Maryland Judge Fatally Shot Outside Home
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A manhunt is under way to catch the “armed and dangerous” suspect wanted in connection to the murder of a Maryland judge.
Judge Andrew Wilkinson was found dead from gunshot wounds in the driveway of his home in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Thursday evening.
Law enforcement including US Marshals are now searching for Pedro Argote, 49, who is accused of targeting the judge in anger over a court ruling.
Hours before the shooting, 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.
Last weekend, police confirmed that Mr Argote’s vehicle had been found in a wooded area in Williamsport, Maryland.
Investigators have now warned he could be headed for New York, Florida, Indiana or North Carolina as he has ties to the various locations.
The US Marshals Service is now offering a reward of $10,000 for any information that could lead to his arrest. Nearly a week after the shooting, he is still at large.
Shocking testimony from Pedro Argote’s adult daughter
Judge Wilkinson reportedly gave Eugenia Argote full custody of the couple’s four younger children after hearing chilling testimony from Mr Argote’s adult daughter from a previous relationship.
The Associated Press obtained an audio recording of the testimony, in which the unnamed adult daughter said she spent most of her adolescence in her bedroom, as her father allegedly put cameras all over the house and was “watching my every move.”
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. She added that she fled from home at 18 to escape the abuse; she hasn’t been in contact with her father since.
Chilling words from Judge Wilkinson long before his tragic death
The AP revealed details from court documents from the Argotes’ divorce hearings. Judge Wilkinson, who presided over the case, gave full custody of their four young children to Pedro Arugote’s ex-wife, Eugenia, after hearing moving testimony from Mr Argote’s adult daughter from a separate relationship.
“The manner in which Mr. Argote has isolated these children and mom over the past two years, I think that has gone on throughout the marriage, and it’s shocking,” the judge said. “I think he is abusive in multiple ways.”
Mr Argote was not in court on Thursday; hours later, Judge Wilkinson ended up dead with gun shot wounds in his driveway.
“Armed and Dangerous”: The search for Mr Argote continues
Wanted sign for Pedro Argote
(US Marshals Service)
Chilling words from Eugenia Argote
USA Today obtained Ms Argote’s 2022 divorce petition, in which she claims that Pedro Argote, her then-husband, was emotionally abusive to her and that she was afraid to be near him.
“I have been trying to get out of this relationship for the longest time, but for the fear that he will try to get custody of the kids,” she wrote.
Her ex-husband had carried his firearm “at all times,” she continued. Mr Argote also didn’t allow her to use their car or have access to their shared finances.
“I can’t get out of the house without his knowledge,” she continued. “I don’t know what to do...Please I need help.”
The court granted her a temporary protective order against Mr Argote.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Judge Wilkinson’s death
I am shocked, heartbroken, and sickened by the killing of Judge Andrew Wilkinson. He was the victim of a cold-blooded, vicious, and targeted attack. My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinson’s family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him.
My team has been in close contact with the judiciary and with leadership in Hagerstown and Washington County, including local law enforcement and elected officials. Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to protect other judges, and I am receiving consistent updates from Superintendent of State Police Roland Butler.
The State of Maryland is supporting law enforcement in their investigation and local, state, and federal partners are actively engaged in the search for the suspect. Anyone with knowledge that could aid in the investigation is encouraged to contact authorities immediately.
Judge Wilkinson spent his career in defense of justice. We must now ensure that the perpetrator of this vile act faces justice and Judge Wilkinson’s family gets the support they need and deserve.
A history of alleged ‘cruelty of treatment’
Ms Argote had petitioned the court for a protective order, writing that her husband was extremely controlling. He kept her car keys at all times so he knew when she was leaving home and stole money from her, The Maryland Daily Record reported.
Ms Argote said her ex-husband harassed her via text messages and used security cameras to monitor her, NBC News reported. She also accused him of being violent with their 11-year-old child in 2020.
The Independent’s Ariana Baio has the full story...
Police in Maryland looking for Pedro Argote who is on the run, and considered armed and dangerous
The suspect’s out-of-state ties
Pedro Argote has connections outside of the state of Maryland, according to US Marshals Service, including Tampa and Clearwater in Florida, Columbus in Indiana and unknown cities in North Carolina.
The greater manhunt comes after the search for Mr Argote in the Williamsport, Maryland area concluded over the weekend.
The suspect’s car, a 2009 silver Mercedes SUV, was found over the weekend in a wooded area off Bottom Road in Williamsport – around eight miles from Hagerstown, where the shooting took place.
The sheriff’s office said in a press conference that they were yet to thoroughly search the car, but will be taking out the GPS and computer systems, as well as any other physical items, from the SUV.
Who was Judge Andrew Wilkinson?
Wilkinson was born in Agana, Guam in 1971. His family moved around a lot during his childhood as part of the military, but settled in Hagerstown when his mother was hired as a law clerk for Judge Frederick Wright III in 1983.
He received a bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of North Carolina before earning his law degree from the Emory University School of Law in 1997.
Wilkinson became a circuit law clerk in Washington County before being sworn in as an associate judge for the County Circuit Court in 2020.
The Independent’s Amelia Neath has the full story...
Andrew Wilkinson was found dead outside his home on Thursday. A manhunt is now underway for person of interest Pedro Argote, Amelia Neath writes
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.
