For information that results in the capture of a man accused of killing a Maryland judge in a “targeted attack” outside his home, a $10,000 reward is now being offered.
Pedro Argote, 49, is wanted in connection with the murder of Andrew Wilkinson, a judge for the Washington County Circuit Court, and the U.S. Marshals Service announced Friday that it is asking the public for assistance in locating him. Official reports state that the incident took place hours after the Argote’s estranged wife was granted custody of their four young children by the judge.
According to a news release from the Marshals Service, Argote has connections to a number of places outside of Maryland, including Brooklyn and Long Island in New York, Columbus in Indiana, and Tampa and Clearwater in Florida. Additionally, he is connected to unidentified places in North Carolina.
Argote should be regarded as hazardous and armed. Authorities speculated that he might be using a silver 2009 Mercedes GL 450.
Wilkinson presided over Argote’s divorce proceeding, which was initiated in June 2022. He had presided over a hearing in the matter on Thursday morning, hours earlier the shooting, and granted Argote’s spouse an unreserved divorce from him as well as exclusive legal custody of their four kids, who are aged 12, 11, 5, and 3.
Argote stayed away from the hearing.
The court statement stated that the judge forbade Argote from speaking to or seeing the wife unless she first made contact with him in order to use a 2009 Mercedes for necessary errands like shopping and doctor’s visits. In addition, Argote was forced to refrain from going inside the household and pay $1,120 in child support each month.
The ruling cited “cruel treatment” and “irreconcilable differences” as the reasons for the choice. Brian K. Albert, sheriff of Washington County, stated on Friday that the shooting was a reaction to the judge’s custody ruling.
The wife claimed that one of their girls had been physically abused in a petition for domestic violence filed in June 2022.
She expressed concern that he might try to snatch the kids away from her and that she felt unsafe since he would always carry a firearm.
She further claimed that he was controlling her emotionally and financially, observing her through the security cameras in the house, and harassing her via emails and SMS. Less than two weeks after she submitted the petition, it was dismissed.
In a statement on Saturday, attorney Michael Gast, who for a brief period of time represented Argote in the case, stated that he encouraged the wife’s attorney to reject the petition because Gast thought there wasn’t enough support for it. He didn’t go into more detail.
After around three months of representing Argote, Gast stepped down. He described his former client as a “very quiet guy” and expressed surprise at the alleged crime.