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.
What we know about Pedro Argote
- He is allegedly 5 foot 7 inches tall, 130 lbs, with black hair and brown eyes.
- Police believe he could be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450, with the Maryland registration plate of 4EH0408.
- Officials described him as “armed and dangerous”.
- The suspect had a history of controlling and cruel behaviour towards his ex-wife, according to court documents.
- The couple also had a long history of domestic incidents and in 2012, his ex-wife claimed, adding that she had tried to get help from a domestic violence advocacy center.
- He is still at large, as of Monday afternoon.
ICYMI: “A targeted attack”
The sheriff said that earlier in the day, Mr Wilkinson gave custody of Mr Argote’s children to his ex-partner, alluding that this may be why the judge was targeted.
However, the sheriff also said that Mr Argote was not in attendance at the court hearing.
Officials said they believe “this was a targeted attack of Judge Wilkinson.”
A manhunt for Mr Argote continues, as of Tuesday afternoon.
A rise in attacks on judges
According to the AP, “Judges across the U.S. have been the target of threats and occasional violence in recent years. President Joe Biden last year signed a bill to give around-the-clock security protection to the families of Supreme Court justices after the leak of a draft court opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision, which prompted protests outside the homes of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices.”
The National Center for State Courts reported that this incident marks the third targeted shooting of a state judge in the last three years.
Mr Argote is still at large
After the shooting that left Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson dead in his driveway on Thursday, a search for the suspect Pedro Argote continues days later.
Anyone with information on the location of Pedro Argote is urged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 240-313-2170 or the US Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2. The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that could lead to the 49-year-old father-of-four’s arrest.
Argote Children Support Fund
A GoFundMe page was created for Pedro Argote’s ex-wife and four children. It reads:
On October 19, 2023, Pedro Argote took the life of Judge Andrew Wilkinson after Judge Wilkson ordered there to be no contact between Argote and Ms. Argote and their 4 children due years of extreme abuse. Argote currently remains on the loose and Ms. Argote and her 4 children (12, 10, 5, 3) are displaced from their home until he is captured. They are unable to make or go out for meals, get clothing (they left the home with nothing) or attend to their needs.
The fund has already raised over $4,000.
ICYMI: A manhunt continues after a respected judge was found dead
County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was found dead in the driveway of his home, said police, adding that the killing was a “targeted attack”.
He was discovered at around 8pm Thursday in Hagerstown, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
Investigators named Pedro Argote, 49, as a suspect in the killing, with court records showing he had his divorce court case presided over Mr Wilkinson the same day.
Where is Pedro Argote?
The short answer is: no one seems to know.
He could be heading out of state, officials previously said. The US Marshals Service added that he has ties to New York, Indiana, Florida, and North Carolina.
The US Marshals Service is now offering a reward of $10,000 for any information that could lead to the arrest of Mr Argote while Washington County Sheriff’s Office has said it has concluded its search operations around Williamsport.
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate leads and gather information about the shooting, while authorities warn that Mr Argote should be considered armed and dangerous.
An ominous filing
After the temporary restraining order against Pedro Argote was lifted — at Eugenia Argote’s request — Judge Andrew Wilkinson wrote: “The case left the judge with “the uneasy sense that Father engages in absolute control over Mother, their finances, and their lives.”
“This is not in the best interest of their children,” he added.
One year later, he was found dead with a gunshot wound. Mr Argote is still at large.
WATCH: The manhunt continues for the father-of-four
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