragedy served as a stark reminder of the dangers women face in society, prompting reflection on the need for increased safety and awareness.
At the photography gig, Amie was beaming for the cameras, reveling in the spotlight. However, witnesses recount a different scene moments before, off-camera, where an enraged Pursehouse confronted her. Penny Harwick recalls Amie confiding in her that she had not seen him in nearly ten years. According to Penny, Amie shared that he had insulted her and accused her of ruining his life. She expressed her fear of his emotional outburst and disruptive behavior, recounting how she had tried to calm him down in a therapist-like manner.
Feeling increasingly worried after conversing with Pursehouse for almost an hour, Amie left the event with a sense of unease. She discussed the incident with her friend, Penny, who suggested taking security precautions. Amie mentioned considering carrying pepper spray for self-defense. To enhance her safety, she began sharing her phone’s location with her close friend, Robert Coshland.
Despite the expired restraining order against Pursehouse and his lack of direct threats, Amie felt vulnerable. She confided in Coshland, expressing her apprehension and stating that if anything were to happen to her, he would be responsible. The situation escalated when Pursehouse began contacting Amie through text messages and voicemails, pleading for a chance to speak with her.
Amidst growing concerns about Pursehouse’s intentions, Amie made the decision to block his number. This action marked a turning point, signaling her refusal to be manipulated or coerced into reconnecting with him. Prosecutors later revealed Pursehouse’s sinister plan to kill Amie on Valentine’s Day, a deliberate and calculated act designed to make a statement.
On the fateful evening of February 14, 2020, Amie was out with friends until around 7 p.m. Subsequently, surveillance footage captured a figure resembling Pursehouse with gloves tampering with her neighbor’s security camera. Investigators believe that Pursehouse then breached Amie’s residence, breaking through a French door around 9 p.m.
Witnesses reported hearing a commotion earlier in the evening, corroborating the break-in. Blood found at the scene was later confirmed to belong to Pursehouse through DNA testing. Detective Masterson surmised that Pursehouse had concealed himself in Amie’s bedroom, waiting for her to return. The chilling sequence of events underscored the calculated and disturbing nature of the crime.
Detective Scott Masterson believes that when Amie arrived home a little after 1 a.m., she found something terrifying in her bedroom. Masterson describes how Amie froze in shock and fear upon seeing her phone on the bed, likely throwing it at the intruder and attempting to run out of the room while screaming. The struggle escalated, with evidence showing bite marks on the intruder’s bicep and a black eye, indicating that Amie fought fiercely for her life against a much larger opponent.
Prosecutors suspect that the intruder, later identified as Gareth Pursehouse, began choking Amie, but was unexpectedly interrupted by Michael Herman’s arrival. Pursehouse panicked and dropped a syringe containing liquid nicotine on the balcony, a lethal toxin that could kill someone if injected. Failing in his initial plan, Pursehouse allegedly carried Amie, who was barely conscious from the strangulation, to the balcony and dropped her over the railing to her death.
Security cameras captured Pursehouse leaving the scene, and prosecutors prepared to bring him to trial, only to be surprised by his defense strategy of blaming Amie for the tragic events of that night. The murder trial of Gareth Pursehouse commenced in August 2023, more than three years after Amie Harwick’s death. Prosecutors Victor Avila and Catherine Mariano argued that Pursehouse’s obsession with Amie led him to strangle her and push her over the balcony, resulting in her death.
Throughout the trial, Amie’s parents, Tom and Penny Harwick, endured the emotional pain of reliving the tragic events, seeking closure and justice for their daughter. Alongside them were Amie’s friends, who provided unwavering support and solidarity during the courtroom proceedings.
S. Rudy Torres said it was the final favor he could ever do for her. Despite being supported by her friends, the Harwicks were unprepared to hear Gareth Pursehouse’s explanation for the first time about the events that led to Amie’s death. Defense attorney Evan Franzel argued that encountering Amie at an awards show in January 2020 had plunged Pursehouse into a severe depression, and his only way out was to talk to Amie on Valentine’s Day 2020. In court, Franzel claimed that Pursehouse’s sole intention that night was to speak to Amie. However, Penny Harwick dismissed these claims as fabricated stories without a credible defense. The defense also asserted that the nicotine-filled syringe found at the crime scene was intended for Pursehouse’s own suicide, not for Amie, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Detective Scott Masterson believed Pursehouse had a mission to kill Amie, as indicated by his actions of wearing gloves, tampering with cameras, and the meticulous planning involved. The defense argued that Amie’s fall was accidental, supported by images presented in court showing her posing on a balcony railing. However, this assertion was met with skepticism by Harwick family members and Victor Avila, who found it unreasonable given the circumstances.
The defense admitted that Pursehouse was present in Amie’s home that night and initiated a chain of events that led to her death, but they maintained that he never intended to kill her. The prosecution, over a 10-day period, presented evidence to the contrary, including testimony from numerous witnesses such as Detective Masterson, Coshland, and Amie’s roommate Michael Herman. Herman recalled Amie’s concerns about the security of her glass doors following an incident on the red carpet with Pursehouse.
Prosecutors played a recorded jail conversation between Pursehouse and his friends, where he remarked on his newfound bad boy image after his arrest.
Instead of showing concern for Amie during the call, Gareth Pursehouse is seen laughing with friends. Victor Avila believes this lack of worry about his situation reveals a sense of guilt, as Pursehouse seems aware of the consequences of his actions. The defense’s decision to rest without presenting any witnesses raised questions among jurors, while a new theory was introduced suggesting that Amie had attacked Pursehouse. The prosecution highlighted Amie’s own words about feeling scared and threatened by Pursehouse, emphasizing the danger she faced. After a period of deliberation, the jury ultimately found Pursehouse guilty of first-degree murder, a verdict that brought a sense of justice for Amie Harwick but also highlighted the emotional toll on her loved ones and the intensity of the court proceedings.
During that moment, Penny Harwick expressed a profound sense of relief. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she finally felt that the person responsible for her suffering would face consequences. Two months later, Pursehouse was sentenced to life in prison without parole, maintaining his silence throughout. Amie’s friend, Robert Coshland, reflected on the bittersweet feeling of justice being served, but lamented that this tragedy should never have occurred. The pain caused by Pursehouse’s actions has deeply affected many lives, leaving a lasting void in their hearts.
Tom Harwick acknowledged the unwavering support of Amie’s friends, considering them more than mere friends but family who helped them navigate through the darkest moments. The impact of Amie’s life and the community she fostered were evident in the outpouring of love and support from those she touched. However, the grief and guilt linger for those left behind, like Michael Herman, who plays back the events of that fateful night, wishing for a chance to change the outcome.
Despite the painful loss, Amie’s loved ones continue to honor her memory and strive for change in domestic violence laws to prevent such tragedies from happening again. The legal system’s limitations are recognized by Prosecutor Mariano, emphasizing the need for society to do better in preventing such tragedies. Amie’s family finds solace in memories of their adventures with her and visits her grave to pay their respects.
The absence and silence left by Amie’s passing remain a constant ache for her family and friends. They find strength in each other as they navigate life without her, holding onto the memories of her vibrant spirit and the impact she made on those around her.
Is there something you wish you could have told her? Penny Harwick expresses, “Just to tell her one more time that I love her. I know she knew it, but I wanted to be able to say it.” If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or stalking, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Join the “48 Hours” Post Mortem Podcast and delve behind the scenes with host Anne-Marie Green, correspondent Erin Moriarty, and producers Lauren White and Rich Fetzer as they navigate a murder case they’ve been following for the past four years. This podcast is produced by Richard Fetzer and Lauren A. White, with Michelle Fanucci and Greg Fisher as development producers, Lauren Turner Dunn as the associate producer, and Greg Kaplan and Phil Tangel as the editors. Anthony Batson serves as the senior broadcast producer, Nancy Kramer as the executive editor, and Judy Tygard as the executive producer.
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