♪
>>> I DON'T THINK THE GRIEVING
EVER ENDS.
IT EVOLVES.
WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO TELL
AMIE'S STORY AND JUST FELT LIKE
WE WEREN'T READY BEFORE, BUT NOW
WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO IT.
>> I WAS SO PROUD OF HER AND
WHAT SHE'S ACCOMPLISHED.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS, FIRE EATER,
DANCER, PHOTOGRAPHER, MODEL.
THERAPIST.
SHE WANTED TO FIX PEOPLE.
>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPEAK TO
THO WOMAN
THIS WOMAN.
>> AS A MARRIAGE THERAPIST, I
SEE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF
THINGS, BREAKUPS, MOVES, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
>> AMIE HELPED ME SO MUCH.
I HAD GONE TO SEE AMIE BECAUSE I
HAD DEALT WITH A RELATIONSHIP
THAT GOT VERY OUT OF CONTROL AND
TURNED INTO A VERY SERIOUS
STALKING CASE.
>> JEALOUSY CAN BECOME
DANGEROUS, EVEN LEAD TO
VIOLENCE.
IT CAN LEAD TO DEATH.
>> SOMEBODY JUST ATTACKED MY
ROOMMATE.
PLEASE GET A COP HERE.
>> I JUST WAS WOKEN UP BY
SCREAMING, LIKE BLOOD CURDLING
SCREAM, AND THEN I REALIZED THAT
THE SCREAMING WASN'T STOPPING OR
SLOWING DOWN AND I YELLED UP,
YOU KNOW, AMIE.
AND I HEARD CHOKING RIGHT AFTER
THAT, I KNEW WE WERE IN TROUBLE.
THIS IS FOR REAL.
THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING.
I KNEW WE KNEADEDNEEDED HELP, LIKE I'M
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A BREAK
FOR IT.
>> WHEN THE FIRST RESPONDERS
FIRST GOT THAT CALL, WHERE DID
THEY GO?
>> THEY CAME RIGHT HERE TO THIS
HOUSE.
>> HEY, SIR, HOW CAN I HELP HELP
YOU.
>> MY ROOMMATE WAS ATTACKED.
>> MICHAEL HERMAN WAS OUT HERE.
HE'S FRANTIC, HE'S NERVOUS.
>> THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
THINK THIS GUY.
>> THEY KNEW HE WAS RAMBLING ON.
THEY HAD SOME DOUBTS ABOUT HIM
ORIGINALLY.
>> SO I THINK THERE'S SOMEBODY
ELSE IN THERE.
>> DO ME A FAVOR, CALM DOWN.
CALM DOWN.
OTHER THAN YOUR ROOMMATE IS
THERE ANYBODY ELSE INSIDE THAT
HOUSE?
>> I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
>> AND I'M WALKING THEM AROUND
TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, AND
IT'S DARK BACK THERE.
THERE'S SOME LIGHT, BUT IT'S
PRETTY DARK BACK THERE.
>> SO WHEN THEY GET AROUND TO
THE BACK, NOW THEY CAN SEE A
BODY ON THE GROUND.
>> AMIE, AMIE --
>> SIR, IRSIR COME HERE.
>> I REMEMBER NOT KNOWING WHAT I
WAS SEEING AND JUST REALIZING IT
WAS AMIE.
>> REALLY WHAT HIT ME WAS THE
WAY THAT SHE WAS KILLED, SO
HEARTBREAKING THAT HER OF ALL
PEOPLE HAD TO BE TAKEN THE WAY
THAT SHE WAS.
>> I SAID I KNOW WHO DID IT, I
JUST KNEW IT.
IT WAS THE ONLY PERSON SHE WAS
AFRAID OF.
IT'S THE ONLY ONE SHE WAS EVER
AFRAID OF.
♪
>>> TAKE A SEAT.
TAKE A SEAT.
>> OH, MY KBODGOD.
>> WE NEED AN AMBULANCE.
>> IN THE EARLY MORNING DARKNESS
OF FEBRUARY 15th, 2020, POLICE
BODY CAMERAS WERE RECORDING AS
AMIE HARWICK BARELY CLINGING TO
LIFE OUTSIDE HER HOLLYWOOD HILLS
HOME WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL.
>> IF SHE SAYS ANYTHING IN THE
HOSPITAL, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.
>> AS EMTs TRIED TO SAVE AMIE,
OFFICERS FROM THE LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPARTMENT TRIED TO MAKE
SENSE OF THE SCENE.
AMIE'S ROOMMATE, MICHAEL HERMAN
APPEARED TO BE THE ONLY WITNESS.
HE TOLD OFFICERS AN INTRUDER HAD
ATTACKED AMIE.
>> I SWEAR TO YOU, THERE WAS A
STRUGGLE I HEARD.
>> BUT IS THERE ANY SIGN OF THE
INTRUDER?
>> THERE WASN'T.
THERE WASN'T.
>> SCOTT MASTERSON WAS THE LEAD
DETECTIVE.
>> ALL WE KNEW WHEN WE SHOWED UP
WAS THAT FEMALE WAS FOUND ON THE
GROUND IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
WE'RE WIDE OPEN TO WHAT REALLY
WENT ON.
>> EVEN OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY
THAT THIS WASN'T FOUL PLAY AT
ALL.
WHEN OFFICERS SEARCHED THE
THREE-STORY HOUSE, THEY FOUND
AMIE'S PURSE, JACKET, AND BROKEN
NECKLACE ON THE FLOOR, NOT
EXACTLY TELLTALE SIGNS OF A
CRIME AND A DISCOVERY ON AMIE'S
BALCONY MADE THEM WONDER IF THIS
COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT OR
EVEN SUICIDE.
>> ON THE DECK OF THE BALCONY WE
FOUND A MEDIUM SIZED SYRINGE,
AND IT WAS LOADED WITH A
YELLOWISH BROWN SUBSTANCE.
>> YEAH, IT'S HEROIN.
>> WHEN THE OFFICERS FIRST SAW
THAT, THEY THOUGHT, WHAT WAS
THIS SOME KIND OF DRUG DEAL OR
INCIDENT?
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
OR MAYBE SHE WAS USING DRUGS AND
FELL OVER.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
>> SIR, DO YOU KNOW HER HISTORY
OF DRUG USE?
>> SHE'S SOBER.
SHE DOESN'T DRINK.
>> SHE DOESN'T DRINK.
>> SHE DOESN'T EVEN DRINK, SHE'S
SOBER.
>> WHEN I FIRST SAW IT, I SAID
THAT'S NOT HEROIN.
>> NOT HEROIN.
BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
>> BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK,
WASN'T THAT ODD?
>> VERY ODD, VERY STRANGE.
>> AND VERY STRANGE TO
INVESTIGATORS SAYS MASTERSON WAS
THAT MICHAEL HAD BLOOD ON HIS
SHIRT, AND ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE
WAS A ROOMMATE, HE DIDN'T HAVE
HIS KEYS TO THE HOUSE WHEN FIRST
RESPONDERS ARRIVED.
>> THEY DON'T KNOW IF HE'S PART
OF THE PROBLEM, PART OF THE
SOLUTION.
>> SO THEY'RE THINKING WAS HE IN
A FIGHT WITH HER?
>> THAT WAS NOT TRUE.
MICHAEL HERMAN IS TELLING HIS
STORY PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST
TIME ABOUT THE EVENTS ON THE
NIGHT OF VALENTINE'S DAY 2020
AND INTO THE EARLY HOURS OF THE
NEXT DAY.
>> THE WORD NIGHTMARE ISN'T A
BIG ENOUGH WORD, IS IT?
>> NO, NO.
>> AMIE HAD GONE OUT WITH
FRIENDS, AND MICHAEL WAS IN HIS
DOWNSTAIRS BEDROOM.
>> I'D BEEN MOSTLY NODDING ON
AND OFF.
I REMEMBER WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A
PLATE DROPPING BEGING WOKEN UP BY
IT.
>> THINKING IT WAS AMIE'S CAT HE
SAYS HE FELL BACK ASLEEP.
HE LATER WOKE UP TO AMIE
RETURNING HOME, AND THAT BLOOD
CURDLING SCREAM.
HE THEN HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE
AMIE BEING THROWN TO THE FLOOR
AND LATER CHOKED.
>> MADE YOU FEEL THERE WAS
SOMEONE UP WITH HER IN.
>> I KNEW FOR A FACT THERE WAS
SOMEBODY UP THERE AFTER THAT.
TRYING TO LISTEN YOU DON'T KNOW
FOR SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.
WAS HE ACTING ALONE, WAS THERE
MORE THAN ONE PERSON?
I START RUSHING TO LOOK FOR MY
PHONE.
>> BUT MICHAEL SAYS HE COULDN'T
FIND HIS PHONE.
HE THEN STARTED YELLING TO SCARE
THE INTRUDER.
>> I REMEMBER THINKING LIKE THIS
IS O'SO MUCH WORSE THAN ANY HORROR
MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN.
YOU'RE REALIZING LIKE TO SAVE
HER YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THE
DECISION TO LEAVE HER, IT WAS
SUCH A HARD DECISION.
>> MICHAEL FLED THE HOUSE TO GET
HELP BUT WHEN HE GOT TO THE
FRONT GATE IT WAS LOCKED.
HE CLIMBED OVER A FENCE CUTTING
HIMSELF ON SPIKED RODS.
FRANTICALLY HE RAN TO THE NEXT
DOOR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
THAT NEIGHBOR'S SURVEILLANCE
CAMERA SHOWS MICHAEL KNOCKING ON
THE DOOR, BUT NO ONE ANSWERS.
>> I JUST KIND OF PANICKED
FEELING LIKE A LOT OF TIME HAD
ALREADY PASSED.
>> HE THEN RAN INTO SOMEONE ON
THE STREET AND USED THEIR PHONE
TO CALL 911.
>> YOU GUYS NEED TO GET A COP
HERE QUICK.
>> SIR, THE OFFICERS ARE ON THE
WAY.
>> AFTER SPENDING HOURS AT THE
SCENE, INVESTIGATORS FOUND
SOMETHING IN THE LIGHT OF DAY
THAT THEY HAD MISSED BEFORE, A
BROKEN WINDOW FROM A FRENCH DOOR
ON THE GROUND FLOOR WITH BLOOD
NEARBY.
>> SO AS SOON AS WE SAW THAT,
OKAY, THIS IS OUR POINT OF
ENTRY.
WE HAVE A CRIME HERE.
SOMEBODY BROKE INTO THIS HOUSE
AND DID THIS.
>> SO THIS WAS THE FIRST PIECE
OF EVIDENCE THAT SAID TO YOU
MIKE HERMAN MIGHT BE TELLING YOU
THE TRUTH?
>> YEKTCORRECT.
CORRECT.
>> LATER AT THE HOLLYWOOD POLICE
STATION, MICHAEL TOLD MASTERSON
ABOUT THE PERSON HE BELIEVED WAS
RESPONSIBLE.
>> TOLD HIM SHE HAD AN
EX-BOYFRIEND THAT SHE HAD HAD A
RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THAT
HAD EXPIRED.
I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME, BUT
ROBERT WOULD KNOW HIS NAME.
>> ROBERT IS ROBERT COSHLAND,
ONE OF AMIE'S CLOSEST FRIENDS.
WE FIRST SPOKE TO ROBERT IN
2020.
HE TOLD US WHAT HE TOLD POLICE.
>> THEY WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, DO
YOU KNOW WHO MIGHT HAVE -- YOU
KNOW, COULD HAVE DONE THIS, AND
I WAS LIKE, YEAH, GARETH.
>> GARETH PURSEHOUSE, AN OLD
BOYFRIEND WHOM AMIE HAD HAD A
TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP WITH WHEN
THEY DATED ALMOST TEN YEARS
EARLIER
EARLIER.
>> I WAS LIKE YOU NEED TO GO
FIND THIS GUY RIGHT AWAY.
>> MASTERSON THEN BROKE THE NEWS
TO ROBERT AND MICHAEL, AMIE HAD
DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.
SHE WAS 38 YEARS OLD.
>> HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO HEAR
THAT AMIE DIDN'T MAKE IT?
>> IT'S STILL DIFFICULT TO HEAR.
>> AS INVESTIGATORS WORKED TO
FIND AMIE'S EX-BOYFRIEND, THEY
ALSO TRIED TO FIND AMIE'S
PARENTS, PENNY AND TOM HARWICK
IN PENNSYLVANIA.
THE HARWICKS REMEMBER GETTING
READY FOR BED WHEN THERE WAS A
KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
IT WAS THE LOCAL POLICE.
>> AND HE SAID AMIE'S BEEN
MURDERED
MURDERED.
>> IT'S A BLUR RIGHT NOW.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE
IT.
>> JUST DEVASTATED.
>> PENNY AND TOM'S LIFE WITH
AMIE BEGAN WHEN THEY ADOPTED HER
AS AN 11-MONTH-OLD BABY.
>> TUMOR THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW
YOUR LITTLE GIRL?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY REMEMBER, KIND
OF LIKE A FAIRY TALE.
IT WAS LIKE HERE'S THIS FWUFL
BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL SITTING
THERE.
SHE'S GOING TO COME HOME WITH US
AND BE OUR DAUGHTER.
IT WAS WONDERFUL.
>> AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SHE
HAD A HEAD FULL OF CURLS.
>> AND HER HAIR WAS HONEY
COLORED.
BY THE TIME SHE WAS 4 IT WAS SO
DARK.
>> AROUND THAT SAME TIME, THE
HARWICK
HARWICKS ADOPTED THEIR SON
CHRIS.
>> AND SHE WAS OKAY WITH IT FOR
A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THEN SHE
SAID, WELL, WHEN IS HE GOING
BACK?
AND I SAID, WELL, HE'S NOT.
HE'S YOUR BROTHER.
HE'S GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER.
>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR
SISTER?
>> AMIE WAS A VERY INTERESTING
CHARACTER.
SHE WAS INTO HEAVY METAL AND
ROCK MUSIC AND GOING TO
CONCERTS.
>> AND AMIE GOT HER PARENTS IN
ON THE ACTION TOO.
>> SHE TURNED PENNY AND I INTO
METAL HEADS.
>> SHE DID.
>> SERIOUSLY?
>> SERIOUSLY.
>> AND SHE WOULD ALWAYS MANAGE
TO GET EITHER BACKSTAGE OR TO
MEAT MEET THE PERFORMERS. THAT'S
JUST WHO SHE WAS.
>> AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AMIE MET
TOMMY DECKER A DRUMMER FROM L.A.
AT A LOCAL CONCERT.
THE TWO BEGAN DATING LONG
DISTANCE.
>> AND THEN SHE SAID I WANT TO
MOVE OUT THERE.
I WANT TO MOVE OUT TO L.A.
>> IN 2001 SHE HEADED WEST.
SHE WAS 20 YEARS OLD.
>> SHE NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHO
SHE WAS.
SHE NEEDED TO DO THAT FOR
HERSELF.
>> SOON THE COUPLE TIED THE
KNOT, BUT AFTER A THREE-YAR
MARRIAGE, TOMMY AND AMIE
DIVORCED.
IT WASN'T MILLION 2009 THAT AMIE
WOULD GO ON TO MEET GARETH
PURSEHOUSE, THE MAN POLICE
SUSPECTED HAD KILLED HER AND
WHOM THEY WERE NOW SEARCHING
>>> HEART BREAK FOR A LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER A WELL-KNOWN
THERAPIST WAS KILLED AT HER
HOLLYWOOD HILLS HOME.
>> PEOPLE HAVE LEFT FLOWERS HERE
FOR AMIE HARWICK AND HER FRIENDS
AND FAMILY ARE HOPING FOR
JUSTICE
JUSTICE.
>> I WAS VERY CONFIDENT THAT,
YOU KNOW, GARETH PURSEHOUSE WAS
OUR GUY.
>> WITHIN 13 HOURS OF AMIE
HARWICK'S DEATH ON FEBRUARY
15th, 2020, POLICE DESCENDED ON
GARETH PURSEHOUSE'S BEACHSIDE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO ARREST HIM.
>> YOU COULD TELL HE WAS PLAYING
THE OLD WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
WHY DO YOU WANT TO TALK --
WHO -- OH, YEAH, I KNOW AMIE,
SURE, YEAH.
HE BASICALLY WAS SAYING I'VE
BEEN AT HOME.
>> DETECTIVES WEREN'T BUYING
THAT STORY OR THE EXPLANATION
PURSEHOUSE GAVE FOR WHAT
APPEARED TO BE A FRESH BLACK
EYE.
HE BLAMED A HOME RENOVATION.
>> I SAID I THINK YOU BETTER GET
A CONTRACTOR, IF YOU GET AHOLD
OF A POWER TOOL, YOU'RE GOING TO
BE IN REAL TROUBLE.
PURSEHOUSE WAS CHARGED WITH
AMIE'S MURDER ON FEBRUARY 19th,
2020, AND DETECTIVES WERE
LEARNING ABOUT HIS TROUBLED PAST
BEGINNING MOTTE LONG AFTER HE
AND AMIE BEGAN DATING IN 2009.
>> THEY SEEMED LIKE A PRETTY FUN
COUPLE AND KIND OF NICE TO SEE,
YOU KNOW, FRIENDS GET TOGETHER.
>> WHEN WE FIRST SPOKE TO RUDY
TORRES IN 2020, HE TALKED ABOUT
HOW THE COUPLE MET.
AMIE THEN WORKING AS A MODEL AND
DANCER WOULD OFTEN RUN INTO
PURSE HOURS, AN EVENTS
PHOTOGRAPHER AT FLASHY L.A.
PARTIES.
>> IF YOU WOULD MEET HIM, YOU
WOULD THINK HE'S CHARMING, A
LITTLE GOOFY, KIND OF DORKY.
>> HE WASN'T A MUSICIAN LIKE SHE
NORMALLY DATED.
>> NO, NO, NO, AND SHE WAS
TRYING TO BREAK THE HABIT.
>> PURSEHOUSE WAS ALSO A
COMPUTER EXPERT AND ASPIRING
COMEDIAN.
>> ONE MORE TIME FOR GARETH,
EVERYBODY, COME ON.
>> THE BEST DAY OF YOUR CAREER
IS GOING TO BE THE DAYS AFTER
YOU DIE.
>> ODDLY SAYS AMIE'S MOTHER
PENNY, HER DAUGHTER DIDN'T SHARE
MUCH ELSE ABOUT HIM.
>> AND WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
>> WELL, MAYBE SHE WAS ALREADY
FEELING LIKE HE WASN'T WHO SHE
THOUGHT HE WAS.
>> AND PENNY SAYS HER DAUGHTER
NEVADA SHARED HOW VOLATILE THE
TWO-YEAR RELATIONSHIP HAD
BECOME.
>> SHE'D GONE THROUGH QUITE A
BIT WITH GARETH.
THERE WAS A NUMBER OF POLICE
REPORTS THAT WERE MADE.
>> DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT AMIE
HAD CALLED POLICE TO REPORT
SEVERAL VIOLENCE INCIDENTS OVER
THE YEARS.
SHE SAID THAT ON MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS, GARETH PURSEHOUSE HAD
CHOKED, SUFFOCATED AND PUNCHED
HER WITH A CLOSED FIST, AND SHE
EVEN DOCUMENTED HER INJURIES
WITH THESE PHOTOS, BUT AMIE'S
FATHER TOM SAYS AMIE DIDN'T HAIR
JUST HOW BAD THINGS HAD GOTTEN.
>> SHE DIDN'T GO INTO DETAILS.
>> DO YOU THINK SHE JUST WANTED
TO PROTECT THE TWO OF YOU?
>> YES.
YES.
>> AFTER AMIE ENDED THE
RELATIONSHIP, SHE TOOK STEPS TO
PROTECT HERSELF, OBTAINING A
RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST
PURSEHOUSE IN 2012, BUT WHILE
SHE WAS TRYING TO DISTANCE
HERSELF FROM HIM, RUDY SAYS
PURSEHOUSE COULD NOT LET HER GO.
>> HE ALWAYS WANTED TO GET AHOLD
OF HER, AND I USED TO TELL HIM
THAT HE SHOULD JUST LEAVE HER
ALONE, AND HE WOULDN'T TAKE NO
FOR AN ANSWER, AND THEN HE CUT
ME OFF.
>> IN THE YEARS AFTER THEIR
BREAKUP, AMIE TOLD HER PARENTS
THAT HER HOME WAS BROKEN INTO,
ON ONE OCCASION, STRANGELY THE
ONLY THINGS TAKEN WERE PERSONAL
PHOTOS AND ON ANOTHER HER
COMPUTER WAS WIPED CLEAN.
>> AND DID SHE THINK IT WAS
GARETH?
>> SHE DID.
>> YES, OH, YES.
>> BUT NO WAY OF PROVING.
>> NO.
>> NO WAY OF PROVING ANYTHING.
OF COURSE WE WERE WORRIED BUT
THEN WE ALSO FELT LIKE, WELL,
SHE'S DONE WITH HIM.
IT'S OVER, AND IT WAS NEVER
OVER.
>> AND PENNY SAYS AMIE WAS
THRIVING, GETTING A DEGREE TO
BECOME A LICENSED THERAPIST.
>> HI, THIS IS DR. AMIE HARWICK,
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
THERAPIST.
>> AMIE POSTED VIDEOS ON HER
SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, A
BREAKUP, YOU CAN ALSO SEEK
THERAPY TO BE A BETTER YOU.
>> BUT EVEN AS AMIE FOCUSED ON
HELPING OTHERS, SHE COULDN'T
QUITE SHAKE THE SHADOWS FROM HER
PAST.
SHE LOST A JOB AS A YOUTH
COUNSELOR, PENNY SAYS, AFTER A
PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER WAS
ANONYMOUSLY SENT NUDE PHOTOS OF
HER.
AMIE BELIEVED PURSEHOUSE WAS
BEHIND IT.
>> SHE WAS REALLY UPSET ABOUT
IT, AND THEN SHE WASN'T SURE
WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO.
>> DESPITE THAT OBSTACLE, AMIE
STUDIED FOR A Ph.D. IN HUMAN
SEXUALITY EARNING THE TITLE
DOCTOR.
SHE TOOK A SPECIAL INTEREST IN
MARGINALIZED GROUPS, SEX WORKERS
AND VULNERABLE WOMEN.
>> AND SHE OPPORTUNITY STOP.
SHE JUST --
>> SHE BOUNCED RIGHT BACK.
>> I WROTE A BOOK CALLED THE NEW
SEX BIBLE FOR WOMEN.
>> SHE DIDN'T STOP, SHE WOULD
WORK WITH THESE GROUPS OF PEOPLE
THAT SHE FELT WERE UNDER
REPRESENTED AND KNEADEDNEEDED HELP.
>> WHAT WAS DR. HARWICK'S
REPUTATION?
>> DR. AMIE HARWICK HAD AN
AMAZING REPUTATION.
I HAD A LOT OF MUTUAL FRIENDS
THAT HAD SEEN HER.
>> EMMY SEARSILY SEARS, A MODEL FIRST
STARTED SEEING DR. AMIE HARWICK
IN 2017 IN PART TO HELP HER
OVERCOME ANXIETY SHE HAD AROUND
DATING AND INTIMACY.
>> I FELT THAT SHE WAS
RELATABLE.
I DIDN'T KNOW JUST EXACTLY HOW
RELATABLE IT WAS.
>> EVEN WHEN SHE OPENED UP TO
AMIE ABOUT AN ABUSIVE
EX-BOYFRIEND WHO HAD STALKED
HER, EMILY SAYS AMIE NEVER TOLD
HER ABOUT HER OWN SIMILAR
EXPERIENCE.
>> AND THAT STILL IS SOMETHING
THAT I AM STRUGGLING TO PROCESS
KNOWING THAT I WAS SITTING
ACROSS FROM HER AND SHE HAD BEEN
THROUGH SO MUCH THAT WAS
SIMILAR.
>> AS AMIE WAS HELPING EMILY
WORK THROUGH HER ISSUES AROUND
DATING, AMIE WAS TAKING A CHANCE
ON A NEW MAN IN HER OWN LIFE.
>> HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.
>> DREW CAREY, COMEDIAN AND HOST
OF "THE PRICE IS RIGHT" ON CBS.
>> SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY REALLY
BEAUTIFUL.
SHE WAS REALLY SMART.
SHE JUST WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY WOMEN.
>> WE SPOKE TO CAREY IN 2022.
HE SAID IT WASN'T LONG AFTER
MEETING AMIE AT A PARTY THAT HE
DECIDED SHE WAS THE ONE.
AND I SAID IF THIS KEEPS GOING
THE WAY IT'S GOING, I'M GOING TO
MARRY HER.
>> AND WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WHAT HAPPENED WAS HE ENDED UP
TAKING HER TO PARIS ON NEW
YEAR'S EVE AND PROPOSING TO HER,
SHE ACCEPTED.
>> DREW AND AMIE SHARED THE NEWS
ON HIS SHOW SOON AFTER.
>> I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO
MY BRAND NEW LOVELY FIANCEE,
AMIE.
REST OF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER,
LATER THAT YEAR THE COUPLE SPLIT
UP.
>> HOW DID SHE TAKE THE BREAKUP?
>> SHE WAS DEVASTATED.
I MEAN, SHE BROKE IT OFF, AND I
THINK THAT'S BECAUSE, WELL, FAME
WAS GETTING IN THE WAY.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE, SAYS PENNY,
AMIE FEARED THAT WITH THE ADDED
PUBLIC ATTENTION SHE WAS GETTING
WHILE ON THE ARM OF A CELEBRITY,
SHE COULD BE PUTTING HERSELF IN
DANGER.
>> YOU KNOW WHO WAS WATCHING AND
IT MADE HER WORRY.
>>> IT HURT A LOT AFTER AMIE
PASED IN THE WAY THAT SHE DID
HOW DANGEROUS IT REALLY IS FOR
WOMEN.
>> EMILY SEARS, ONE OF AMIE
HARWICK'S THERAPY CLIENTS WAS
SHAKEN BY THE NEWS OF HER DEATH.
>> THE REALITY IS WE'RE NOT
SAFE.
NOBODY IS.
>> IN DEALING WITH SOME DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE CASES, THIS WAS A BIT
DIFFERENT.
THE WAY GARETH PURSEHOUSE ACTED
IN THIS CASE WAS MORE
METHODICAL.
>> WHEN DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
VICTOR AVILA TOOK ON THE CASE,
HE WAS PARTICULARLY TROUBLED BY
EVIDENCE THAT PURSEHOUSE HAD
BROKEN INTO AMIE'S HOUSE HOPING
TO CATCH HER OFFGUARD WHEN SHE
ARRIVED HOME.
>> AND THAT'S AT THE POINT THAT
WE DECIDED TO CHARGE NOT ONLY
THE MURDER CHARGE BUT ALSO THE
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE OF LYING IN
WAIT.
>> THESE ARE THE CRIME SCENE
NOTES.
>> AVILA ALONG WITH HIS
COCOUNSEL DEPUTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY CATHERINE MARIANO
REVIEWED SURVEILLANCE AND BODY
CAMERA VIDEO, INTERVIEWS WITH
AMIE'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND
COMPILED A TIME LINE OF THE
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE MURDER.
>> IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME
THAT HIS OBSESSION DROVE HIS
INTENT TO KILL HER.
>> THEY BELIEVE THAT PURSEHOUSE
PURSEHOUSE'S OBSESSION WITH AMIE
WAS IGNITED WHEN HE SAW HER AT
THIS AWARDS SHOW ABOUT A MONTH
BEFORE HER MURDER.
IT WAS A CHANCE ENCOUNTER,
PURSEHOUSE WORKING THE FWIGGIG AS A
PHOTOGRAPHER, AMIE SMILING FOR
THE CAMERAS ENJOYING THE
LIMELIGHT
LIMELIGHT, BUT MOMENTUMS EARLIER
OFF CAMERA, WITNESSES SAY AN
ANGRY PURSEHOUSE CONFRONTED HER.
PENNY HARWICK RECALLS AMIE
TELLING HER SHE HADN'T SEEN HIM
IN ALMOST A DECADE.
>> HE CALLED HER A BITCH AND
TOLD HER SHE RUINED HIS LIFE AND
SHE JUST TOLD ME HOW AFRAID SHE
WAS BECAUSE HE WAS CRYING AND
CAUSING A HUGE SCENE.
SHE SAID MOM, I WENT INTO
THERAPIST MODE.
I JUST TRIED TO CALM HIM.
>> AFTER TALKING TO GARETH FOR
ALMOST AN HOUR, AMIE LEFT THE
EVENT VERY WORRIED.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION,
PENNY, WHEN SHE WAS TELLING YOU
THIS?
>> THAT'S WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT
SECURITY, AND SHE SAID SHE WAS
GOING TO GET PEPPER SPRAY.
>> WE DECIDED TO START SHARING
LOCATIONS SO I COULD TRACK WHERE
SHE WAS.
>> HER CLOSE FRIEND ROBERT
COSHLAND SAID SHARING HER
PHONE'S LOCATION WAS ONE OF THE
FEW THINGS AMIE FELT SHE COULD
DO TO FEEL SAFE.
THE RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST
PURSEHOUSE HAD LONG EXPIRED, AND
BECAUSE PURSEHOUSE HADN'T
EXPRESSLY THREATENED HER, ROBERT
SAYS SHE DIDN'T THINK GOING TO
POLICE WOULD HELP.
STILL, HE SAYS, AMIE WAS VERY
CONCERNED.
>> THAT'S WHEN SHE SAID, LOOK,
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, HE
DID IT.
>> SHE ACTUALLY SAID THAT?
>> SHE LITERALLY SAID THAT.
>> SHE'S THINKING THAT HE CAN
CAUSE ME HARM AND THE VERY NEXT
DAY HE FINDS HER PHONE ON THE
INTERNET AND STARTS TEXTING HER.
>> GARETH SENT AMIE A SERIES OF
TEXTS AND LATER LEFT HER A
TEAR-FILLED VOICE MAIL.
>> I HAVE SO MUCH I NEED TO SAY.
PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE TO SAY
IT.
PLEASE.
>> THAT'S WHEN PROSECUTORS SAY
AMIE DECIDED TO BLOCK HIS
NUMBER.
>> I BELIEVE UP AND TO THAT
POINT, HE WAS TRYING TO
MANIPULATE HIS WAY BACK INTO HER
LIFE, AT THE POINT THAT HE MADE
THE DECISION TO BLOCK HIM, THAT
WAS HER CHOICE AND SHE HAD THAT
RIGHT TO DO THAT.
>> PROSECUTORS SAY PURSEHOUSE
STARTED TO PLAN TO KILL AMIE ON
VALENTINE'S DAY.
>> WAS THAT JUST A RANDOM DATE?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I THINK HE WANTED TO MAKE A
STATEMENT BY KILLING HER ON
VALENTINE'S DAY.
>> ON FEBRUARY 14th, 2020, AMIE
WENT OUT WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS
AROUND 7:00 P.M.
TWO HOURS LATER SAY PROSECUTORS,
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FROM HER
NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY
WERE ACTIVATED.
>> YOU GET THOSE RING CAMERAS
THAT SHOW A PERSON THAT LOOKS
JUST LIKE GARETH PURSEHOUSE WITH
GLOVES.
>> WHEN HE FIRST COMES INTO
VIEW, HE COVERS THE CAMERA.
WHEN THE CAMERA SENSES NO MORE
MOTION, IT SHUTS OFF.
AND THEN HE HOPS OVER THE FENCE.
DPL INTO
DPL
>> INTO AMIE'S YARD.
SOON AFTER, THEY BELIEVE
PURSEHOUSE BROKE THROUGH THAT
FRENCH DOOR.
>> THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH
MICHAEL HERMAN.
HE HEARD SOMETHING BREAKING
UPSTAIRS EARLY IN THE EVENING.
>> AND I THINK HE JUST GOT INTO
THE HOUSE, CUT HIMSELF.
I DON'T THINK HE EVEN REALIZED
HE CUT HIMSELF.
>> LEAVING THAT BLOOD POLICE
LATER FOUND NEARBY.
DNA TESTING WOULD CONFIRM IT
BELONGED TO PURSEHOUSE.
AND DETECTIVE MASTERSON SAYS
WHERE PURSEHOUSE WENT NEXT WAS
REVEALED BY AMIE'S UNMADE BED.
>> I THINK HE CLIMBED IN HER
BED.
HE WAS THERE WAITING FOR HER FOR
QUITE A WHILE.
>> HOW CREEPY IS THAT?
>> CRAZY CREEPY.
>> THAT'S WHERE MASTER
ONBELIEVESONMASTERSON
BELIEVES AMIE FOUND HIM FOUR
HOURS LATER WHEN SHE ARRIVED
HOME A LITTLE AFTER 1:00 A.M.
>> SHE WALKS INTO HER BEDROOM,
AND I THINK SHE JUST FROZE IN
HOCK AND FEAR AND THE ONE THING
THAT WAS ON THE BED WAS HER
PHONE, O'I THINK SHE
PHONE, SO I THINK SHE ACTUALLY
THREW HER PHONE AT HIM AND
TURNED AND STARTED TO RUN OUT OF
THE BEDROOM, AND SHE'S SCREAMING
AND THEY'RE FIGHTING AND THEY'RE
WRESTLING.
>> HOW HARD DID AMIE FIGHT FOR
HER LIFE?
>> I THINK SHE FOUGHT WITH
EVERYTHING SHE HAD.
>> HE HAD SOMETHING THAT
APPEARED TO LOOK LIKE A BITE
MARK ON HIS BICEPS.
>> AND PURSEHOUSE ALSO HAD THAT
BLACK EYE.
>> TO US IT WAS INDICATIVE OF
AMIE FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE BUT
SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY UP AGAINST A
MUCH BIGGER, STRONGER OPPONENT.
>> PROSECUTORS BELIEVE
PURSEHOUSE STARTED CHOKING AMIE
AND THAT'S WHEN MICHAEL HERMAN
YELLED, THEY BELIEVE, CATCHING
PURSEHOUSE BY SURPRISE.
>> AND I THINK THAT PLAN WAS
DEFINITELY THWARTED BY THE UNBE
UNBEKNOWNST PRESENCE OF MICHAEL
HERMAN THERE.
>> IN HIS PANIC, THEY BELIEVE
PURSEHOUSE DROPPED THAT SYRINGE
POLICE POUND ON THE BALCONY.
IT WAS MONTHS BEFORE LAB TESTS
REVEALED WHAT IT CONTAINED.
LIQUID NICOTINE.
>> A TOXIC POISON THAT IF
INJECTED INTO SOMEONE IT WOULD
KILL THEM.
>> WHY KILL HER THAT WAY?
>> WITH THAT LETHAL DOSE OF
NICOTINE PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW
WHAT KILLED HER.
IT MAY NOT BE DETECTED.
>> WITH HIS ORIGINAL PLAN
INTERRUPTED, PROSECUTORS BELIEVE
THAT PURSEHOUSE CARRIED AMIE,
BARELY CONSCIOUS AFTER BEING
STRANGLED TO THE THIRD STORY
BALCONY.
>> HE LIFTS HER RIGHT OVER THE
RAIL AND THEN DROPS HER TO KILL
HER.
>> GARETH PURSEHOUSE IS CAUGHT
ON THE NEIGHBOR'S CAMERA HOPPING
BACK OVER THE FENCE.
WITH THEIR SUSPECT AND THEORY OF
THE CRIME, THE PROSECUTORS WERE
READY FOR TRIAL, BUT THEY WERE
SURPRISED BY GARETH PURSEHOUSE'S
DEFENSE, BLAMING AMIE FOR WHAT
HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
>>> IN AUGUST 2023, MORE THAN
THREE YEARS AFTER AMIE HARWICK'S
DEATH, HER ACCUSED KILLER GARETH
PURSEHOUSE WENT ON TRIAL.
>> I ALMOST DIDN'T RECOGNIZE
HIM.
>> RIGHT.
>> IN THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS,
PROSECUTORS VICTOR AVILA AND
CATHERINE MARIANO TOLD JURORS
WHY AND HOW THEY BELIEVE
PURSEHOUSE ENDED AMIE'S LIFE IN
THE EARLY MORNING OF FEBRUARY
15th, 2020.
>> AMIE HARWICK WAS MURDERED BY
DEFENDANT GARETH PURSEHOUSE
BECAUSE HE WAS OBSESSED WITH
HER.
HE STRANGLED HER, LIFTED HER UP
OVER THE BALCONY AND DROPPED HER
TO HER DEATH.
>> I JUST PRAY THAT AMIE WAS
UNCONSCIOUS WHEN SHE WAS -- WHEN
SHE WENT OVER THE BALCONY.
>> TOM AND PENNY SAT THROUGH
EVERY SECOND OF THE TRIAL, EVEN
THE MOST GRAPHIC MOMENTS.
>> WEI NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY DAUGHTER.
>> AND WEPD TO BE THERE FOR AMIE
THROUGH THE WHOLE ORDEAL.
>> BUT THE HARWICKS WERE NOT
ALONE, ALSO IN THE COURTROOM A
SMALL ARMY OF AMIE'S FRIENDS,
INCLUDING RUDY TORRES.
>> THIS IS THE LAST THING I
COULD EVER DO FOR HER.
>> ALTHOUGH FORTIFIED BY HER
FRIENDS, NOTHING COULD PREPARE
THE HARWICKS TO HEAR FOR THE
FIRST TIME EVER GARETH
PURSEHOUSE'S EXPLANATION ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT AMIE
DIED.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY EVAN FRANZEL
CLAIMS THAT RUNNING INTO AMIE IN
JANUARY 2020 AT THAT AWARDS SHOW
HAD SENT PURSEHOUSE INTO, QUOTE,
A DEEP DEBILITATING DEPRESSION,
UNQUOTE, AND THE ONLY WAY OUT OF
IT WAS TO TALK TO AMIE ON
VALENTINE'S DAY, 2020.
>> HIS ONLY INTENTION THAT NIGHT
WAS TO SPEAK TO HER.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO
THAT?
>> BULL [ BLEEP ] TO PUT IT
BLUNTLY.
THEY'RE MAKING UP STORIES
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO DEFENSE.
>> AND AS FOR THAT
NICOTINE-FILLED SYRINGE FOUND AT
THE CRIME SCENE, PURSEHOUSE'S
DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAYS IT WASN'T
FOR AMIE.
>> HE BROUGHT IT INTENDING TO
KILL HIMSELF.
>> WHY DIDN'T HE?
>> HE WAS ON A MISSION TO KILL
HER.
>> HE WAS WEARING GLOVES WHEN HE
WENT THERE.
HE COVERED UP THE CAMERAS.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE IN DOING ALL
THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO KILL
YOURSELF THERE IN FRONT OF HER?
>> THE DEFENSE TELLS THE JURORS
THEY WILL HEAR FROM AN ACCIDENT
RECONSTRUCTIONIST WHO WILL SHOW
THAT AMIE FELL ON HER OWN.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY FRANZEL THEN
SHOWS THE JURY TWO IMAGES, A
SCREEN SHOT OF THE
RECONSTRUCTION SHOWING AN
ANIMATED FIGURE HANGING FROM THE
BALCONY AND AN UNDATED PHOTO OF
AMIE POSING ON TOP OF A BALCONY
RAILING.
>> YOU WILL SEE THAT SHE HAD A
CERTAIN COMFORT LEVEL WITH A
BALCONY RAILING.
>> BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, WASN'T
SHE?
SHE LOOKED GLORIOUS.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> RIDICULOUS.
>> I COULDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
IT WAS JUST SO FARFETCHED TO ME.
>> SHE'S BEEN STRANGLED, SHE'S
DEBILITATED, SO FOR HER TO THEN
WALK, CRIME OAFVER A THREE FOOT
RAIL, DO ALL THAT, IT DOESN'T
SEEM REASONABLE, IT SEEMS
ACTUALLY UNREASONABLE.
>> THE DEFENSE'S OPENING
CONCLUDES WITH THIS DAMNING
OMISSION.
>> YES, GARETH PURSEHOUSE WAS
WAITING IN HER HOME.
HE BROKE INTO HER HOME.
HAD HE NOT BEEN THERE, SHE
WOULDN'T HAVE DIED THAT NIGHT.
THAT IS NOT IN DISPUTE.
HE SET THE CHAIN OF ACTIONS INTO
MOTION THAT LED TO HER DEATH,
BUT THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW THAT
HE NEVER INTENDED ON KILLING
HER.
>> OVER THE COURSE OF TEN DAYS,
THE PROSECUTION PRESENTED ITS
EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT GARETH
PURSEHOUSE DID INTEND TO KILL
AMIE HARWICK.
DOZENS OF WITNESSES TESTIFIED
FOR THE STATE INCLUDING
DETECTIVE MASTERSON NOW RETIRED,
ROBERT COSHLAND.
>> AND OF COURSE AMIE'S
ROOMMATE, MICHAEL HERMAN, THE
MAN WHO HEARD IT ALL.
MICHAEL DESCRIBED FOR THE JURY
HOW AFTER THAT INCIDENT ON THE
RED CARPET, AMIE HAD BEEN
CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE FRENCH
DOORS THAT PURSEHOUSE WOULD
LATER USE TO BREAK INTO HER
HOME.
>> AMIE HAD MET WITH A HANDYMAN,
I REMEMBER.
THEY WERE OVER BY THE GLASS
DOORS AND AMIE WAS POINTING IT
OUT, AND TELLING HIM WE NEED TO
SECURE THIS.
>> PROSECUTORS ALSO PLAYED FOR
THE JURY THIS TAPED JAIL
CONVERSATION BETWEEN PURSEHOUSE
AND HIS FRIENDS AFTER HIS
ARREST.
>> I GUESS I'M OFFICIALLY A BAD
BOY NOW, RIGHT?
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN KIND OF --
>> THIS IS A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AFTER HE'S BEEN ARRESTED FOR
MURDER.
HE'S LAUGHING WITH HIS FRIENDS.
YOU NEVER HEAR ANY MOMENT OF
CONCERN FOR AMIE DURING THAT
CALL.
YEAH, SO [ BLEEP ] IT'S NOT
GREAT.
I'M NOT GETTING OUT OF HERE.
>> WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT?
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE PIECE OF
EVIDENCE TO SHOW A CONSCIOUSNESS
OF GUILT, SO HE KNOWS WHAT'S
COMING BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE
SHOWS WHAT HE DID.
IT PROVES WHAT HE DID.
>> WHEN IT WAS THE DEFENSE'S
TURN TO PRESENT ITS CASE AND
CALL ITS EXPERT WITNESS TO SHOW
HOW AMIE'S FALL FROM THE BALCONY
WAS AN ACCIDENT, THE DEFENSE
SUDDENLY RESTED WITHOUT CALLING
A SINGLE WITNESS.
>> DIDN'T THAT HURT THE DEFENSE?
>> I AM SURE SOME JURORS WERE
WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED, SO I
DON'T THINK THAT HELPS.
>> DURING CLOSING ARGUMENTS,
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ROBIN
BERNSTEIN-LEV PRESENTED A NEW
THEORY OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT
NIGHT, THAT AMIE MAY HAVE
ATTACKED PURSEHOUSE.
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHO INITIATED
THE PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION.
IT IS JUST AS LIKELY IF NOT
LIKELIER
LIKELIER SHE PREEMPTIVELY
ATTACKED GARETH PURSEHOUSE IN
ORDER TO SUBDUE HIM BECAUSE SHE
WAS AFRAID OF HIM.
>> YOU SEE THAT ALL THE TIME,
DON'T YOU?
115 POUND LADY PICKING A FIGHT
WITH A 230 POUND 6'4" MAN, JUST
PREPOSTEROUS ON ITS FACE.
>> DID THAT MAKE YOU MAD?
>> OH, TOOK ALL MY WILL POWER TO
STAY IN THAT SEAT, TO KEEP MY
MOUTH SHUT.
>> DURING THE STATE'S CLOSING
ARGUMENTS, IT'S AMIE HARWICK WHO
HAS THE LAST WORD WITH
PROSECUTOR MARIANO READING FROM
AN EMAIL AMIE WROTE TO HERSELF
HOURS AFTER HER JANUARY 2020
ENCOUNTER WITH PURSEHOUSE.
>> TONIGHT I FELT VERY SCARED.
GARETH CAME UP BEHIND ME AND WAS
SCREAMING.
IT TERRIFYIES ME THAT HE'S
OBSESSED WITH ME FOR NINE YEARS,
THINKS ABOUT ME EVERY DAY.
HE'S FOCUSED ON HARMING ME.
>> THAT'S THE CLOSEST WE'VE EVER
HAD TO A VICTIM TESTIFYING IN
THEIR MURDER CASE.
THEY HAD THREE CHOICES, MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE, MURDER IN
THE SECOND OR THE LESSER CHARGE
OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER.
>> WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR
DELIBERATION, I THINK WE ALL
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY QUICK.
DAY ONE WENT BY, NOTHING.
>> I STARTED GETTING A LITTLE
WORRIED AND THINKING WHAT COULD
THEY BE DEBATING ABOUT?
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF GARETH
PURS
>>> I FELT NERVOUS BECAUSE YOU
NEVER KNOW.
>> AS JURORS MET FOR A SECOND
DAY TO DECIDE GARETH
PURSEHOUSE'S FATE, THE WAITING
FOR A VERDICT BEGAN TO WEIGH
HEAVILY ON THE PROSECUTION.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLY
NERVE-RACKING, THE WAIT IS THE
WORST PART.
>> AND ON AMIE HARWICK'S FRIENDS
AND FAMILY.
>> AND ALL YOU HEAR IS JUST LIKE
A SYMPHONY OF ANXIOUS BELLIES
JUST GRR.
SO EVERYBODY'S NERVOUS.
>> BUT AS COURT WAS ABOUT TO
ADJOURN.
>> WE'RE WALKING OUT OF THE
COURTHOUSE AND RUDY CALLED DOWN
AND SAID, EVERYBODY, GET UP
HERE.
THERE'S A VERDICT.
>> IS IT CORRECT THAT THE JURY
HAS A VERDICT?
>> YOU CAN HAND THE VERDICT
FORMS OVER TO THE PLAINTIFF,
PLEASE.
>> WE THE JURY IN THE ABOVE
ENTITLED ACTION FIND THE
DEFENDANT GARETH PURSEHOUSE
GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF MURDER IN
THE FIRST DEGREE.
>> A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE OF
LYING IN WAIT.
>> WHAT DID YOU FEEL AT THAT
MOMENT?
>> A HUGE RELIEF.
HUGE RELIEF.
I JUST STARTED CRYING AND I
COULDN'T STOP.
IT WAS LIKE WHUEW, FINALLY AFTER
ALL THIS TIME, HE'S GOING TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HE
DID.
>> TWO MONTHS LATER, PURSEHOUSE
WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON
WITHOUT PAROLE.
HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
AMIE'S FRIEND ROBERT COSHLAND.
>> JUSTICE WAS RENDERED, AND
THAT'S GOOD, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE
HERE AT ALL.
THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED
TO BEGIN WITH, THE HOLE IN OUR
LIVES REMAINS.
>> HE'S IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE
WITH HIS ACTIONS, SO MANY
PEOPLE.
HE DEVASTATED OUR FAMILY.
>> A FAMILY THAT HAS GROWN AFTER
THE VERDICT TOM GATHERED AMIE'S
FRIENDS, THE ONES WHO HAVE STOOD
BY THEM EVERY STEP OF THIS
JOURNEY.
>> I SAID, YOU'RE NOT OUR
FRIENDS.
YOU'RE FAMILY.
YOU HAVE BECOME OUR FAMILY.
>> COULD YOU HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH
THIS WITHOUT THEM?
>> NO.
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE
AMAZING LIFE AND COMMUNITY AMIE
HARWICK CREATED.
>> SHE WAS REALLY HAPPY.
SHE WAS REALLY HAPPY THAT SHE
HAD REALLY GOTTEN HER LIFE
TOGETHER, MAN, WE WERE ALL
HAPPY.
FL MICHAEL HERMAN SAYS HE STILL
KEEPS REPLAYING THAT NIGHT.
>> SHE'S GONE, AND I'M STILL
HERE.
I'M STILL TRYING TO SAVE HER.
>> MICHAEL HERMAN HAS A LOT OF
SURVIVOR SKILLS.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS.
HE DID THE EXACT RIGHT THING.
>> HE MADE ALL THE RIGHT
DECISIONS.
>> DO YOU FEEL YOUR SISTER GOT
JUSTICE?
>> I FEEL -- I FEEL SHE DID.
>> AMIE'S BROTHER CHRIS.
>> WE WISH THAT SHE STILL COULD
BE HERE TO CONTINUE TO HELP
PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE
WAS ALL ABOUT.
>> WE LOST A FRIEND, BUT SO MANY
OTHER PEOPLE LOST A HEALER.
>> I THINK OF AMIE EVERY DAY
BECAUSE SHE -- SHE HELPED ME SO
MUCH.
>> EMILY SEARS SAYS SHE'S
STRUGGLING WITHOUT AMIE'S GUY
DANCE.
>> IT'S JUST SO HARD TO FEEL
SAFE WHEN THIS IS THE REALITY OF
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER AND WHAT
HAPPENS TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> AMIE'S LOVED ONES ARE HOPING
TO CHANGE THAT REAL.
AFTER HER DEATH, A PETITION WAS
CREATED TO REWRITE CALIFORNIA'S
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS,
INCLUDING A STATUTE PREVENTING
RESTRAINING ORDERS FROM
EXPIRING.
>> AND HER BIGGEST
DISAPPOINTMENT WAS IT LOST ALL
ITS IMPACT WHEN COVID SHUT
EVERYTHING DOWN.
>> PROSECUTOR CATHERINE MARIANO
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE ARE
LIMITS TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
>> BY THE TIME IT GETS TO OUR
TABLE, WE'RE THIS A POSITION TO
ACT REACTIVELY RATHER THAN
PROACTIVELY.
BUT AS A SOCIETY, I THINK WE CAN
ALWAYS DO BETTER, RIGHT?
>> AFTER THE TRIAL, AMIE'S
PARENTS HEADED HOME TO
PENNSYLVANIA, THE PLACE WHERE
THEY FIRST BECAME A FAMILY WITH
THEIR LITTLE GIRL AND WATCHED
HER GROW INTO THE WOMAN ADMIRED
AND NOW MISSED BY SO MANY.
>> WHAT'S THE HARDEST PART?
>> JUST THE ABSENCE, THE QUIET.
>> ONE HUGE VOID, ONE HUGE VOID.
>> AND I MISS OUR ADVENTURES.
>> ADVENTURES REMEMBERED WHEN
THEY VISIT AMIE'S GRAVE.
>> AND I COULDN'T GET A BRIGHTER
ORANGE.
I KNOW ORANGE WAS YOUR FAVORITE
COLOR, BUT THIS IS THE CLOSEST I
COULD GET.
>> WE'RE NOT THE SAME PEOPLE WE
WERE BEFORE.
BUT WE KEEP TRYING TO BE.
>> WE MISS YOU, AMIE.
EVERY DAY.
WE THINK OF YOU.
>> ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU HAD
BEEN ABLE TO SAY TO HER?
>> JUST TO TELL HER ONE MORE
TIME THAT I LOVE HER.
I KNOW SHE KNEW IT, BUT I WANTED
TO BE ABLE TO SAY IT.
>>> FOUR WOMEN AT THE BREAKING
POINT.
>> WE WERE DESPERATE.
>> IN FEAR EVERY DAY.
>> AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
COMES TO THE RESCUE.
DOES HE BECOME THE TARGET?
>> THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL
ATTACK.
>> HE