Suspect in Maryland judge killing found dead after weeklong manhunt: Updates
Judge Andrew Wilkinson made a key ruling in suspect Pedro Argote’s divorce hearing just hours before he was shot dead in his driveway in Hagerstown, Maryland
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Authorities in Maryland have found the body of a man suspected of killing a judge who revoked custody of his children.
Judge Andrew Wilkinson was found dead from gunshot wounds in the driveway of his home in Hagerstown, Maryland, on 19 October.
Law enforcement including US Marshals launched a massive manhunt for 49-year-old Pedro Argote after accusing him of targeting the judge in anger over a court ruling. The Marshals had offered a reward of $10,000 for any information that led to his arrest.
Officials announced on Thursday that Argote had been found deceased during a search in a heavily wooded area in Williamsport, just a mile from the place where his car was found last week.
A cause of death has not been provided.
Hours before Argote is believed to have shot Wilkinson, the judge granted custody of Mr Argote’s four children to his ex-wife, Eugeina Argote, in a divorce hearing after hearing “shocking” testimony from his adult daughter from a separate relationship.
Court records show he has a history of verbal domestic assaults against his wife and family.
Sheriff says community can ‘breathe a little easier’
“Washington County community can breathe a little easier this afternoon,” said Sheriff Brian Albert at a Thursday afternoon press conference.
Argote’s body will undergo an autopsy to find out the cause of his death.
“It’s a relief but it is still a tragedy we are dealing with. It brings a little bit of closure to them but it is still a tragedy they lost a husband, father and brother,” said the sheriff. And he added: “Everyone should sleep a little bit better tonight.”
The sheriff said that it was an ongoing investigation but added, “We are pretty sure we got our guy.”
And he stated that there was no prior threat made against the judge and that “added security” had been installed in the community to protect judges although he declined to characterise what that was.
“The family was relieved that we brought this to a little bit of closure,” he said when asked how they had reacted to news of Argote’s death.
Slain judge’s family is relieved, authorities say
A manner of death for Argote will not be released until an autopsy is completed, police officials said during a press conference on Thursday.
Police said that Judge Wilkinson’s family have been notified and were relieved after learning that Argote was no longer a threat to them or the public.
Suspect in killing of judge who presided over divorce case found dead in rural Maryland
Authorities believe Pedro Argote, 49, was angry about losing custody of his children when he shot and killed the judge who presided over his divorce case.
The 19 October attack unfolded outside the home of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.
Law enforcement launched a search for Argote immediately after the shooting. They discovered his Mercedes SUV in a wooded area in Williamsport, about 8 miles southwest of Hagerstown, where the judge was shot.
Authorities searched the area where the vehicle was found but concluded Argote wasn’t there. But officials said this morning they had returned to the area to conduct “additional evidentiary searches.”
Argote’s body was found in a heavily wooded area about a mile from the SUV, officials said. They did not release a suspected cause of death.
Authorities brief community on latest developments in investigation of Judge Wilkinson’s murder
Pedro Argote was found deceased this morning by Maryland State Police along with other agencies, Washington County Sheriff Bryan Albert.
The body was found in a heavily wooded area between Clearspring Road and Bottom Road, approximately one mile from the site where his vehicle was found last week.
The remains have been transported to the office of the medical examiner, where Argote’s cause and manner of death, as well as his time of death, will be determined.
“I’d like to thank my personnel for their tireless work and dedication during this investigation. Most of us have not slept a good night’s sleep since last Thursday,” Sheriff Albert said, also thanking several other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
The sheriff said that many members of his department were at Judge Wilkinson’s viewing when they received the news of Argote’s body being found.
“They were very appreciative. They’re relieved to have some closure but it’s still a tragedy,” the sheriff said. “They lost a husband, a father and a brother.”
Sheriff Albert said that authorities are searching the area where the body was found, but declined to say whether a weapon was found near Argote’s remains.
Body of suspect accused of killing Maryland judge found in woods
The suspect accused of killing Maryland judge Andrew Wilkinson as revenge for rulings in his divorce proceeding has been found dead.
Pedro Argote, 49, allegedly gunned down the 52-year-old judge in the driveway of his home in Hagerstown on 19 October and an intensive manhunt was launched by authorities to track him down
Read more:
Suspect accused of killing Maryland judge is found dead in woods
Pedro Argote, 49, allegedly gunned down Andrew Wilinson in the driveway of his home on 19 October
Maryland judge heard 'shocking' evidence in divorce case hours before his killing, tapes show
An audio recording of the hearing didn’t capture any obvious warning signs that Pedro Argote posed a danger to anyone outside his family, but it does provide new insight into the abuse allegations he was facing.
His adult daughter from a previous relationship said she spent most of her teenage years confined to her bedroom.
She said Argote had cameras installed throughout the house and was “watching my every move.” During emotional testimony, she said he would beat her with a belt and other objects — “whatever he had close by.”
“The reason I worked up the courage to testify was so that my siblings wouldn’t have to go through the mental torment that I currently have,” she told the court, explaining that she left home at 18 to escape the abuse and hadn’t had contact with her father since.
Wilkinson concluded that Argote wasn’t fit to have custody of his four younger children, ages 12, 11, 5 and 3.
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