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Hawaii Doctor Accused of Attempted Murder of Wife During Scenic Hike
In what appeared to be a picture-perfect marriage, a respected doctor is facing charges for allegedly attempting to murder his wife, a nuclear engineer, during a hike near the popular Pali Lookout in Hawaii. The idyllic facade crumbled on Monday when Arielle Konig reportedly endured a violent assault, leaving her with severe injuries to her face and neck. Gerhardt Konig, a prominent anesthesiologist, has been arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder and is currently detained at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in Honolulu. His wife is receiving medical care at The Queen’s Medical Center, supported by her mother.
Birthday Hike Turns Violent
Details exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com reveal the brutal incident occurred on Arielle Konig’s 36th birthday. The couple had taken a day trip to Honolulu from their residence in Kahului, Maui, valued at $1.5 million. Konig, previously affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), reportedly struck his wife repeatedly with a rock, approximately ten times, before two female hikers intervened to halt the assault.
“Nobody Saw This Coming”: House Cleaner’s Account
Christina Ferguson, the couple’s house cleaner for the past six months, expressed her shock in an exclusive DailyMail.com interview. “I just did not see this coming,” she stated. “Nobody saw this coming. People are speculating about affairs or infidelity, but that’s simply not her character.”
Ferguson described Arielle as “the kindest, most caring, patient, generous, loving person – every positive attribute you could imagine.” She added, “She worked remotely, maintaining a home presence. They had just returned from a family vacation last month.”
Gerhardt Konig’s alleged brutal attack on his wife Arielle occurred on her 36th birthday, DailyMail.com has learned, while they were on a hike near Oahu’s scenic Pali Lookout
The renowned anesthesiologist, 46, can be seen looking disheveled in his booking photo after he was officially charged with second-degree attempted murder on Wednesday
The couple were visiting Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout in Oahu at the time of the attack on Monday
Relocation to Maui and Seeming Domestic Bliss
Originally from Pittsburgh, the couple married on September 4, 2018, marking Konig’s second marriage. He has two adult sons, aged 19 and 22, from his previous marriage to Jessica Patella. In 2022, the Konigs relocated to Maui when Gerhardt secured a position as a partner at Anesthesia Medical Group, a medical contracting firm in Kahului supplying anesthesiologists across Hawaii.
The move initially appeared successful, with the family settling into a large five-bedroom home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the West Maui Mountains’ foothills. Neighbors described the Konigs as a seemingly content family, private yet devoted to their young sons, Olin and Viggo.
Whiskey Tastings and Private Life
Until April of last year, Konig hosted regular “whiskey nights,” inviting friends for liquor tastings. Michelle Hearne, 55, whose husband Lee, 55, attended occasionally, clarified, “They weren’t heavy drinking events but whiskey tastings for connoisseurs.” Peter Mast, 71, another attendee until the last event on April 29th of the previous year, noted, “They are very private people, as we all are here.”
The trail borders a steep 300ft drop down into the valley with little more than a waist-high fence to prevent people falling
The beauty spot is located more than 1,000ft above the coastline and offers stunning views of the Koʻolau cliffs and Windward Coast
Police were called to the scenic Pali Lookout at approximately 10:38am on March 24 by a pair of horrified female hikers who had stumbled across the attack, according to a statement of probable cause obtained by DailyMail.com
Victim’s Remote Work and Family Life
Arielle was employed by TerraPower LLC, a company specializing in nuclear fuels based in Bellevue, Washington. Her remote work arrangement enabled her to actively participate in raising her two sons, with the assistance of a nanny.
Prior to Monday’s incident, the couple presented an image of marital happiness. Ferguson recounted to DailyMail.com, “He was pleasant and kind. He was generally quiet at home, typically being at work during my visits. But on the occasions he was present, he was reserved, courteous, and conversational.”
She further commented on their interactions: “Their communication was admirable, filled with affection. This incident is utterly unexpected. Domestic violence is unfortunately prevalent in Hawaii, often with visible signs like controlling behavior. None of those indicators were present here.”
Details of the Attack at Pali Lookout
On the day of the assault, the couple traveled from Maui to Oahu, a brief 25-minute flight, to celebrate Arielle’s birthday. Their children remained on Maui under the care of their nanny. Police were alerted to the scene at approximately 10:38 am by Amanda and Sarah, the two hikers who discovered the attack, according to a probable cause statement obtained by DailyMail.com. The Pali Lookout overlooks the Nuʻuanu Valley from a cliffside on Oahu’s Ko’olau Mountain range.
Friends of the couple have been left stunned by Konig’s arrest, with some neighbors saying they saw no sign of trouble between the two
The couple are originally from Pittsburgh and married on September 4, 2018 – marking a second marriage for Konig who has two adult sons aged 19 and 22 from his previous marriage
The two moved to Maui in 2022, settling into a spacious five-bedroom $1.5million home in a quiet cul-de-sac nestled in the foothills of the West Maui Mountains
Selfie Request Precedes Violence
DailyMail.com photographs illustrate the trail’s proximity to a 300ft drop into the valley, with only a low fence as a barrier. This location is historically significant as the site of the Battle of Nuʻuanu in 1795.
According to the probable cause statement, Konig asked his wife to pose for a selfie near the cliff’s edge. “Arielle expressed discomfort at taking a photo so close to the edge, declined, and began to walk away.” Konig then “yelled at her to return,” and upon her refusal, seized a rock and allegedly struck her head ten times. He also reportedly grabbed her hair and slammed her face into the ground repeatedly.
The attack was interrupted by the hikers, alerted by Arielle’s cries for help. The injured woman managed to escape and crawl towards them. Arielle stated to police at the scene that her husband also attempted to inject her with two syringes containing an unidentified substance.
After Arielle reached the hikers, Konig, dressed in a gray t-shirt and blue shorts, proceeded further up the trail toward Pali Puka, a natural rock formation.
The couple made the move to Maui after Konig secured his ‘dream job’ as a partner at a medical contracting firm
Konig is now locked up at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in Honolulu while his wife is recovering in the hospital
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Emergency services transported Arielle to the hospital in serious but stable condition, suffering from “multiple large lacerations to her face and head.” Konig initially fled but was apprehended near Pali Highway at 6:10 pm that evening.
Arielle remains hospitalized with her mother, Judith, 64, while Konig is in custody on a $5 million bond, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday.
Christina Ferguson relayed a conversation with Arielle’s mother to DailyMail.com, stating, “Arielle’s mom said that she was pretty banged up and doesn’t look really good. She mentioned stitches but indicated she is expected to recover.”
Regarding Konig, Ferguson expressed, “I hope he is not released. I hope he remains in jail and reflects on his actions and what he attempted to do.”