{{Short description|American therapist and writer (1981–2020)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Use American English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Amie Harwick | image = Amie Nicole Harwick 2020 by Glenn Francis.jpg | alt = photo of Amie Harwick on January sixteenth twenty twenty | caption = Harwick in January 2020 | birth_name = Amie Nicole Harwick | birth_date = {{Birth date|1981|05|20}} | birth_place = Sellersville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|02|15|1981|05|20}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | death_cause = Murder | burial_place = Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler, Pennsylvania, U.S. | other_names = {{ubl| | Amie Nicole | Nicolette Novak }} | alma_mater = {{ubl| | California State Polytechnic University (BA) | Pepperdine University (MA) | Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (PhD) }} | occupation = Family and sex counselor | organization = Pineapple Support | notable_works = Author of ''The New Sex Bible for Women'' (2014)<br/>{{ISBN|1592336418}} | website = {{official website}} }}
thumb|right|Amie Harwick autographs her book ''The New Sex Bible for Women'' in 2014
'''Amie Nicole Harwick''' (May 20, 1981{{snds}}February 15, 2020) was an American marriage and family therapist and writer.
After working as a model, trainer, dancer and bartender Harwick earned advanced degrees and practiced as a therapist. She specialized in family and sex counseling, and became known for working with clients in West Hollywood. Harwick authored ''The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy'' (2014) and regularly discussed her work on podcasts, TV, and her YouTube channel''.'' In 2018, she was briefly the fiancée of comedian and actor Drew Carey. During her final years, Harwick also worked with Pineapple Support, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health support to members of the adult film industry. Additionally, she served on the board of directors of Rock to Recovery, a nonprofit that treats addiction and mental health issues with music therapy.
When she was 38 years old, Harwick was murdered by an ex-boyfriend at her Hollywood Hills apartment. Her killer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
== Biography ==
Adopted as a child,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amie-harwick-drew-carey-gareth-pursehouse-violent-death-evidence/ |title=Blood, a broken necklace and a poison-filled syringe are evidence in Amie Harwick's violent death |website=CBS News |access-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223132921/https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/amie-harwick-drew-carey-gareth-pursehouse-violent-death-evidence/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Harwick grew up in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, graduating from North Penn High School in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obituary for Amie Nicole Harwick at Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Inc. |url=https://www.huffandlakjer.com/obituary/amie-harwick |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.huffandlakjer.com |language=en}}</ref> After marrying a heavy metal musician, she moved to Los Angeles in 2001,<ref name="auto1" /> where she worked as a personal trainer under the name Amie Nicole, releasing a workout DVD titled ''Amie Nicole's'' ''Fit to Rock.''<ref name="auto1" /> To help pay for educational expenses, she also worked multiple side jobs, including as a go-go dancer, bartender, and model;<ref name="auto1" /> she modeled for ''Playboy'' under the name Nicolette Novak.<ref name=CNN1>{{cite news |last1=Holcombe |first1=Madeline |last2= Moon |first2=Sarah |title=Amie Harwick was strangled before she was thrown over balcony, autopsy finds |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/20/us/amie-harwick-murder-ex-boyfriend-arrested/index.html |archive-date=May 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501063046/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/20/us/amie-harwick-murder-ex-boyfriend-arrested/index.html|url-status=live |access-date=24 January 2023 |work=CNN |date=February 20, 2020}}</ref>
After completing a degree in psychology at California State Polytechnic University, Harwick earned a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and received a PhD from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (a non-accredited institution). She became a well-known marriage and family therapist in West Hollywood, where she specialized in family and sex counseling,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/amie-harwick-murder/|title=Colleagues and Friends React to the Murder of Hollywood Sex Therapist Dr. Amie Harwick|first=Gwynedd|last=Stuart|date=February 17, 2020|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229164108/https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/amie-harwick-murder/|url-status=live}}</ref> also appearing regularly on podcasts, TV, and her YouTube channel to discuss her work.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://q13fox.com/2020/02/18/drew-carey-mourns-death-of-ex-fiancee-amie-harwick/|title=Drew Carey mourns death of ex-fiancée Amie Harwick|date=February 18, 2020|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=May 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501051657/https://q13fox.com/2020/02/18/drew-carey-mourns-death-of-ex-fiancee-amie-harwick/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, she published ''The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy''.<ref>{{cite book |title=The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy |date=November 2014 |publisher=Quiver |isbn=978-1592336418 }}</ref> In 2015, she was featured in the documentary film ''Addicted to Sexting''.<ref name=":3" />
At a party in the summer of 2017, Harwick met comedian Drew Carey, whom she began dating shortly afterward.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prior |first=Sarah |date=2023-12-07 |title=Drew Carey heard from former fiancée Amie Harwick out of the blue just two days before her untimely death - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amie-harwick-drew-carey-heard-from-former-fiancee-before-untimely-death/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> They announced their engagement in January 2018 but ended their relationship amicably later that year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/drew-carey-engaged-dr-amie-harwick-article-1.3791359 |title=Drew Carey engaged to Dr. Amie Harwick |first=Peter |last=Sblendorio |website=nydailynews.com |date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928093108/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/drew-carey-engaged-dr-amie-harwick-article-1.3791359 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/what-happened-to-drew-careys-ex-fiance-amie-harwick.html|title=What We Know About the Death of Amie Harwick|first=Bridget|last=Read|date=April 17, 2020|website=The Cut|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922183145/https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/what-happened-to-drew-careys-ex-fiance-amie-harwick.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the final years of her life, Harwick worked with Pineapple Support, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health support in the adult entertainment industry.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/amie-harwick-gareth-pursehouse-hollywood-sex-therapist-death-957882/ |title=Inside the Bright Life of a Murdered Hollywood Sex Therapist |first1=E. J. |last1=Dickson |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 10, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411084208/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/amie-harwick-gareth-pursehouse-hollywood-sex-therapist-death-957882/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She also served on the board of directors of Rock to Recovery, a nonprofit organization that treats addiction and mental health issues with music therapy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Chris |date=21 February 2020 |title=Slain Therapist Amie Harwick Was a 'Totally Unique Person' Who Lived to Help Others, Say Friends |url=https://people.com/crime/amie-harwick-slain-therapist-totally-unique-person/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Murder, investigation, and trial ==
On the evening of Valentine's Day 2020, Harwick attended a burlesque performance, returning to her Hollywood Hills apartment shortly after 1:00 a.m. on February 15.<ref name="auto1" /> At 1:16 a.m., her roommate placed an emergency call to the Los Angeles Police Department, reporting screaming inside the apartment.<ref name="auto1" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Amie Harwick’s ex ordered to trial for her death as court hears he had lethal syringe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/amie-harwick-murder-ex-boyfriend-trial-b2032979.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The responding officers found Harwick badly injured and unresponsive on the patio beneath her third-floor balcony and she was later pronounced dead at a hospital.<ref name=":1" /> An initial investigation found that she had been strangled and thrown from the balcony after a home invasion.<ref name=CNN1/> Speaking to NBC News following her death, her former fiancé Drew Carey described her as "a positive force in the world and an unapologetic champion of women."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-boyfriend arrested in death of celebrity sex therapist Amie Harwick, LAPD says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/ex-boyfriend-arrested-in-death-of-celebrity-sex-therapist-amie-harwick-lapd-says-78907973758 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220233858/https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/ex-boyfriend-arrested-in-death-of-celebrity-sex-therapist-amie-harwick-lapd-says-78907973758 |archive-date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |website=NBC News}}</ref>
The same day of Harwick's death, police arrested Gareth Pursehouse, a 41-year-old software engineer, photographer, and aspiring comedian on suspicion of her murder. Pursehouse and Harwick had dated for around 18 months in the early 2010s.<ref name="auto1" /> After she ended the relationship, he reportedly stalked and harassed her,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=KC |last2=Hanlon |first2=Greg |last3=Pelisek |first3=Christine |date=3 April 2020 |title=Hollywood Sex Therapist Amie Harwick Likely Fought for Life Before Being Thrown off Balcony: Autopsy |url=https://people.com/crime/amie-harwick-likely-fought-for-life-autopsy-report/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=People.com |language=en}}</ref> leading her to file multiple applications for restraining orders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ryan |date=2023-12-07 |title=Hollywood sex therapist's killer gets life in prison |url=https://www.newsweek.com/amie-harwick-hollywood-sex-therapist-killer-gareth-pursehouse-life-prison-1850346 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> A month before her death, Harwick encountered Pursehouse at the XBIZ Awards, an adult entertainment awards ceremony that she was attending on behalf of Pineapple Support. He was working at the event as a photographer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Christian |date=2023-09-30 |title=Man convicted of killing well-known therapist Amie Harwick by throwing her off balcony |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-29/man-convicted-of-killing-noted-family-therapist-amie-harwick |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> She talked with Pursehouse for around an hour and later told her mother that she had gone into "therapist mode" and tried to calm him down after he accused her of ruining his life. She documented the encounter in an email to herself, noting that "[Pursehouse] was sobbing, his head was in his hands, he was hyperventilating, he was distorting his face up and shaking violently." She also wrote: "It terrifies me that he's been obsessed with me for nine years [and] thinks about me every day." After the encounter, a close friend of Harwick noted that she felt unsafe and began looking into protective measures such as surveillance cameras and pepper spray. She also began sharing her smartphone's location with her friend.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=White |first=Lauren A. |date=16 February 2025 |title=How murdered Hollywood therapist Amie Harwick "testified" at her alleged killer's trial |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amie-harwick-murder-hollywood-therapist-gareth-pursehouse-trial-48-hours/ |access-date=8 September 2025 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref>
Pursehouse was charged with Harwick's murder, with the special circumstance of lying in wait, breaking and entering, and home burglary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/28/opinions/amie-harwick-orders-of-protection-drexler/index.html|title=The tragic details of the killing of Amie Harwick|first=Peggy|last=Drexler|website=CNN|date=February 29, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313215244/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/28/opinions/amie-harwick-orders-of-protection-drexler/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At his trial, which began on August 29, 2023, prosecutors argued that the encounter at the awards ceremony had reignited Pursehouse's obsession with Harwick.<ref name=":4" /> They gave evidence Pursehouse had broken into her apartment, waited several hours until she returned, and then punched her, strangled her, and threw her off the third-floor balcony, causing her death by blunt force trauma to the head and torso.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Oladipo |first=Gloria |date=2023-12-07 |title=Ex-boyfriend given life without parole for murder of Hollywood therapist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/07/amie-harwick-murder-convicted |access-date=2025-02-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He had also brought to her apartment a syringe containing a lethal amount of nicotine, although it had remained unused.<ref name=":1" />
On September 29, 2023, after deliberating for two days, a jury convicted Pursehouse of first-degree murder.<ref name=":2" /> On December 6, 2023, he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/hollywood-marriage-and-sex-therapists-ex-boyfriend-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-her-death/ |title=Hollywood marriage and sex therapist's ex-boyfriend sentenced to life in prison for her death |website=cbsnews.com |date=December 6, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-06}}</ref> He was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Silver |first=Lauren |date=6 December 2023 |title=Gareth Pursehouse sentenced for ex-girlfriend's murder |url=https://www.courttv.com/news/gareth-pursehouse-to-be-sentenced-for-ex-girlfriends-murder/ |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Court TV |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Appearances== ===Filmography=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 2007 | ''The Devil's Muse'' | Jeannette Bauer<ref>{{Citation |last=Abed |first=Ramzi |title=The Devil's Muse |type=Crime, Drama, Horror |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372005/ |access-date=2024-09-06 |others=Kristen Kerr, Lizzy Strain, Trent Haaga |publisher=Bloodshot Pictures}}</ref> | listed Amie Nicole |- | 2016 | ''Noirland'' | Dr. Anouschka Berman | listed as Amie Nicole |- |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 2011 | ''Blabber Box'' | Mechanic's Girlfriend | Episode: "3" |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Amie Harwick}}
* {{IMDb name|1943215}} * [https://amieharwickmemorial.com/ Amie Harwick Memorial]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harwick, Amie}} Category:1981 births Category:2020 deaths Category:21st-century American women writers Category:Deaths from falls Category:American adoptees Category:American murder victims Category:People from Sellersville, Pennsylvania Category:California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, alumni Category:Pepperdine University alumni Category:Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality alumni