Amie Harwick's ex-boyfriend was 'lying in wait' before he strangled her and threw her off third-floor balcony
Hollywood sex therapist Dr Amie Harwick was strangled by her ex-boyfriend before plunging to her death from a balcony, authorities revealed on Thursday.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said an autopsy determined how the 38-year-old former model suffered “manual strangulation” before being thrown off a third-floor balcony on Saturday, Page Six reports.
The coroner ruled that Harwick's primary cause of death was from the blunt-force injuries to her head and torso that she suffered in the tragic fall.
Gareth Pursehouse, the well-known therapist's ex-boyfriend, is accused of breaking into her Hollywood Hills residence and killing her after an altercation.
However, it has now come to light that the horror ex was "lying in wait" for Harwick to return—thereby strengthening the case that it was a premeditated murder.
Pursehouse—who was arrested over the weekend in connection with Harwick's murder—was released just three days later on a $2 million bond. Nonetheless, he was rearrested 24 hours later.
The 41-year-old was subsequently charged with murder and first-degree residential burglary with the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.
If convicted, Pursehouse, 41, faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. The DA has not yet made a decision on whether they wished to seek capital punishment for Pursehouse.
Harwick—who was the ex-fiancée of 'The Price Is Right' host Drew Carey—had previously filed a restraining order against Pursehouse, which had expired.
It was unclear when Harwick started dating Pursehouse but their relationship ended six years ago.
It was reported that Harwick had “recently expressed concerns about an ex-boyfriend" and was seen with Pursehouse days prior to her death.
Rudy Torres, Harwick's friend, told KABC that Pursehouse “was a stalker" who "didn’t take it well" after his split with the victim six years ago. “He’d do stupid stuff and say stupid stuff. You’d tell him, ‘Move on, dude, leave her alone’—and he wouldn’t," he said.
That said, Pursehouse is currently remanded in custody without bail pending his arraignment on March 4.