Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson, a 52-year-old Circuit Court judge in Hagerstown, Maryland, was found in the driveway of his home on the evening of October 19, 2023 with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Meritus Medical Center and died of his injuries. His wife and son were inside the house at the time and were not harmed. Authorities characterized the attack as a targeted killing.

Investigators quickly focused on 49-year-old Pedro Argote, who had been subject to a recent custody ruling by Judge Wilkinson. On the same day as the murder the judge granted sole custody of Argote’s four children to his estranged wife, ordered no contact between Argote and the children, and required child support; law enforcement identified that ruling as the motive. Argote’s silver Mercedes SUV was found abandoned in woods near Williamsport, and a multiagency manhunt ensued.

The search ended when Argote was found dead in a heavily wooded area about a mile from where his vehicle had been located; his remains were sent for autopsy to determine cause and manner of death. Did anyone in the area see Argote’s vehicle or notice unusual activity around October 19?