Ex accused of ‘murdering’ sex therapist Amie Harwick had broken into her apartment BEFORE and taped 48 flowers to door
THE man accused of murdering sex therapist Amie Harwick allegedly broke into her apartment complex and taped flowers to her door — just before she filed a restraining order against him.
Gareth Pursehouse, 41, was arrested on Saturday hours after Harwick, 38, died after she was found with wounded on the ground below the third-floor balcony of her home in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office ruled Harwick — who recently broke off an engagement to host Drew Carey — died from blunt force injuries and apparent strangulation.
Harwick and Pursehouse’s relationship dates back to at least 2011, when Harwick, 38, sought an initial restraining order against him.
In April 2012, sought another restraining order against him, which was granted and valid until recently, when it expired.
A copy of the restraining order obtained by The Sun shows that in the month before the order was filed, Pursehouse apparently broke into Harwick’s apartment complex several times.
Harwick wrote in the docs that on March 18, Pursehouse went to her apartment and “smashed 10 picture frames on my door” — before apparently texting her: “Things will get worse.”
The following day, Harwick said Pursehouse again broke into her building and left around four dozen flowers “taped to my door.”
Harwick said the day after that, Pursehouse broke in another time and “waited outside my door playing music” — before allegedly sending her friends “threatening” emails.
Months prior in January 2012, Harwick said she and Pursehouse had an argument in the car that led to him “physically pulling” her from the vehicle — leaving her with a bloody nose and scratches.
Harwick accused Pursehouse of throwing her suitcases “overhead very far” and damaging them.
A temporary restraining order was filed by Harwick in 2011, but was dismissed a short time later when she didn’t show up to a follow-up hearing.
In a copy of that restraining order, Harwick says that in April 2011, Pursehouse "forced me to the ground, covered my mouth to prevent my yelling, kicked me."
May 2011, Pursehouse during multiple fights “choked me, suffocated me, pushed me against walls, kicked me, dropped me to the ground.”
She said Pursehouse restrained her, slammed her head into the ground and “punched me with a closed fist.”
In June 2011, Harwick wrote Pursehouse pushed her out of the car and left her on the freeway.
She said she hurt her back and called 911.
Harwick also wrote that Pursehouse at some point told her he hit her "because I made him so mad. He refused to get help while in relationship."
Harwick’s friends claim Pursehouse stalked the sex therapist and found her at a porn awards show last month just weeks before her death.
Friends of Harwick told the Los Angeles Times it seemed to “reignite his obsessive preoccupation with her."
“It was the absolute worst possible luck,” fellow Los Angeles sex therapist Hernando Chaves said
"Another one of her pals, Vera Duffy, added: “She said that when he saw her, he just went ballistic. He lost it. He made a scene
"She was very scared. She said, 'What am I going to do?' I let my roommate know, I have home security."
Harwick told Duffy that Pursehouse blamed her for ruining his life.
Friend Rudy Torres, who told KABC: “When they broke up, he didn’t take it well at all.”
“He’d do stupid stuff and say stupid stuff. You’d tell him, ‘Move on dude, leave her alone’ — and he wouldn’t.”
Pursehouse’s mom told RadarOnline.com her son had his heart “broken” by Harwick, but didn’t believe he would kill her.
The only thing I know about Amie is they broke up like six years ago.”
Barbara said she had no idea her son was arrested for murder, and said "we haven't been in communication."
“Gareth could never do that. Gareth could never do that,” the mother said.
“I don’t know it’s been so long. Amy broke his heart and he just stopped talking to the family.”
Harwick had previously told police she was scared about an ex-boyfriend.
On Saturday, just after 1am, cops were called to Harwick's home about a "woman screaming."
When they arrived on scene, they met Harwick’s roommate outside of the building, as he had fled the place to try to call for help, and he told them Harwick was being assaulted inside.
Harwick was found with grave injuries after apparently falling from a third-floor balcony and was unconscious.
There was evidence of forced entry into her home and signs of a struggle inside, cops said.
Harwick later died at a hospital.
Pursehouse was arrested hours later in connection with her death.
He was released on $2 million bond just three days later.
Harwick’s ex-fiancee, Drew Carey, said he is “overcome with grief” after her passing.
The two were engaged in early 2018, but later split
He wrote in a statement: "Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime.”
"She was a positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist.”
"I am overcome with grief. I would like to thank you in advance for giving myself and everyone who loved Amie privacy while we try to work through this tragic situation."
On Tuesday, Carey shared a Change.org petition called “Justice 4 Amie” on Twitter and asked his followers to “please sign” or “chip in if you can.”
The Change.org petition, made by friend Diana Arias and directed at California local and state legislators, says Harwick “was murdered as a result of poor laws not protecting the victims and treating the offenders.”
“Amie had a restraining order in place against a violent ex boyfriend from a decade ago. The restraining order expired.”
“This man for years clearly needed treatment. She should have never had to be in this situation like so many other victims.”
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The petition, which had more than 30,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning, seeks to change laws regarding restraining orders.
“People shouldn't have to die to make changes,” it reads.
“If Amie's murder can save countless other lives like she was doing when she was alive then it makes this pain of her death not in vain.”
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