Harwick’s Parents Tells “48 Hours”: “He Did the Exact Right Thing ... He Made All the Right Decisions”

(L-R) Amie Harwick; Amie Harwick and Michael Herman

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It’s been almost four years since prominent L.A. therapist Amie Harwick was murdered on Feb. 15, 2020. For the first time, the man who tried to save her opens up about what happened. Correspondent Erin Moriarty reports on the case in 48 HOURS: “Justice for Amie Harwick,” to be broadcast Saturday, Feb. 10 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

Harwick’s roommate, Michael Herman, can never erase the memories of what happened to his friend in the early morning hours after Valentine’s Day 2020.

“I remember thinking like this is so much worse than any horror movie I’ve ever seen,” says Herman. “I just was, uh, woken up by screaming ... like bloodcurdling scream ... And I yelled up, you know, ‘Amie!’ And I heard choking right after that.”

Herman was in a downstairs bedroom when the attack happened. He was unable to find his phone and ran to their next-door neighbor’s house to get help, but there was no answer. He was finally able to use the phone of a stranger on the street.

When LAPD officers arrived, they discovered Harwick gravely injured under her third-story balcony. Inside the house, they found signs of a struggle – her purse, jacket and a broken necklace on the floor. On her balcony, there was a strange clue: a syringe filled with a mysterious yellowish-brown substance. There was no sign of Harwick’s attacker, but investigators later discovered evidence of an intruder – a shattered window of a French door. Harwick died at the hospital.

“She’s gone and I’m still here,” Herman tells 48 HOURS.

“Michael Herman has a lot of survivor’s guilt,” Moriarty tells Harwick’s parents.

“Oh, my goodness,” Penny Harwick says, “He did the exact right thing.”

Tom Harwick adds: “He made all the right decisions.”

Judy Tygard is the executive producer of 48 HOURS, which is broadcast Saturdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT on CBS, and streams anytime on Paramount+. You can also watch 48 HOURS on the CBS News Streaming Network Wednesdays at 8:00 PM, ET. 48 HOURS is also available on CBSNews.com, Fave TV, Pop TV, Pluto US, Pluto UK, Pluto Nordics, Pluto Canada and Pluto South Africa. Download the CBS News app on your phone or connected TV. Follow 48 HOURS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Listen to podcasts at CBS Audio.

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