A father accused of fatally shooting the Maryland judge who granted his wife’s divorce last week has been found dead.
Pedro Argote went on the run after Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was shot in front of his family in the driveway of his Hagerstown on Oct. 19.
The judge had banned Argote, 49, from seeing his family and ordered him to pay $1,120 a month in child support after hearing about a “shocking” litany of abuse by the father of five.
His Mercedes SUV was found abandoned in a wooded area south of Hagerstown on Saturday.
His body was found today a mile away from the car, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
The body of 49-year-old Pedro Argote was found this morning, a week after he was named by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as a suspect in the murder of Judge Andrew Wilkinson.
Maryland Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, was killed in his driveway in front of his family
Wilkinson has served as a Washington County District Court judge since 2020. He was pictured with his wife Stephanie during his swearing-in on January 10, 2020.
“The decedent was located in a heavily wooded area between Clear Spring Road and Bottom Road, approximately one mile northwest of where the suspect vehicle was found,” the office added in a statement.
“The deceased individual has been positively identified as Pedro Argote, the suspect wanted for the murder of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.”
News of his death came just hours after the court released recordings of testimony given by Argote’s family hours before he disappeared.
His adult daughter said he locked her in her bedroom for most of her teenage years and would beat her with “anything he had around”, Washington County Court heard.
The father of four installed cameras in their Frederick home and watched “my every move,” she said, while his wife Eugenia said he would stuff a towel in their crying baby’s mouth.
The daughter said she cut off contact with her father after leaving home at the age of 18 to escape his abuse.
“The reason I gathered the courage to testify was so that my siblings would not have to endure the mental anguish that I am currently experiencing,” she told the court.
At an earlier hearing in March, Judge Wilkinson said he had “an uneasy feeling that Dad has absolute control over Mom, their finances and their lives.”
On the day of his death, he said the family dynamics had become “crystal clear” and denied Argote visitation rights to his four younger children, ages 12, 11, 5 and 3.
“The way Mr. Argote has isolated these children and mother for the past two years, I believe, has continued throughout the marriage, and it is shocking,” the judge said.
“I think he’s abusive in more ways than one.”
In his judgment on Thursday, Wilkinson ruled that Argote’s wife would have ‘the sole use and possession of the family home’ and that he should not enter the property.
But Argote was not in court to hear the damning verdict after calling to say he had a ‘headache’.
“I’m not sure I find that credible,” Wilkinson said, explaining his decision to continue.
Eugenia’s lawyer Erika Garrott Johnson told the court he was scared to hear his family’s evidence, “and because he knows the writing is on the wall.”
Attorney Ashley Wilburn, who represents the children, said she was concerned for their safety, “especially in light of Mr. Argote’s failure to show up today.”
But it was Judge Wilkinson whose life was in danger when he returned to his home in Hagerston that evening.
His wife Stephanie was home with their son at 8 p.m. when the judge was shot in the driveway and succumbed to his wounds moments later in hospital.
Tributes have been paid to the popular judge who volunteered as a Little League baseball and youth football coach while being active in his local church.
U.S. Senator Ben Cardin offered his “condolences to the family, friends and all involved in his public service.”
“No one should have to endure the pain of having a loved one taken away in such a way,” he continued in a statement.
“There is no excuse for this kind of violence, especially against an officer of the court. The rule of law is what makes our society function. It may not be perfect, but individuals like Judge Wilkinson have worked every day to make it better and more just.
“His passion was clearly for serving the local community and therefore Judge Wilkinson will be sorely missed.”
Maryland Congressman David Trone said he was “shocked and heartbroken” by the killing, adding, “This violence is horrific to see in our community.
“Our thoughts are with his family during this unimaginable tragedy and with the police investigating this crime.”