Sex therapist Amie Harwick’s ‘stalker’ ex ‘murdered her’ after chance meeting at Porn Awards ‘reignited obsession’
HOLLYWOOD sex therapist Amie Harwick ran into her alleged killer during an award’s event last month which “reignited his obsession” with her, friends said.
Amie, 38, was killed at her home in Los Angeles on Saturday after being attacked by a male intruder who caused her to fall from a third floor balcony, police said.
Her ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse, 41, who previously had two restraining orders against him, was arrested and charged with her murder hours after her death.
However, friends of Amie – who was once engaged to comedian Drew Carey – have said that a chance encounter at event last month, where Pursehouse was working as a photographer, “reignited his obsessive preoccupation with her.”
Fellow LA sex therapist Hernando Chaves told the Los Angeles Times: “It was the absolute worst possible luck.”
Another one of Amie’s 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 some security.”
Duffy said Harwick told her three days after seeing her ex that Pursehouse blamed her for ruining his life.
It has also been reported that Amie’s encounter with her ex was not by chance and that the alleged killer “stalked and threatened” her at a porn awards show on January 16.
Another close pal of the sex therapist and former Playboy model was adult star Jasmin St Claire who claims Pursehouse knew Amie would be attending the XBiz awards.
She told Page Six: “Gareth knew Amie was going to be at XBiz. He stalked her there and went bats–t crazy.
“He was at the awards working as a photographer, but his behavior was abusive and threatening. He was yelling and screaming.
“Amie told me after the incident that she was scared he would show up at her home. She went to the police, but they did not take it seriously. He was really obsessive over her; controlling.”
Pursehouse left prison on Tuesday evening after posting a $2million bond.
Further details about Pursehouse’s bail conditions have not been made public by cops and it is not known when he will return to court.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Amie had two temporary restraining orders against Pursehouse who she shared a home with ten years ago.
The first order was in 2011 while the second was put in place the following year.
Amie detailed several instances of abuse at the hands of ex Pursehouse in the two restraining orders.
Harwick claimed the 41-year-old shoved her out of a car and left her stranded along the side of a highway after the two got into an argument, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
A month prior to the car incident, Harwick said Pursehouse “choked me, suffocated me, pushed me against walls, kicked me” and forcefully threw her to the ground, court docs show.
She detailed the numerous injuries she allegedly sustained from the attacks, including bruising to her neck, back, legs and arms.
Although a judge granted her a temporary restraining order in July 2011, her case was dismissed after she failed to show up for a court hearing.
Harwick filed a second restraining order less than a year later in April 2012 after Pursehouse allegedly broke into her apartment and smashed 10 picture frames.
He even sent a threatening text that read: “things will get worse,” court documents show.
The second restraining order was granted for three years, but it expired just two weeks before she fatally plunged from a third-story balcony on Saturday.
She died of blunt force injuries to the head and torso, and the Los AngelesCounty Coroner’s Office ruled her death a homicide.
Pursehouse’s mom said Gareth’s heart was “broken” – but Harwick’s friends described the scorned ex as a “stalker” who refused to move on.
Barbara – who said she hasn’t been in communication with her son – wasn’t aware he was arrested for murder and denied that he’d do such a thing.
MOST READ IN NEWS
“Gareth could never do that. Gareth could never do that,” she said.
Harwick had previously told detectives she was concerned her ex would hurt her.
Pursehouse was arrested at his home in Playa Del Rey hours after police found Harwick’s lifeless body at her Hollywood Hills home.
GOT a story? EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.com