Charges Pending for Man Accused of Killing Sex Therapist

HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - A 41-year-old Playa del Rey man remained in jail today in lieu of $2 million bail after his arrest on suspicion of murdering Dr. Amie Harwick, a prominent Hollywood marriage and sex therapist who was once engaged to “The Price is Right” host Drew Carey.

Gareth Pursehouse, a former boyfriend of the victim, was arrested about 4:30 p.m. Saturday and booked on suspicion of murdering Harwick, according to jail records and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Agents from the FBI-LAPD fugitive task force arrested Pursehouse outside his residence in the 8100 block of Cabora Drive in Playa del Rey.

A date for arraignment awaited charges by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.

Harwick died from “blunt force injuries of the head and torso,” the coroner's office said, confirming the case was homicide.

On Saturday, at about 1:15 a.m., LAPD officers responded to a call about a woman screaming in the 2000 block of Mound Street in the Hollywood Hills, the department said.

When officers arrived, they were met by the victim's roommate, who was in the street, police said. He told the officers Harwick was being assaulted inside the home. The roommate had left the house, jumped a wall and went to neighbors to call for police.

Responding officers found Harwick lying on the ground beneath a third- story balcony, the LAPD said. She was gravely injured and unresponsive. Paramedics took her to the hospital, where she later died.

The investigation found evidence of a forced entry and struggle inside the home, the LAPD reported. A canvass of the area found additional evidence of the killer entering the property and leaving.

Detectives learned that Harwick had recently talked about her fear of Pursehouse, police said. She had taken out a restraining order against him but the order had since expired.

Harwick, 38, was a published author. According to TMZ, she and Carey started dating in 2017 and announced their engagement in early 2018, but split up later that year.

Carey took to social media Monday to talk about the death of his former fiancee.

“I hope you're lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did,” Carey tweeted, adding a short video clip of the couple.

Carey's game show “The Price is Right” cancelled this week's tapings due to the Harwick death, according to entertainment media.

Anyone with information about the killing or about Pursehouse was asked to call West Bureau homicide detectives at 213-382-9470 or the LAPD's 24- hour tipline at 877-527-3247. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

Photo: Getty Images


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