For her 36th birthday, anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig surprises his wife, engineer Arielle, with a romantic getaway. He meticulously plans the trip, ensuring family members and a hired nanny will look after their two sons. The couple opts to hike along a well-known trail in the Koʻolau Mountains, leading to Pali Puka, a striking rock formation on the east side of Oʻahu.
Amidst the picturesque surroundings, Konig hopes the trip will help alleviate the tension that has built up during months of couples therapy, sparked by his accusations of infidelity against Arielle. Despite her steadfast denial of the allegations, Arielle grapples to comprehend their source. She is determined to rebuild her husband’s trust, but his escalating jealousy and mistreatment, which have included instances of sexual assault, continue to strain their relationship.
As they navigate the trail, Arielle expresses her desire to persevere but decides to stop at a challenging incline. Opting to wait, she watches as Konig forges ahead to conquer the stretch. Upon his return, he captures a photo of her perched in a tree and playfully suggests they take a selfie at the trail’s edge, providing a panoramic view of Oʻahu. Though Arielle obliges with a smile, she promptly requests him to step closer as she steps away from the precipice.
As she follows him, Konig suddenly turns, grabs her arms, and shoves her toward the cliff, saying, “Get back over there. I’m so f***ing sick of you!”
At first, Arielle thinks he is joking, but he pushes her again, pins her down, and pulls a syringe and vial from his bag, attempting to fill the syringe. She knocks it from his hands, but he digs into his bag again, possibly searching for another. Instead, he grabs a rock and repeatedly strikes her head.
Other hikers hear Arielle’s screams and rush to help. Konig, covered in blood, flees into the woods and video calls his adult son, Emile. Shocked by his father’s appearance, Emile listens as Konig starts to explain but stops mid-sentence and says, “I just tried to kill Ari, but she got away.” He then tells Emile he wants to jump off the cliffs and kill himself.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guest
- Mahealani Richardson – Four-time Emmy Award Winning Anchor / Reporter at Hawaii News Now; Instagram @maheaTV, Facebook @MahealaniRichardson
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Konig couple/Facebook]
