The son of a former Maui anesthesiologist gave chilling testimony this week, claiming his father admitted to attempting to murder his wife during a birthday trip. Emile Konig, 19, told a Honolulu jury that his father, Gerhardt Konig, confessed during an emotional FaceTime call shortly after the alleged attack on Oahu’s Pali Puka trail.
According to Emile’s testimony on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, his father called him in a state of distress, stating that he would not be making it back to Maui and telling his son to take care of his younger siblings. When Emile asked about a stain on his father’s shirt, Gerhardt allegedly replied that it was Aries blood—referring to his wife, Arielle. The son testified that his father claimed Arielle had been cheating on him and that he had tried to kill her before planning to jump off the cliff himself.
The prosecution alleges that Gerhardt lured his wife to the dangerous trail under the guise of a birthday celebration. Once there, they claim he tried to push her off a cliff edge, attacked her with a syringe, and repeatedly struck her in the head with a rock. Arielle Konig, a nuclear engineer, testified earlier in the trial that she only escaped after screaming for help, which caught the attention of nearby hikers.
Defense attorneys offer a different version of events, characterizing the incident as an unplanned scuffle. They argue that Arielle initiated the physical confrontation after Gerhardt confronted her about an emotional affair with a coworker. The defense maintains that Gerhardt’s actions were a defensive reflex and that no syringe was ever used or recovered from the scene.
Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted murder. While the defense pointed out that Emile did not initially report the confession to the police, the 19 year old maintained that he was in shock and simply trying to process his father’s words. The trial continues to draw intense local interest as it explores the dark breakdown of a high profile marriage.