On the morning of March 24, Dr. Gerhardt Konig and his wife, Arielle, were hiking the Pali Lookout trail in Oahu. But what happened next has left many people in shock.
Authorities say the 46-year-old husband allegedly tried to push his wife off the trail and even struck her in the head with a rock.
A manhunt that lasted more than six hours
A shocking incident on a popular hiking trail in Oahu has led to the arrest of a Maui doctor. Officers responded to reports of a man assaulting a woman at the Pali Puka hiking trail around 10:30 a.m. Two witnesses that saw the assault and called 911.
Authorities claim Gerhardt Konig attempted to harm his wife at the Pali Lookout, triggering a manhunt that lasted more than six hours before he was captured. The chilling attack is said to have begun after Konig’s wife refused to take a picture with him, with sources revealing that he also attempted to harm her with two syringes.
The wife sustained severe injuries to her face and head and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Dr. Gerhardt Konig has since been charged with second-degree attempted murder, according to Honolulu police and reported by AP News. His bail has been set at $5 million.
”Why he did this? That’s a mystery…”
Konig’s attorney, Myles Breiner, told Island News: ”Why he did this? That’s a mystery… he has nothing on his record here or anywhere else he’s ever lived in. So it’s rather surprising that out of nowhere, he would engage in this kind of behavior.”
Maui Health has confirmed that Konig was employed through an independent agency and worked at multiple medical facilities across the Valley Isle, including Maui Memorial Medical Center, the island’s main hospital.
Konig has been suspended from his role at Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he works as an independent contractor, according to a representative from Maui Health.
In a statement to CNN, the representative said, “We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig’s medical staff privileges at Maui Memorial Medical Center have been suspended pending investigation. Maui Health takes these concerns and the safety of its patients very seriously and will cooperate with authorities as appropriate.”
Married in 2018
According to the Daily Mail, the couple married in 2018 and had recently moved from Pennsylvania to a $1.5 million home in Maui. While those close to the them are left stunned, advocates for domestic violence victims are not surprised.
“Both prominent people in our community. Not just him, but also her. Highly intelligent, highly successful folks,” said Sanoe Kaaihue, Executive Director of Women Helping Women. “DV (domestic violence) does not discriminate. I think time and time again, people are so surprised when they hear that it’s their teachers, it’s neighbors, it’s attorneys. It’s everybody from every single walk of life can be affected.”
“What you’re seeing now is an outward expression of the things that they’ve been experiencing within the household,” Kaaihue added.
Previously married a sex worker
KDKA-TV spoke to former neighbors and friends who revealed that Konig had worked at UPMC before relocating to Maui with his wife and two young children to pursue his dream job.
Ben Brown, a former neighbor of the Konigs in Mt. Lebanon, shared that while he wasn’t especially close to the family, they were friendly and he always thought of them as good neighbors. He expressed shock upon hearing the news.
Dr. Konig was previously married to Jessica Patella, a sex worker. The two married when they were both just 20 years old and stayed together for over 15 years, raising two children.
