Everything We Know About Drew Carey's Ex's Murder
In a recent twist of events that has taken many by surprise, actor Drew Carey's former fiancé, Dr. Amie Harwick, was murdered earlier this month. Harwick was attacked and found beneath a third-story balcony in her Hollywood Hills home, according to what cops told TMZ.
According to Us Weekly, Carey and Harwick, who was a 38-year-old family and sex therapist, started dating in 2017 and announced their engagement in early 2018. However, less than a year later, the two split amicably, per Fox News. Regardless of the split, Carey reportedly requested a week off from production of The Price is Right following news of his ex's murder and the show's tapings have since been canceled until the week of Feb. 24 or March 2, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime," Carey said in a statement to Fox News on Feb. 17. "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."
Here's everything we know about Harwick's fatal assault so far:
The coroner ruled Amie Harwick's death a homicide
When law enforcement responded to a call early on Saturday, Feb. 15 about a woman screaming in Hollywood Hills, according to TMZ, they were met on the street by Harwick's roommate who said she was being assaulted inside their home. As police made their way inside, Harwick was discovered unresponsive under the balcony with injuries said to be consistent with a fall from that height, per CNN. The publication also reported that evidence suggested forced entry and a struggle inside Harwick's home before she was found. She was transported to the hospital where she died from her injuries.
According to ABC 7, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said in a report a few days later that Harwick died primarily from blunt force injuries to the head and torso, but there were also signs of manual strangulation — meaning she was strangled before she fell to her death. The report ruled Harwick's death a homicide.
Just 15 minutes before police responded to the call at her home, Harwick was reportedly texting her best friend Robert Coshland about an upcoming trip the two were planning, CBS News reported. That shows just how quickly everything happened.
Amie Harwick had a restraining order against the suspect in her murder
Investigators determined from surveillance videos that the suspect was a white man dressed in black, per TMZ. During the afternoon that same Saturday, law enforcement arrested Harwick's ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, outside his home for his alleged connection to the murder. He was released three days later after posting a $2 million bond, per Fox News.
But the suspect is back behind bars: Pursehouse was re-arrested on Feb. 19 with a no-bail warrant and charged with murder and first-degree residential burglary with the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, according to NBC News. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or a lifetime in jail with no possibility of parole. His arraignment was originally set for last Thursday, Feb. 20, but was postponed to March 4.
Detectives also learned that Harwick had recently expressed concerns about her ex-boyfriend causing her harm. In fact, she even had a restraining order against Pursehouse, which expired just two weeks ago, per USA Today.
Amie Harwick's tumutluous history with her ex has come to light
In the wake of Amie Harwick's recent death, her and Gareth Pursehouse's tumultuous history is coming to light, including a recent troubling encounter that took place this past January on the red carpet. While Harwick was reportedly excited for the night, it didn't go exactly as planned. Another therapist and friend of Harwick's, Hernando Chaves, told People that she was attending an adult industry awards show at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles when Pursehouse, a photographer at the event, confronted her.
"Initially, he reacted with anger and hostility and he was yelling and she kind of jumped into therapist mode," Chaves told the magazine. But, Harwick was "taught and trained to deescalate and she had to do her best to deescalate the moment." Chaves claimed that Pursehouse later approached Harwick once more. "It was a very tense, very anxious and very fearful night for her in many respects," he said, "I'm sure it was one of the most difficult nights of her life."
Now, those in Harwick's life are calling for change, so that a similar tragedy won't happen.
Drew Carey is joining Amie Harwick's friends in calling for change
A self-described friend of Amie Harwick's, Diana Arias, created a Change.org petition after the murder, saying it happened as "a result of poor laws not protecting the victims and treating the offenders." "I refuse to let her death be in vain," Arias wrote on Change.org. "People shouldn't have to die to make changes. 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."
In the petition, Arias calls for many changes: 1. no expiration on restraining orders, except upon the victim's request; 2. victims not being required to confront their abuser in court while testifying; 3. a registry of domestic abusers that would serve as a warning to others; and 4. mandatory long-term counseling for every stalker/abuser, among other changes. The petition had more than 91,000 signatures as of Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Drew Carey shared the petition on Twitter, writing, "Please sign this petition and chip in if you can," alongside the hashtag #JusticeForAmie. "Thank you and bless you."
If you or a loved one are suffering from domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for help.