Maryland man suspected of killing judge found dead, authorities say; cause of death unknown

The man wanted in last week’s fatal shooting of Washington County Circuit Judge Andrew Wilkinson has been found dead, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.

Authorities had been searching in the Williamsport area for 49-year-old Pedro Argote, who failed to appear at a Oct. 19 divorce hearing before Wilkinson and was accused of killing the judge in a “targeted attack” that evening.

The sheriff’s office said that a body later identified as Argote was found in a heavily wooded area between Clear Spring Road and Bottom Road about 1 mile from where his vehicle had previously been located.

Sheriff Brian Albert said in a news conference Thursday afternoon that Argote’s remains will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy. Albert said the sheriff’s office cannot answer questions surrounding Argote’s cause or time of death until the autopsy is complete.

“It brings a little bit of closure to [Wilkinson’s family], but it’s still a tragedy,” Albert said.

“The Maryland Judiciary appreciates the combined efforts of the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who have been working tirelessly to protect Judiciary personnel and to bring a conclusion to the search for the suspect in the shooting of Judge Andrew Wilkinson,” the Maryland Judiciary said in a statement. “We continue to grieve the loss of our colleague and friend while supporting the Wilkinson family, the judges and staff of the Circuit Court for Washington County, and the entire Hagerstown and broader Washington County community.”

Wilkinson, 52, granted Argote’s wife a divorce and full custody of the couple’s four children in an order issued last Thursday. Argote was also barred from the family’s home and ordered to pay $1,120 in child support per month.

Maryland judge killed: Everything you need to know

The next day, law enforcement officials said they were seeking Argote in Wilkinson’s death.

Sheriff’s deputies responded at about 8 p.m. Oct. 19 to the 19100 block of Olde Waterford Road and found the judge in his driveway with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Wilkinson was transported to Meritus Medical Center but did not survive his injuries, the office said. His wife and son were home at the time of the shooting, the sheriff said Friday.

Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the search for Argote, who had ties in several states. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday reporting finding Argote’s vehicle, a silver Mercedes, in a wooded area in Williamsport, near the border with West Virginia.

Available court records portray Argote as controlling and abusive. In a petition for a domestic abuse protection order filed in 2022, Argote’s wife wrote that her husband had total control of her finances and made it impossible for her to leave the couple’s home in Hagerstown because he kept the keys to their car in his possession at all times.

Argote’s wife also had to intervene when he tried to become violent with one of their daughters, she wrote in the petition. A temporary protective order was issued, but Argote’s wife dropped it when the couple reached an agreement to live on different floors of their house.

Argote filed for divorce in June 2022, though he seemed to believe he and his wife would be continue living together while they saved money to separate.

Wilkinson heard testimony about Argote’s abusive behavior at a two-part divorce hearing that began last month. The second portion of the hearing, after which Wilkinson granted Argote’s wife a divorce and custody of their children, took place on Oct. 19, the day Wilkinson was shot.

Wilkinson heard testimony from Argote’s adult daughter from a previous relationship, who said she spent most of her teenage years confined to her bedroom. She said Argote had cameras installed throughout the house and was “watching my every move.”

He would also beat her with a belt or “whatever he had close by,” the daughter said. She said she left home at 18 to escape Argote and had not been in contact with him since.

Argote’s wife also testified, describing how her husband left her powerless and mistreated their children, ages 12, 11, 5 and 3.

Wilkinson granted Argote’s wife sole custody of the couple’s children.

“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.”

Argote did not appear at the hearing last week, claiming to have a headache. Wilkinson proceeded without Argote at the urging of lawyers for Argote’s wife and the couple’s children.

He testified at the earlier hearing, in September, about the couple’s finances and repeatedly questioned whether his children were receiving adequate homeschooling instruction from their mother. Argote at times expressed frustration, but his voice remained calm during his testimony and he often addressed the judge respectfully as “your honor.”

The hearing did not give any clue that Argote might pose a danger to Wilkinson.

Wilkinson became a Washington County Circuit judge in January 2020, following an appointment from then-Gov. Larry Hogan. Wilkinson worked briefly as a solo practitioner before he joined the bench, and from 2012 until 2018 he worked at Divelbiss & Wilkinson, where he specialized in land use.

He had also served as an assistant county attorney in Washington County for six years. People who knew Wilkinson described him as a community pillar who coached youth soccer and baseball and was active in his church and local organizations.

In a statement issued Wednesday through the state judiciary, Wilkinson’s wife, Stephanie Wilkinson, said the family was “touched by the overwhelming response from family, friends, co-workers, local and state politicians, and Governor (Wes) Moore. We are grateful for their prayers, thoughts, and love during this tragic time.

“This is such an unexpected loss to us, and words do not exist to describe the amazing person Drew was,” Stephanie Wilkinson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.