On Thursday, authorities reportedly discovered the body of a man who allegedly killed a Maryland judge who awarded child custody to his estranged wife.
According to the Herald-Mail, Pedro Argote, 49, was found deceased in a wooded area near Williamsport, about a mile from where his car was located on Saturday. Last Thursday, Argote reportedly gunned down Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, 52, while he was on the driveway of his Hagerstown home.
The shooting occurred hours after Wilkinson gave custody of Argote’s four children to his wife and barred him from having contact with them. Wilkinson also ordered the children’s mother to have sole use and possession of the property, which Argote was also prohibited from entering. Argote, who did not attend that hearing, was ordered to pay $1,120 a month for their four children.
The Herald-Mail reported that Argote legally owned a handgun, though sheriff Brian Albert said police responded to the home at least twice for a “verbal domestic assault.” Argote had no known criminal history.
Additional details regarding Argote’s death have not been disclosed. A press conference is scheduled for today.
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[Featured image: Pedro Argote/Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Andrew Wilkinson/Washington County Bar Association]
