The mountains of Oahu played host to a frightening scene that could have been deadly. Photo: Josh Smith
A couple’s hike on Oahu almost turned tragic when the woman’s husband attempted to murder her on the trail. Gerhardt Konig, a 46-year-old anesthesiologist, attacked his wife, first trying to push her off the edge of a cliff, then attempting to inject her with a syringe and bashing her head with a rock.
Luckily, Arielle Konig, the 36-year-old victim, was able to resist the attack enough to distance herself from her husband. Two women also on the trail saw what was happening and called 911, helping Arielle down the trail while her husband fled in the opposite direction.
On vacation from their home in Maui to celebrate Arielle’s birthday, the couple went for a hike on the Pali Puka Trail on Monday, March 24. (Pali Puka is an informal trail in a closed area.) Their two sons, ages two and four, stayed at home with a nanny and family. Court documents reveal the horror that took place.
“During the hike, I became uneasy and informed Gerhardt that I did not want to continue,” said Arielle Konig of the trail that included cliffs on either side. “Gerhardt hiked a little further and then came back to get me.”
Gerhardt insisted that she take a photo near the cliff, and when Arielle refused, he pushed her toward the cliff’s edge while screaming that he was sick of her.
“I asked him to move so that I could move away from the cliff, because I was feeling dizzy,” she said. “At first I thought he was joking, but I quickly realized he was seriously trying to make me fall off the cliff.”
Then, Arielle explained that during the struggle, Gerhardt pulled two syringes out of his bag and tried injecting her with unknown substances. But Arielle was able to avoid it. She thought that he had calmed down at one point, but then he picked up a rock and hit her in the head 10 times.
“I do not know what was in the syringe, but Gerhardt is an anesthesiologist and has access to several potentially lethal medications as part of his employment,” she said.
That’s when fellow hikers came to Arielle’s aid and helped her off the trail while her husband fled. She was taken to a hospital via ambulance and admitted in critical condition with head and facial injuries.
One of the hikers who came to the rescue, only identified as “Amanda,” said she started the hike around 10:28 a.m. and 10 minutes later heard Arielle Konig screaming for help. She found Arielle on her back “with a man on top of her hitting her on the head.” Amanda recalled Arielle screaming, “He is trying to kill me. He is hitting me in the head with a rock.”
Gerhardt was captured by police later that evening after a short foot chase. He is now in custody, with bail set at $5 million, and will face attempted murder charges. Kaiser Permanente, the umbrella company of Maui Health, where Gerhardt works, said that his certifications and ability to treat patients have been suspended pending the investigation.
A crowdfunder has been created to aid Arielle Konig in her recovery.
