THE WRONG SUSPECT

This is Michael Herman. The footage you are about to see, was filmed just minutes after he claimed he heard his roommate, get thrown out of a window. Michael leads the police to the back of the house, at this moment, they have no way of knowing if there is someone violent still on the premises, or if Michael is lying.

On the ground, 38-year old, Amie Harwick is covered in blood, and barely breathing. As it becomes clear that no one else is on the property, police see Michael as the only suspect. Michael appears nervous, jittery, his answers are suspicious, and his hands are covered in blood. As Amie clings to life, cops immediately bring Michael into the police station.

But there is only one problem: Michael is innocent. And the only person who can reveal the truth, is Amie herself..

THE CRIME SCENE THAT DOESN’T ADD UP

Thirty-eight-year-old Los Angeles resident Amie Harwick, who had just spent Valentine's Day with her closest friends, is now, in critical condition, fighting for her life. Emergency responders work to keep her alive as police quickly begin gathering as much information as possible from the rest of the crime scene, trying to piece together what happened to Amie.

Just inside, scattered among the broken shards of glass from the door, there are several small red blood stains. But, as cops continue through the house, the entire rest of the first floor looks strangely untouched.
The home is full of valuables and personal items that could easily have been taken.Electronics, art and other expensive belongings are still where you'd expect. Nothing is missing. As they continue their search, making their way upstairs to Amie’s bedroom, something immediately catches their attention.

Unlike the rest of the house, Amie’s bedroom is in complete disarray. Her comforter is pushed back, as if someone had gotten out of bed in a hurry, and Amie’s personal belongings are thrown everywhere. The beads trail, from the bedroom out through the open balcony doors. Between the ransacked room and the blood downstairs, it’s clear Amie’s fall was no accident. And though the full motive isn’t obvious, cops now need to talk to the one person they can’t ignore any longer: Amie’s roommate.

MICHAEL’S STORY

Michael explains to cops that he met Amie, through a mutual friend and they’ve only known each other for a little under a year. A few months prior, Amie had rented out her downstairs bedroom to Michael as a way to supplement her income— a purely practical arrangement. But detectives still have to wonder: is he being truthful?

When detectives ask him to walk them through the last 24 hours, he says he spent Valentine’s Day alone, went to bed early around 8 p.m., and then woke up around 9 p.m. to the sound of glass breaking. Thinking it was just Amie upstairs dropping something, he went back to sleep. It wasn’t until around 1 a.m. that he was jolted awake again—this time to Amie’s screams, followed by what he describes as the sound of her being thrown out of a window. Michael then claims that he ran outside and, then in the chaos, scraped his hands while jumping over the wrought-iron fence, before using a neighbor’s phone to call 911.

THE RING CAMERA EVIDENCE

Even if detectives want to believe Michael, all of the evidence so far seems to incriminate him. However, If he’s innocent, the real suspect is still out there. Detectives decide to broaden their search to the surrounding area, hoping someone saw something on the night Amie was attacked. Fortunately, Amie’s next door neighbor has exactly what they are looking for.
February 15th, 1:08 am : The first camera captures their prime suspect, Michael Herman. The video, from 1 am on the night of Amie's attack, shows Michael frantically running from neighbor to neighbor, knocking on doors, trying to get help. It’s the first solid piece of evidence that appears to back up his version of events—and the timestamp matches up with his call to 911. The footage seems to support what Michael told detectives, but it still isn’t enough to fully prove his innocence. The neighbor’s second camera shows something disturbing from several hours earlier.

February 14th, 8:53 pm : The camera shows an unknown white male wearing a baseball hat and gloves. His face isn’t covered but the low video quality makes it nearly impossible to identify him. What is evident though, is that the man in the footage, is not Michael Herman. Then, as the unknown man moves toward Amie’s property, they notice he’s wearing large, work style gloves. Even more strangely, he reaches up to cover the camera – clear evidence, he’s trying to cover his tracks.

But even with this new footage, investigators have no idea who the man is, or who he might be targeting next. The video quality is poor, the figure is blurry, and in a city as massive as Los Angeles, a grainy image of an unidentified white male isn’t much to go on. Whoever this man is, though, he has now become suspect number one.

THE ONE CLUE SHE LEFT BEHIND

Investigators return to the crime scene with a fresh perspective hoping to find even a single overlooked detail that could help them identify the culprit. They methodically search Amie’s house one more time, looking for any clues she might have left them—and, in the chaos, they find a crucial item: her cell phone. It’s lying near the edge of the mattress and seemingly undamaged.
With Amie in the hospital and unable to tell her side of the story, hopefully, something in her phone can help.
As investigators begin digging through the phone, they uncover a long list of contacts, including family, colleagues, and friends. Amie is a beloved family therapist with a PhD, and is even a local public figure, appearing on talk shows, radio and TV, for her work. She has hundreds of acquaintances; her phone is filled with tons of messages and dozens of people—all potential suspects in her attack. And for detectives, it’s a huge challenge to figure out where to start.
However, Amie had shared her phone’s live location with a single contact: Robert Coshland, giving him the ability to track where she was. At this point, investigators don’t know who Robert is—but they’re about to learn he isn’t just another name in her phone: Robert is Amie’s best friend.

AMIE'S BEST FRIEND KNOWS THE TRUTH

Robert is in a state of shock, but willing to do whatever it takes to help Amie. He starts at the beginning, telling police everything he knows about his best friend.

Amie grew up in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, with loving and supportive parents. In 1999, she graduated from North Penn High School, and two years later, she moved to the west coast to attend college, hoping to some day make a positive impact on the world as a therapist.

Robert meets Amie in 2012, when they’re both guests at an LA pool party. They quickly bond over shared interests and their same offbeat sense of humor. What starts as casual conversation turns into a friendship that, over the years, keeps getting stronger. They grow closer, becoming best friends—the person they can talk to every day and go to for support. Robert clearly knows Amie better than anyone, and police realize, if there’s anyone who can help find Amie’s attacker, it’s him.

Cops then ask him about a picture sent to Amie’s phone, at 2:05 am.. In it, Amie sits with a friend on a green couch, wearing the same outfit she had on when police found her in the backyard… and, most importantly, she’s wearing the same black necklace whose beads cops found scattered all over the crime scene. This photo was taken just two hours before the attack.

Robert helps police work through the timeline of the evening of February 14th. Amie had joined several friends for a girls’ night out at a show in Los Angeles. According to the group chat and their messages back and forth, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They watched a live performance, had fun, and by around midnight, everyone left—including Amie, who went home, alone. However, their interview is suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door—and it’s an officer, with news no friend should ever have to hear.

Robert is devastated, he has just lost his closest friend. Someone he considered family, has now been taken from him. He is now tasked with the heavy burden of notifying those who loved and cared for Amie, about the tragic news of her murder.

He can’t seem to process the fact that Amie is dead; it doesn’t make any sense. Amie was generous, kind and actively fulfilling her dreams of helping people through her therapy work all across the world-— it seems impossible that someone so full of life could suddenly be gone. While Robert tries to comprehend what’s just happened to his best friend, police notify her parents.

THE EX WHO NEVER LEFT

As Amie’s friends and family struggle to come to terms with the tragedy, the news of her murder hits the media. Her face is displayed on every news channel and the city of Los Angeles goes on high alert.

With Amie’s murder made public, her friends, family and concerned citizens want her death answered for. But, thanks to their interview with Robert, police have a solid lead; he has explained to them exactly, what she has been going through, for years.

It’s 2014, 6 years before Amie’s murder. Robert receives a panicked call from her, who has just returned from a work trip. She tells him she believes someone broke into her house while she was gone.

Concerned for his friend, Robert immediately drives over to her apartment to make sure Amie is ok. When he arrives, it is clear this was not a normal robbery. All of the typical valuables: her TV, art pieces, and jewelry, are still there. Only a few sentimental items are missing. This feels less like a stranger looking for quick cash, and more like someone trying to scare her—and send a strong message. What’s even more troubling, is that all the files on Amie’s laptop, are gone.

Amie calls the police, but they can’t do anything to help. Whoever broke in was careful not to leave any incriminating evidence behind. Distressingly, the break-in is just the beginning of a series of disturbing incidents that will follow Amie for years to come: disparaging emails are sent to her workplace, she’s targeted by anonymous online attackers, and there’s even a man who keeps lurking near her house at night. Robert does what he can to help, installing cameras on her property, encouraging her to buy self-defense items, and Amie even shares her location with him, to feel safer.

Robert and Amie were never able to gather enough proof, but they knew exactly who was behind the escalating attacks, and now, Robert tells police their theory—that Amie was being harassed, and stalked by one man who’s been obsessed with her for years, and his name, is Gareth Pursehouse.

The year is 2010: 10 years before Amie’s murder. Then in her late 20s, Amie is still working on her degree, when she attends a party in Hollywood. There, she notices someone, who can’t seem to take his eyes off her. The man strikes up a conversation with her, and Amie is drawn to his seemingly down-to-earth energy. He works a day-job as an IT specialist, is a photographer, and an aspiring stand up comedian. The pair instantly hit it off, and exchange numbers.

Things move quickly, and the two soon make their relationship official. From the outside, they look like a great couple with a bright future—two very talented and ambitious people building a life together in LA.

However, over time, Amie’s friends notice subtle changes. The once extremely social, outgoing woman starts spending less time with friends and appears withdrawn. She shows up less and less to outings, and drifts away from the people who used to be part of her inner circle. Gareth has an opinion on everything, and it feels like he’s always there, even when he isn’t. The Amie they once knew—loud, present, and fully herself—starts to fade.

THE RESTRAINING ORDER

When Amie realizes what he’s doing, she challenges him. Arguments flare over increasingly small things—what she wears, who she talks to, when she is allowed to go out. And then one night, an argument spirals out of control and he crosses a line. She immediately calls 911 for help. Amie’s reached a breaking point: she ends the relationship and begins to build a case against him. She takes photos of her injuries, documents the harassing texts, and angry audio messages, blocking him everywhere, but Gareth won’t back down. Day after day, he keeps reaching out on every platform he can find, though she’s told him she’s done. Finally, armed with pages of evidence, she brings her case to the police.

The court grants a five-year restraining order, and Amie tries to move forward. With the protective order in place, Gareth is out of her life, on paper... In reality, Amie is still looking over her shoulder – she just can’t shake the feeling he is still out there – watching. Although Amie and Robert both know that Gareth is behind the disturbing incidents over the last several years, like many stalking cases there’s no hard proof. And so, the restraining order expires.

With Robert pointing them to Gareth, police now have a name and a face to compare to the Ring camera suspect. And, when they place the photo of Gareth next to a still of the unknown man from the neighbor’s footage, it becomes evident that both Amie and Robert have been right all along.

Now that the police are certain they have the killer’s identity, they review the remainder of the footage, with Gareth in mind – piecing together exactly what happened the night Amie was murdered.

It’s February 14th, Valentine’s Day, 8:53 pm: Gareth Pursehouse is captured on the neighbor’s Ring camera, sneaking into Amie’s yard, by climbing into her property. Then, he uses his gloved hand to smash through the glass of the French doors, accidentally cutting himself in the process, and enters the house—this was what Michael, asleep downstairs, would later say he thought, was just Amie dropping a glass. He leaves the downstairs untouched, creeps up to Amie’s bedroom, and, terrifyingly, slips into her bed under the covers. Minutes turn into hours, as Gareth waits patiently for the moment Amie, his ex-girlfriend, from 9 years ago, will come home.

FROM STALKER TO MURDERER

February 14, 2020, 1:01 am: Amie, returning from her night out with friends, sends a text to Robert. He has no idea that this will be the last communication he will ever receive from her. She heads upstairs like she always does, unaware that anything is wrong—until she reaches her bedroom. There, she’s suddenly face-to-face with Gareth. He lunges at her. Instinct kicks in—she throws her phone at him, then turns to run. At 6ft 4 inches, and nearly 250 pounds, Gareth has a huge advantage. Amie stands no chance, as he pushes her towards the edge of the balcony.

Gareth makes a quick escape, and is spotted again on the same neighbor’s ring camera, just as Michael, Amie’s roommate, runs for help and calls 911. With all the evidence police have collected: the blood at the crime scene, the text messages, the history of stalking and abuse, the restraining order, and the footage from the ring camera - they have everything they need to make an arrest.

February 15, 2020, 4:30 pm : Officers race to Gareth’s apartment in Playa del Rey. They arrive in the nick of time, confronting him just as he is attempting to leave.

As detectives process Gareth, they discover scratches all over his body, clearly he’s been in a fight. There’s also a large bruise on the inside of his bicep, which looks suspiciously like a bite mark. Detectives obtain a DNA sample from Pursehouse, to compare with the blood found at Amy's home.

THE TRIAL, THE LETTER, AND THE VERDICT

When Gareth Pursehouse refuses to answer any questions about the death of his ex-girlfriend, detectives are forced to stop the interview. He shuts down, offers nothing—and that silence is very telling. He is booked into L.A. County Jail. Nearly three years later Gareth Pursehouse stands trial for first degree murder.

Although Amie can no longer speak for herself, her family and friends never miss a court date, ensuring her voice is the loudest in the room. During the trial, dozens of Amie’s friends step forward to testify, giving the court a clear picture of who she was—a beautiful, inspiring woman, a loyal friend, and a positive light in the lives of everyone who knew her. Robert takes the stand and walks the jury through her story from the very beginning: how Gareth stalked her for years, how he broke into her home and stole her photos, and how he harassed her online. Amie took countless measures to protect herself, yet it still wasn’t enough to deter him. Prosecutors also present another crucial piece of evidence—the blood from the crime scene, found near the shattered glass at the door, matching Gareth’s DNA.

The most powerful moment in court, though, comes from Amie herself. In a letter she had written, just 30 days before her murder, she details a disturbing encounter with Gareth, right after her restraining order against him, expired. He finally showed his face after many years of anonymous harassment, caused a public scene, screaming at Amie, and then vanished as quickly as he had appeared. This letter becomes her voice at the trial, making sure the jury, and Gareth himself, are confronted with Amie’s truth.
September 28th, 2023. The jury presents their verdict. Gareth Pursehouse is guilty of all charges, including first degree murder. The judge hands down the maximum sentence, life without the possibility of parole.

After the heartache, grief, and years of fighting, Amie, her family, and friends finally receive justice. Amie’s story inspires others to live life unapologetically, just as she did, and to refuse to give their power to anyone else.

Amie’s life, her words, and her work had all been centred on one thing: lifting up the people around her. Her legacy lives on through her friends and family fighting for the causes she cared about, including a petition in her honor to pass legislation to help survivors by changing laws on stalking and domestic violence.

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Credits:

Directed, written & edited by Matthew Rice

Researched by Tiffany Loxton

Co-written by Kat Gardilcic & Tiffany Loxton

Voiceover by William Akana

Produced by Salim Sader

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Sources:

“The Final Hours of Amie Harwick.” 48 Hours: CBS Broadcasting Inc., 2022. (CBS News)

“Justice for Amie Harwick.” 48 Hours: CBS Broadcasting Inc., 2024. (CBS News)

“Celebrity Sexpert.” Death By Fame: Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., 2023 (AMPLE Entertainment)

“Love, Death, and Obsession In Hollywood.” A Plan to Kill: Oxygen Media LLC, 2024 (Peacock)

Man Walks Outside To Find Decapitated Roommate, Dr. Insanity, 2024.

Nightline, ABC News,

CBS Mornings, CBS Broadcasting Inc.

Inside Edition, CBS Broadcasting Inc.

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