Ex-Boyfriend Of Celebrity Therapist Sentenced To Life In Prison

Gareth Pursehouse, 45, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the heinous murder of 38-year-old sex therapist Amie Harwick. The verdict, delivered on December 6, 2023, marks the culmination of a two-month trial that saw Pursehouse convicted of first-degree murder. Harwick, once engaged to television personality Drew Carey, met a tragic end in her Hollywood Hills home in February 2020.

The Ten-Year Stalking Nightmare

Amie Harwick, a renowned sex therapist, had been engaged to television host Drew Carey. The perpetrator, Gareth Pursehouse, had a disturbing history of stalking Amie for ten years following their breakup.

The court proceedings revealed a horrifying story of stalking that spanned a decade. Pursehouse has allegedly been fixated on Harwick since their breakup. On February 15, 2020, he broke into her Los Angeles home, lying in wait for her return. Subsequently, he brutally strangled her and callously threw her off the balcony of her third-floor residence.

Justice Served: Courtroom Testimonies

Before the sentencing, poignant testimonies from Amie's family members echoed in the courtroom. Tom Harwick, Amie's grief-stricken father, expressed gratitude to the presiding judge, prosecutors, and the jury for delivering justice. He also acknowledged the prompt response of Los Angeles emergency officials during the tragic event. "Justice to Amie has been served," he solemnly declared.

Amie's mother, Penny Harwick, spoke emotionally about the void left by her daughter's untimely death. Gareth Pursehouse, a stoic figure in the courtroom, was ordered to pay $7,500 for Amie's funeral expenses. Additionally, he bears the responsibility for restitution to the victim's parents, covering travel, lodging, and food costs incurred during the court proceedings.

Drew Carey's Reflections

Notably absent from the courtroom was Drew Carey, who had shared a past with Amie. In a 2022 interview with 48 Hours, Carey expressed his shock and grief at the news of Amie's murder. "When I heard that she got murdered, right away, I thought, 'It’s gotta be that guy'," Carey revealed. He recounted a text from Amie just two days before her tragic end, expressing a desire to meet and talk.

Gareth Pursehouse had pleaded guilty to the murder, and his sentence commenced immediately after the court's decision.

The sentencing of Gareth Pursehouse to life in prison without parole brings a measure of closure to the long-standing anguish endured by Amie Harwick's family and loved ones.