Hawaii Anesthesiologist Convicted of Attempted Manslaughter in Brutal Cliffside Attack on Wife

Anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig found guilty of attempted manslaughter in Hawaii after attacking his wife with a rock on a cliffside hiking trail.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 6:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS News

Verdict Following High-Stakes Trial

The three-week trial of Maui-based doctor Gerhardt Konig concluded in Honolulu with a conviction on the lesser charge of attempted manslaughter based on extreme mental or emotional disturbance. Konig, who originally faced a life sentence for second-degree attempted murder, sat with his hand over his face as the verdict was read. The jury’s decision indicates they accepted the defense’s argument that Konig was acting under significant emotional duress during the assault, though prosecutor Joel Garner stated he respected the jury's diligence in weighing the evidence. The conviction now carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The Violent Confrontation at Pali Puka

The assault took place in March 2025 along the remote and scenic Pali Puka trail, a narrow path that wraps around a sheer cliff edge. Arielle Konig testified that her husband lured her to the lookout before attacking her, first attempting to inject her with a syringe and subsequently striking her over the head with a rock. Arielle told the jury she believed her husband intended to knock her unconscious so he could drag her over the cliff’s edge. The victim suffered critical injuries and testified that her face was covered in blood before two hikers stumbled upon the scene, causing the doctor to flee.

Witness Testimony and the Manhunt

The prosecution’s case was bolstered by harrowing eyewitness accounts from hikers who witnessed the struggle. Witness Amanda Morris testified to seeing the defendant repeatedly hitting his wife with a rock, while Sarah Buchsbaum, who called emergency services, described the victim’s face as being completely masked in blood. Following the intervention of these witnesses, Gerhardt Konig fled the trail into the surrounding wilderness, sparking a six-hour manhunt by Oahu authorities. He was eventually apprehended and indicted on the Hawaiian island where the assault occurred.