A 46-year-old anesthesiologist from Maui, Gerhadt Konig, has been charged with attempt to murder his wife by pushing her off a hiking trail in Hawaii and then hitting her in the head with a rock. His wife, 36-year-old Arielle Konig is a nuclear engineer, and the couple was on a vacation in Oahu. The doctor pushed his wife in the famous Pali Lookout which is a tourist spot, after the wife refused to take a picture with him.
According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the doctor then punched his wife and hit her with the rock. Then, he even tried to poke her with two syringes. Arielle was rushed to a hospital with multiple facial injuries.
Law enforcement had previously appealed to islanders warning them to keep an eye out for a 5ft 9 in suspect and to not give lifts to any strangers traveling solo. In an update on Tuesday morning, police said: “HPD officers located Gerhardt Konig near Pali Highway and arrested him after a brief foot pursuit. Charges are pending. Mahalo to the public for your assistance.”
Pali Lookout was closed for the rest of Monday following the shocking incident, Hawaii’s Division of State Parks said in a statement on Monday. Maui Health issued a statement that Konig, who was employed by an independent contractor to provide medical services as an anesthesiologist in Maui, has been suspended.
“Maui Health is committed to patient safety and upholding the highest standards of care,” the statement read.
“We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig has been suspended from the Medical Staff pending investigation. Dr. Konig is employed by an independent entity contracted to provide medical services at various medical facilities on Maui, including Maui Memorial Medical Center. “Maui Health takes these concerns and the safety of its patients very seriously and will cooperate with authorities as appropriate,” it said.
Prior to moving to Maui, Gerhardt was an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, according to his LinkedIn profile.
