Former UPMC doctor accused of trying to push his wife off Hawaii hiking trail has bail set at $5 million
A former UPMC doctor and assistant professor at Pitt was arrested after he tried to push his wife off a hiking trail and hit her in the head with a rock several times, authorities in Hawaii said.
Honolulu police said they took Gerhardt Konig into custody after a short foot chase near Pali Highway Monday evening. Earlier in the day, police put out a poster with Konig's photo, saying he was wanted for attempted murder at Pali Lookout.
Police said Konig was on Oahu with his 36-year-old wife Monday morning when he tried to push her off a trail and used a rock to hit her in the head numerous times. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said, but was able to tell officers it was her 46-year-old husband who attacked her and left her for dead.
Konig was charged Wednesday with second-degree attempted murder, CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV reports, adding that bail was set at $5 million.
The Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout is perched over 1,000 feet above the Oahu coastline, offering panoramic views of the Koʻolau cliffs and Windward Coast, according to gohawaii.com.
What we know about Gerhardt Konig
Gerhardt Konig was a doctor with the Anesthesia Medical Group in Hawaii and has since been suspended pending investigation, KGMB reported. He was employed by an independent contract and provided medical services to facilities on Maui, the station said.
Before that, he was an anesthesiologist at UPMC and an assistant professor of anesthesiology and bioengineering at Pitt. UPMC said it hasn't employed Konig for more than two years.
KDKA-TV talked to former neighbors and friends who said Konig worked at UPMC until he moved with his wife and two small children to Maui to take his dream job.
Ben Brown lived next door to the Konigs in Mt. Lebanon for several years. While he wasn't particularly close with the couple, he said they were friendly and he considered them good neighbors. He said he was surprised by the news.
