Pedro Argote found dead after manhunt in Maryland judge’s murder

The suspect accused of killing Maryland judge Andrew Wilkinson as revenge for rulings in his divorce proceeding has been found dead.

Pedro Argote, 49, allegedly gunned down the 52-year-old judge in the driveway of his home in Hagerstown on 19 October and an intensive manhunt was launched by authorities to track him down.

Argote’s body was found in a heavily wooded area in Williamsport, Maryland, on Thursday, around one mile from where his car was discovered last week, according to officials.

“On October 26, 2023, at approximately 11.00am, during an expanded evidentiary search in the Williamsport, MD area, a deceased person was located. The deceased individual has been positively identified as Pedro Argote, the suspect wanted for the murder of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

No cause of death has been made public by law enforcement.

Sheriff Brian Albert has said that Wilkinson had been presiding over Argote’s divorce from his wife, and earlier on the day of the fatal shooting had granted her custody of the couple’s children.

Court documents also state that the judge had ordered Argote to pay child support, banned him from visiting or contacting his wife or children unless she initiated it, and gave her possession of the family home, ABC News reported.

The couple had four children aged between three and 12 and the divorce was filed in June 2022.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore had denounced the killing of Wilkinson as “cold-blooded” and “vicious.”

“My heart goes out to Judge Wilkinson’s family, and my prayers are with everyone who knew him, loved him, and served alongside him,” Gov Moore said in a statement at the time.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says that there will be a news conference at 3pm ET.