In celebration of her 36th birthday, anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig surprises his wife, engineer Arielle, with a romantic escapade. He orchestrates the entire getaway, ensuring family members and a nanny are on hand to care for their two sons during their absence. The couple opts for a scenic hike along a well-known trail in the Koʻolau Mountains, leading them to Pali Puka, a striking rock formation on the eastern side of Oʻahu.

Konig’s hope is that the vacation will alleviate some of the strain after months of couples counseling due to his suspicions about Arielle’s infidelity. Arielle, who denies these accusations and is baffled by their origin, is eager to restore trust in her marriage. However, Konig’s growing jealousy and abusive behavior, which includes sexual assaults, have intensified.

While on the trail, Arielle initially wants to continue, but hesitates upon reaching the final, steep section. Choosing to wait as Konig presses on, she pauses. Upon his descent, he captures a photo of her perched in a tree and proposes they take a selfie at the cliff’s edge with Oʻahu as the backdrop. Though Arielle obliges with a smile, she quickly requests he move forward, allowing her to retreat 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]