Deadly Vacations | "Case by Case" | "48 Hours" Podcast | Forensic Files

He grabbed me um really forcefully by my upper arms and he said, "I'm so sick of this
get back over there." And he starts pushing me back towards the cliff. >> You just heard from Ariel Koenig
testifying against her husband Gerhart Koenig recently in a Honolulu court. She said Gerhart, a former anesthesiologist,
attacked her with a rock and syringe on a cliff during a hike on Oahu's Pali Puka Trail.
>> I'm screaming and he's telling me shut the [ __ ] up. Nobody's Nobody's going to
hear you out here. Nobody's coming to save you. Um and I'm saying like you can't do this.
Everyone knows we're on a hike. Um They'll know this wasn't an accident and our kids will be orphans. You're you're
you'll go to jail and I'll I'll be dead. Like you have to stop. Um and again he's
saying like you're done. We're done with you. We don't need you anymore. You're done. You're done.
>> And it's not the only disturbing case involving a husband and wife on vacation
that has garnered national attention over the past weeks. In the Bahamas, Brian Hooker was arrested and then later
released after his wife Lynette disappeared during a nighttime boat ride. He said she fell overboard off of
their dinghy. I'm 48 Hours correspondent Natalie Morales and this is Case by Case. Each
week the team from 48 Hours will bring you the biggest stories in true crime in real time. And joining me now for our
very first episode of CBS News Chief Correspondent Matt Gutman who covered the Koenig trial. Welcome, Matt.
>> Hey, thanks, Natalie. Of course our team at 48 Hours, you know, the reason we
decided to start this podcast is because we really wanted an opportunity to dive
deeper into the cases that are currently in the headlines each week. It pairs really nicely with what we do in our
long-form reporting at 48 Hours. >> Absolutely. I think it's a perfect compliment and I'm excited to be with
you on this one. >> So, we have these two big cases involving, again, husbands and wives on
vacation. Now, The Onion, for those who don't know it, it's a satirical publication.
They tried to make a joke out of this with a headline, "State Department issues travel warning for women
vacationing with husbands." It goes on to say the State Department would soon be publishing a list of locations that
women should avoid when accompanied by their partner for life, such as remote hiking trails, cliffs,
and the railings of watercraft. Clearly, Matt, they're having their fun with this, but given the true crime headlines
that we've been reading and seeing lately, this got our attention. >> It definitely did. You know, we don't
want to be flip about these things, but it is a little strange how bad things keep happening to people when they go on
vacations. >> I mean, this is not the first time that there've been cases like these. 48 Hours
has covered half a dozen cases of cliff pushing alone over the years. So, bringing us back to the Koenig case, you
know, I was actually on spring break in Hawaii with my family when the trial was
underway and trying to take a break from work, but yet there it was right in front of me. So, I was glued to the
coverage there. It was a big story in Hawaii, but it also, of course, made for national headlines everywhere.
>> All over the place. And And so you know, I mean, Hawaii is dotted with these incredible trails like the Pali Puka
Trail. Gorgeous. Often not so heavily traveled, but often with really narrow ridges and really
steep drops. And this happened on March 24th, 2025, almost exactly a year ago. And
this was Gerhard Koenig's second marriage. He had met Ariel on eHarmony and they got married
in 2018. He had two children from a previous marriage and they eventually had two children together, but obviously
there were some cracks in the relationship. At some point in late 2024, Natalie Gerhart found out that
Ariel was having what has been called an emotional affair. She hasn't denied it,
but it became pretty clear in this trial that this was not physical. This was an
emotional connection between two colleagues who seemed to get along and texted each other a lot. So, it very
much upset Gerhart. He talked to her about it. He raised the issue. He found out and he was very
upset. They had been in therapy. They'd been trying to work on it and the idea for this trip is that this was going to
be this healing event for the couple. Um they actually lived on Maui. This the Polipoli Trail is in Oahu. This was to
celebrate her 36th birthday. Now, the prosecution says that this was all premeditated. He took her there in order
to kill her somehow. Throw her off the cliff, inject her with something, and the defense denied that saying that
this was not premeditated. They said that he had tried to act in self-defense, but the crux of it is
prosecution said he tried to push her off the cliff. That didn't work. He then tried to inject her. He is an
anesthesiologist after all with some sort of medical-grade anesthesia. When that didn't work and she was able to
fend him off, they were scuffling on the ground and then the prosecution said that he
grabbed a rock and in court they showed this rock. It was, you know, this is a big it's bigger than a
softball jagged edges and they say he bashed her in the head. So, what started as a lovely hike on a
beautiful day obviously ended very violently and nobody disputes that. >> Fortunately for Ariel, there happened to
be two women who were also coming up that very trailhead, and it was these two women who called 911 to report the
attack. Take a listen to the call. >> Hi, um what's going on? We've been attacked on the top of Polly Gulch.
>> Where? >> Um there's a man trying to kill her. She's blood all over her face.
>> Just a horrific scene that they came upon, Matt. You know, to see Ariel on the ground like that, bloodied face, and
they fortunately were in the right place at the right time. >> And it was very interesting to see both
of these eyewitnesses taking the stand and questioned by the prosecution. One of them was Sara Buxbaum. She's the
person who made the initial call, and she describes Ariel like crawling on her stomach towards her, gushing with blood.
Let's listen. >> When I saw her, she was on her stomach crawling towards us. >> Now, how close was the man to the edge?
>> Fairly close. >> And what was over the edge of the trail? >> Nothing. >> Now, Buxbaum says she saw the man
holding the rock, and when she was asked to identify him in court, she pointed right at Gerhardt.
>> Yeah, and you know, what's even more, um I think, horrifying than that 911 call
was seeing that body cam footage that was played when the police arrived there on the scene. It was really gruesome.
>> You know, Natalie, heads bleed a lot, and when you're bashed with volcanic rock, you know, in the side of the head,
I think she was cut right up here, um just on the hairline and some other places.
It's scary, and she was gushing blood. Her hair head was completely covered, and luckily these two first eyewitnesses
were nurses, and so they're quickly trying to bandage her up, but they're also trying to figure out exactly what
happened here. >> I mean, she is so strong to survive that attack and to fight back the way she
did. Um you know, I've I've hosted a couple of podcast episodes where we've interviewed people who've lived to tell
their stories, like Ariel, and just to see her composure on the on the witness stand. I mean, she was just remarkable.
She didn't get very emotional at all describing the attack. You saw her pause a little bit and look down and try to
put herself back in that place, but she really kept her composure. >> You know, she's a nuclear engineer and
she spoke about the incident almost clinically, not robotically. Like she was very human,
but she was very measured, she was composed, and even when the defense, time after time and for hours at a time,
really tried to drill into this emotional affair she had with a colleague, she didn't get upset, she didn't snap
back at them, she just answered them matter-of-factly throughout. It It was very impressive.
>> Well, the court heard from Gerhardt's son, Emil. This was his son from his first marriage, and after the
altercation, Gerhardt FaceTimed with Emil. Take a listen. >> What did the defendant tell you during
that call? As close to word for word as you can remember. >> That he would not be making it back to
Maui and to take good care of the younger kids, and that he had that Ari, my stepmom, had been cheating
on him. And that he tried to kill her. >> And then Emil said this. >> Um, during that call the next plan that he
said was to jump off the cliff. >> And how did you react to hearing that? >> Told him not to.
>> That's a lot to take in. And by the way, he was 18 at the time of this. I mean,
just you can only imagine what an 18-year-old is processing when he gets that kind of phone call from his father.
>> Yeah, I mean, I can't imagine how distraught he was, but he also seemed to have a lot of presence of mind, Natalie.
So much so that he then went on to tell Ariel's parents about the call. Um it's also interesting that Emil referred
to his father when he was testifying as the defendant. Um so I don't know, we don't really know what their
relationship was like before this. Clearly after it was not very good. On the other hand, Gerhard later said that
he credits Emil with saving his life because he urged him as he just heard not to jump, not to do it.
>> And I think what was most shocking of all, at least it was to me, was when Gerhard himself took the stand in his
defense. Were you surprised as you were watching and covering the case? >> I mean,
how many murder trials have we covered, Natalie, where the defendant, even though they have an
interest in perhaps in taking the stand, and have always said that they want their story to be told, don't take the
stand because it can go so horrifically wrong. >> It's too big of a risk. Yeah. >> And typically, when the defendant,
especially in a murder or attempted murder trial, takes the stand, it is pretty much a Hail Mary. Um so
essentially what Gerhard said is that he did hit her. He didn't try to kill her. And he said
that he never actually confessed to trying to kill Ariel on that call with his son. And he said it was Ariel who
had initiated that confrontation on the trail, that she shoved him, and he wasn't exactly sure why she was
screaming at him, but essentially he kept saying that he was acting in self-defense. He used the rock against
her because she started it. >> She like was holding on to me by my testicles, basically, like that hard.
>> Okay. Did she grab it and let go, or did she grab and hold on? >> She grabbed it and and held on.
>> Now, what happens after she does that? >> Then I try to free my testicles. And so, I'm like
thrashing with with then I get both hands free and I'm trying to get her to let go of my testicles. Um and then she
hits me with a rock on the side of the face. >> They also showed one of his booking
photos and he did have a couple of gashes on his face. >> But then you see Ariel on that body cam
footage and you see the extent of her injuries. I mean, how do they explain that?
>> So, he never actually disputes that he hit her with the same rock. Let's take a
listen. >> Why did you hit her? Why did you react that way? >> Um just on instinct to defend myself.
>> Okay. How fast is this all happening? >> Pretty fast. >> Real fast. >> Okay. >> Gerhardt, who initially was
pretty composed and stone-faced during the trial, now started to break down. He gets very
emotional on the stand, um especially at the suggestion that he tried to kill himself. Gerhardt said he was horrified
that he had hurt his wife, obviously admitted to doing that, and that he felt hopeless. And again, he denied ever
trying to kill her, but he did admit to hurting her. >> The jury came back a day after the
closing arguments with their verdict. >> Yeah, and it was not for the stiffest charge, which was attempted
second-degree murder, but he was convicted of a lesser charge of attempted manslaughter based on extreme
or emotional disturbance. Um so, the jury felt like something had happened. The degree to which he had
planned it was unclear, but it seems clear, according to the jury, that he tried to hurt her and had
some intent to do so. >> Well, this was not the only married couple on vacation getting loads of
attention this past week. When we come back, a mystery out of the Bahamas. Welcome back. All right, Matt Gutman
joining us. You know, as I told you Matt, 48 hours we have covered so many cases of someone falling or being pushed
off a cliff, as you recall. >> Kind of shocking how many there are, Natalie. >> Yeah, well, I can I could read you a
list of them. I mean, there was a case back in 2015, we called it the Accidental Husband, where Harold
Henthorn, he claimed his first wife died in a car accident. His second wife then,
Tony, he claimed slipped off a cliff while hiking with him in Rocky Mountain National Park. Juries convicted him of
pushing her in the end in that case. There was also another case that Peter Van Sant looked into, the death of
Rhonda Casto. She fell about 150 feet to her death at Eagle Creek during a hike with her boyfriend, Steven Nichols.
Nichols claimed it was all an accident, but he later pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide. In 2013,
there was another case where Leslie Muller, she was a successful doctor. She slipped and fell while she was posing
for a photo. The question was, was it her husband who pushed her? He was actually tried twice in Colorado, but
the jury there both times failed to reach a verdict, so prosecutors dismissed that case in 2013 and they
canceled a third trial. But, this gives you just an idea. I mean, it goes on and
on in our archives. There are a lot of cases that we've covered like this. >> It's interesting because you think it's
it's so strange. Why are there that many people who were pushed off cliffs? And,
you know, how can that be? But, I suppose in the era of surveillance and CCTV cameras and people's video cameras,
perhaps if you intend to commit a crime like this, cliff sides, the water, boats where there aren't many witnesses
and aren't video cameras to capture you doing something possibly very sinister, it seems like the perfect venue for a
crime of this sort. >> Right, correct. And and you know, I don't know if you saw the New York Times
piece that was in the paper the other day that it was titled if he leaves you on a mountain end your relationship.
The so-called Alpine divorce, you know, certainly not the same thing pushing somebody off the cliff that these women
are talking about being abandoned though in in tough terrain, their partners leaving them behind going off on their
own. The onion also mentioned remote hiking trails, but water and watercraft also is
something to be thinking about. >> Yeah, years ago I covered the disappearance pretty extensively of
Robin Gardner and she was visiting Aruba with her call call him boyfriend at the time,
Gary Giordano, who had just before they left taken a million-dollar insurance policy out on her life. They went
swimming one day and he claimed, "Well, the the current came in, there were these waves. I saw her swept away and
she was never seen again." And literally, they have not found a trace of her and Giordano always insisted he
had nothing to do with it. He was arrested, he was detained, they had questioned him for weeks and weeks and
weeks. Eventually, they released him and he has never been charged with a crime either.
So, obviously, there there is a certain trend here that we're seeing. >> Yeah, if you think back to the case that
we've been talking about in the Bahamas. >> Yeah, I I thought that that's where this
was leading. Yeah, that's a that's an interesting case. >> A Michigan couple, they're the Hookers.
They're experienced sailors, they're out at sea on their dinghy when the husband says that his wife Linette
went apparently overboard and she happened to have the lanyard with the key of the dinghy in the boat on her
neck. And she goes missing. >> You know, they've been traveling on and off for years and they documented their
their sailing together on Instagram and other social media. So they were kind of
known. They weren't like big influencers, but you know, there were reports that this marriage wasn't great
despite what Instagram seemed to show. They'd up temporarily in 2024. And at one point
Linette apparently texted a friend that you know, it was real bad. I can't be out there with him. But they did end up
reconciling. >> And Linette's daughter apparently said that this is not the picture-perfect
couple and there was fighting, there was drinking. In fact, there had even been allegations in the past of domestic
violence. So, you know, this was a couple that had their battles. >> And we want to be clear Natalie that
unlike Gerhard Koning, nobody has been charged in the case of Linette Hooker. Brian was detained, but he has been
released and he has not been formally charged with anything. He did speak to CBS News just after his
release and he said that he still has hope that somewhere out there that maybe Linette is still alive.
>> You want to keep looking for Linette? >> I'm going to need somebody with more
authority to tell me to stop. >> When our correspondent asked him so what happened on the boat? Hooker's
lawyer ended the interview. >> Yeah, well, Brian Hooker is free, but local police say he does remain a
suspect, that he can still be charged if the evidence warrants and we'll of course continue to watch the
developments in that case. >> And Natalie, there's another story that we should mention and that one involves
influencer Ashley Robinson. She's known as Ashley Genelle on social media. And And this happened in Zanzibar off the
east coast of Africa. There she mysteriously died on a trip with her boyfriend while celebrating her
31st birthday. And we were told that on this trip her boyfriend even proposed to her.
>> I've been just following that this story as well. I know that he's being questioned right now by authorities as
of this recording. They're holding his passport until autopsy reports are complete, but it's still very much a
mysterious case and not a lot of details. >> Now her family and and CBS has been
talking to them are obviously deeply disturbed, deeply concerned. They found out that Ashley was in the
hospital from the fiance. Okay, that seems normal, but then communication ceased and they only learned that she
died from the hotel. Authorities had told the media that Ashley's fiance initially was not
suspected of any wrongdoing, but we're going to stay on this story. We're going to keep talking to Ashley's family and
obviously update as needed if there are any developments in this story. >> Yeah, to be continued on that one. Well,
very very interesting first episode of Case by Case. Thank you Matt Gutman for joining us. Appreciate you always and
and your insights. >> And I was so happy to be with you Natalie. Congratulations.
>> Thank you Matt. Now, we will be back next week with another episode of Case by Case. Be sure to rate and review and
let us know which cases you are following. To catch up on our investigations into
hiking and vacation deaths, join us on our YouTube channel at 48 Hours.

Why are so many dream vacations turning into true crime headlines? On the premiere episode of "Case by Case," we examine the trial of Gerhardt Konig, the former anesthesiologist found guilty of attempted manslaughter after a brutal cliffside attack on his wife Arielle in Hawaii.

"48 Hours" correspondent Natalie Morales and CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman break down the trial’s most stunning moments before diving into the chilling trend of headlines about vacations that turned deadly. From the ridges of Oahu to the waters of the Bahamas, we’ll follow it all, "Case by Case."

The cases everyone's talking about, explained as they happen. "Case by Case" is a weekly update on the biggest criminal stories unfolding now. New episodes every Friday, available wherever you watch or listen to podcasts. You can also get ad-free access to 48 Hours podcasts by subscribing to 48 Hours+ at 48HoursPodcasts.com.

True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

Ariel Koenig testifies against her husband for attempted murder during a hike, while two other vacation-related cases are discussed.

Key points

Ariel's Testimony. Ariel Koenig recounts a harrowing attack by her husband on a cliff.
The Disturbing Trend. Recent cases of husbands attacking wives on vacation raise alarming questions.
Eyewitness Accounts. Two women witness the attack and call for help, potentially saving Ariel's life.
Gerhart's Defense. Gerhart claims self-defense in a shocking courtroom testimony.
The Verdict. Gerhart is convicted of attempted manslaughter, not murder.
First Episode of Case by Case. A very interesting start to the series with insights from Matt Gutman.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

You have to stop. You'll go to jail and I'll be dead.

Ariel's chilling warning to Gerhart.

0:52WatchApr 17, 2026

Tension

80/ 100High tension

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