Gerhardt Konig, Doctor: Murder Outcome Gets Crime Fans Steaming

True crime shouldn’t be about medical professionals trying to kill people, but tell that to the wife of Gerhardt Konig, an anesthesiologist doctor who just got found guilty of attempted manslaughter.

Or, if you could, you could warn Monique Tepe that Doctor Michael McKee would shoot and kill her in a jealousy-fueled rage. Read on for more about Gerhardt and why he didn’t go down for allegedly trying to murder his wife, Arielle Konig.

Premeditated Violence?

Disturbing behavior by folks in the medical profession always seems so bad. That’s because they took oaths to not harm anyone. But it seems surprising how often they appear in true crime news. Well, Arielle and Gerhardt Konig lived together in beautiful Maui, went for a hike, and there, he allegedly tried to murder her.

Per CBS News, as they stopped to look out over the stunning views along “a scenic hiking trail in Honolulu,” he attacked her with a “syringe,” and when she started screaming, he tried beating her with a rock.

Terrified, she believed he’d throw her off the cliffs. Fortunately, other hikers heard and then saw what was going down. It happened on her birthday, and that makes it seem even worse. 

The Mental Health Argument 

Arrested, the anesthesiologist endured a three-week trial, and he ended up found guilty of “attempted manslaughter.” Why the lesser charge? Well, apparently the defense team convinced the jury that he was suffering from mental health issues.

Really? Who would have thought! Anyway, his “extreme mental or emotional disturbance” means he won’t do as much time as the original charge of “attempted murder.”

Viewers React

When Court TV shared the jury’s guilty verdict on the lesser charge, over 4,000 comments streamed in. One of them penned, “It was attempted murder. I am astounded that the jury found attempted manslaughter! That is a travesty!”

Here are a few more reactions from the rather stunned viewers:

• He should have been charged with and found guilty of Attempted First Degree Murder! It was obviously premeditated.
• His lawyer literally nods his head to indicate he is happy with this. He knows his client got away with attempted murder.
• This clown wants everyone to think he’s innocent. He admitted to his son that he tried to kill her, so the jury did get it wrong. The verdict should have been guilty of attempted murder period.
• I worry for that family when this narcissistic, controlling psycho gets out far sooner than he should. To think he anesthetized patients is extremely troubling. You just never know where these pathological people will turn up…or what may trigger their egos to raging homicide.

Mostly, people felt that justice certainly slipped through the rope this time. And, his lawyer plans an appeal. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and remember to come back here often for all your true crime news and updates. Plus, remember to give our crime channel on TikTok a follow.