In the quiet community of Hagerstown, Maryland, the life of 52-year-old Circuit Court Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson, a White male, was abruptly and violently cut short on the evening of October 19, 2023. He was discovered in the driveway of his home with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to Meritus Medical Center, he succumbed to his injuries. The judge's wife and son were inside the house at the time of the shooting but were unharmed.
The attack was quickly deemed a targeted killing by authorities.
The investigation almost immediately focused on Pedro Argote, a 49-year-old man who had been involved in a contentious divorce proceeding presided over by Judge Wilkinson. On the very day of the murder, Judge Wilkinson had made a crucial ruling in the case, granting sole custody of Argote's four children to his estranged wife. Argote, who was not present for the hearing, was also ordered to have no contact with his children and to pay child support. This ruling was identified by law enforcement as the motive for the fatal shooting. Argote had a history of domestic disputes, with police having been called to his residence for verbal domestic assaults on two prior occasions.
A massive manhunt was launched for Argote, who was considered armed and dangerous. Law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Argote's silver Mercedes SUV was discovered abandoned in a wooded area near Williamsport, Maryland, a few days after the murder. The search for Argote spanned several states where he was known to have ties.
The week-long search for the suspect came to a somber end on October 26, 2023, when Pedro Argote was found dead in a heavily wooded area about a mile from where his vehicle had been located. His remains were sent to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death. The discovery of Argote's body brought a close to the intense manhunt, though it did little to diminish the shock and grief that resonated through the community and the legal profession over the tragic loss of Judge Wilkinson.
