An anesthesiologist’s co-workers, who described him as “quiet” and “friendly,” were shocked to learn that he had been accused of allegedly trying to murder his wife on a hiking trail.
Gerhardt Konig, 46, allegedly attempted to push his wife Arielle, 36, off a popular hiking path on Monday as they were walking not far from the Pali Lookout on O’ahu, Hawaii. According to Hawaii News Now, sources also said that Konig repeatedly bludgeoned his wife with a rock and tried to stab her with syringes.
The doctor reportedly fled from the scene before he could throw his wife off the cliffside, according to the Honolulu Police Department, and he was apprehended six hours later.
Upon speaking with some of Konig’s colleagues at the Maui Memorial Medical Center on Tuesday, Island News reported that the hospital shared that he has been suspended from working.
“The hospital takes these concerns and patient safety very seriously and will cooperate with authorities as appropriate,” the hospital said in a statement.
Hospitalized in critical condition, suffering multiple injuries to her face and head, Arielle said her husband attacked her after she reportedly refused to take a picture with him.
Arielle is a nuclear scientist and Konig was employed as an independent contractor by Maui Health. Formerly, he was an attending anesthesiologist at a women’s hospital in Pittsburgh, also teaching at a university there. The pair tied the knot in 2018.
KDKA-TV spoke with the Konigs’ former next door neighbor from Pittsburgh, Ben Brown, who was also shocked to hear the news. He said that they were friendly and good neighbors.
A second-degree attempted murder charge against Konig is currently still awaiting review from the prosecutor’s office.
