This week, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced that Pedro Argote, the man accused of murdering Judge Andrew Wilkinson, had been found dead in a heavily wooded area near Williamsport. The judge had been shot in the driveway of his home after presiding over a child custody dispute between Argote and his estranged wife just days before.
The man who allegedly targeted and gunned down the Maryland judge who oversaw his divorce proceedings has been found dead following a one-week manhunt, authorities said.
Pedro Argote, 49, allegedly killed Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, in the… pic.twitter.com/u8JO7oQm9t
— Isabel Santos ???????????????????????? (@Busyisaworkshop) October 27, 2023
Judge Wilkinson had given his estranged wife custody of their four children during a hearing in which Argote was not present on the day he was shot. He also ordered Argote to pay $1,120 monthly in child support and banned him from entering the family’s home in Hagerstown. This ruling may have set off Argote as it came shortly after court records showed that his wife filed a domestic violence petition against him in June 2022, alleging emotional and physical abuse, which resulted in dismissal less than two weeks later.
A man suspected of killing a #Maryland judge last week was found dead Thursday, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities believe #PedroArgote, 49, was angry about losing custody of his children when he shot and killed the judge who presided over his… pic.twitter.com/KNlLYuXPs2
— @BeeNewsDailyB (@BeenewsdailyB) October 26, 2023
At 11 a.m. Thursday, a search in Williamsport led to the discovery of a deceased person who was positively identified as Argote, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
“We’re pretty sure that, you know, obviously we got our guy,” Sheriff Brian Albert said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
“The Washington County community can breathe a little easier this afternoon,” he added.
Pedro Argote could not continue abusing his wife, so he killed the judge presiding over his divorce instead.
When will it end?
Judge Andrew Wilkinson saved a mother and her four children. They would have been next. He was a HERO! ????#DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth pic.twitter.com/aPdLuxfsfu
— Rose (@901Lulu) October 21, 2023
The U.S. Marshals Service had offered up to $10,000 for information leading to Argote’s arrest, but instead, police found him dead with no cause or time of death identified yet. Despite this tragedy, Sheriff Brian Albert said, “the Washington County community can breathe a little easier this afternoon” as they were able to locate the suspect who took away Judge Wilkinson’s life far too soon.
Leave a Comment