The suspect accused of killing Maryland decide Andrew Wilkinson as revenge for rulings in his divorce continuing has been discovered useless.
Pedro Argote, 49, allegedly gunned down the 52-year-old decide within the driveway of his residence in Hagerstown on 19 October and an intensive manhunt was launched by authorities to trace him down.
Argote’s physique was present in a closely wooded space in Williamsport, Maryland, on Thursday, round one mile from the place his automotive was found final week, in response to officers.
“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 stated in a press release.
No reason for demise has been made public by regulation enforcement.
Sheriff Brian Albert has stated that Wilkinson had been presiding over Argote’s divorce from his spouse, and earlier on the day of the deadly capturing had granted her custody of the couple’s youngsters.
Court paperwork additionally state that the decide had ordered Argote to pay youngster assist, banned him from visiting or contacting his spouse or youngsters except she initiated it, and gave her possession of the household residence, ABC News reported.
The couple had 4 youngsters 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 stated in a press release on the time.
“Washington County community can breathe a little easier this afternoon,” stated Sheriff Brian Albert at a Thursday afternoon press convention as he instructed reporters that Argote’s physique will endure an post-mortem to seek out out the reason for his demise.
“It’s a relief but it is still a tragedy we are dealing with. It brings a little bit of closure to them but it is still a tragedy they lost a husband, father and brother,” stated the sheriff. And he added: “Everyone should sleep a little bit better tonight.”
The sheriff stated that it was an ongoing investigation however added, “We are pretty sure we got our guy.”
And he acknowledged that there was no prior menace made in opposition to the decide and that “added security” had been put in locally to guard judges though he declined to characterise what that was.
“The family was relieved that we brought this to a little bit of closure,” he stated when requested how that they had reacted to information of Argote’s demise.
Source: www.the-independent.com