An anesthesiologist has been accused of trying to murder his wife by pushing her off a hiking trail in Hawaii and hitting her in the head with a rock.
Dr Gerhardt Konig, 46, was arrested near the Pali lookout on Monday after his wife Arielle Konig accused him of trying to murder her.
Arielle, 36, who remains in critical condition, told Honolulu Police her husband attacked her after she refused to take a picture with him on the hiking trail, the Star Advertiser reports.
A police source also told Hawaii News Now that prior to the assault, Konig produced two syringes filled with an unknown substance and attempted to attack her with them.
She was eventually found by authorities and taken to hospital with extensive injuries to her head and face.
Konig went missing following the alleged assault, and was eventually apprehended close to the Pali Highway at around 6:40 p.m. on Monday, following a brief foot chase with police.
Law enforcement had previously put out an appeal to islanders warning them to keep an eye out for a 5ft 9in 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.”
The Konigs are reported to live in a house in Maui, where Gerhardt worked as an independent contractor for Maui Health, who have suspended him while investigations are ongoing.
In a statement given to KHON2, a company spokesperson said: “Maui Health is committed to patient safety and upholding the highest standards of care.
“We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig has been suspended from the Medical Staff pending investigation.”
The company “takes these concerns and safety of its patients very seriously” and will cooperate with authorities, they added.
Prior to moving to Maui, Gerhardt was an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, according to his LinkedIn profile. Arielle meanwhile worked as a nuclear engineer.
