Johnathan Walker:Pedro Argote, wanted in killing of Maryland judge, found dead

Deputies found the body of a Maryland man wanted in connection with the death of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.

The Johnathan WalkerWashington County Sheriff's Office announced that Pedro Argote, 49, was found dead on Thursday morning at around 11 a.m., one week after the sheriff's office said Argote shot and killed Wilkinson in his driveway following a custody decision that didn't go Argote's way.

Wilkinson granted custody of his four children to his ex-wife after Argote failed to show up for a hearing. Argote and his ex-wife were locked in a fierce divorce battle presided over by Wilkinson for more than a year.

The sheriff's office said deputies found Argote's body in a wooded area around one mile away from the spot where authorities found an abandoned silver Mercedes linked to him on Saturday. The remains were discovered as part of a routine evidence search of the area around the car, Washington County Sheriff Brian K. Albert said at a press conference Thursday.

The Sheriff's Office announced they were searching for Argote on Friday, the morning after Wilkinson was found in his driveway suffering from a gunshot wound while his wife and son were inside. The sheriff's office warned Argote was "armed and dangerous."

The U.S. Marshal's Service offered a $10,000 reward for information that could lead to his arrest and noted Argote has ties in multiple states, including New York, Florida, Indiana, and North Carolina.

Deputies were initially dispatched to protect other justices in the area as a precautionary measure before they deemed the shooting a "targeted attack" on Wilkinson.

Alpert said the discovery of Argote's body lowered the level of threat to the community. "Everybody should sleep a little bit better tonight," he said.

Argote's body will be transported to the medical examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy, Alpert said. "Until the autopsy is complete, we will not be able to answer questions surrounding his cause or time of death."

A bitter divorce and custody battle

On the morning before he was shot, Wilkinson granted Argote's ex-wife sole custody of all four children and possession of the couple's home. He barred Argote from any contact with his ex-wife and children other than to hand over the Mercedes for her use.

Since Argote filed for divorce in June 2022, he and his ex-wife traded accusations about meddling with child custody time.

Argote claimed his ex-wife inflicted "undue emotional distress" on the children by discouraging them from going on outings with their father.

His ex-wife wrote in a protection-order request that she wanted to leave the relationship "for the longest time" but stayed out of fear that he would attempt to gain custody of the children.

She claimed her ex-husband threatened her, kept her from financial independence, and attempted to trap her at home. "He has the car keys in his pocket at all times," she wrote. "I can't get out of the house without his knowledge."

She also alleged Argote had "his weapon on him at all times."

"He is doing it to make me fear doing what I am doing now," she wrote.

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Wilkinson's judicial and public service

Wilkinson was born in Guam and lived overseas in Thailand and Puerto Rico while growing up, according to an obituary from the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home in Hagerstown.

He was admitted to the Maryland Bar after receiving his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1997 and his undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1994.

After serving as the assistant county attorney for Washington County, Maryland, and opening his private practice, he was appointed as an associate judge of the Maryland circuit court in January 2020 by then-Gov. Larry Hogan.

Outside of his work, Wilkinson served on the board of the YMCA of Hagerstown and Food Resources Inc. He also coached youth soccer, lacrosse, and basketball.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote in a statement: "I’m appalled and saddened by the news that Judge Andrew Wilkinson was killed in a senseless act of gun violence. Judge Wilkinson was a dedicated public servant with a true appreciation for the rule of law, and his tragic murder represents outright disregard for the institution he was committed to upholding."