Who is Eugenia Argote? Meet The Wife Of Pedro Argote, Suspect In Judge Andrew Wilkinsons Murder

Publish date: 2024-05-14

A suspect in the shooting death of Maryland judge Andrew Wilkinson has been linked to Eugenia Argote, who used to be married to Pedro Argote.

She lives in Hagerstown and is 44 years old.

A LinkedIn profile linked to her name says that she works as an account manager at One Squared in Hagerstown, Maryland, USA.

A Facebook post by WC parents says that in July 2022, Argote’s wife Eugenia Argote looked for childcare for their four kids.

“Have a mom looking for help: 😃,” it read. “Hello, my name is Eugenia Argote. I lived in Hagerstown and I am looking for a part-time (Mon-Fri 1pm to 6pm) babysitter/nanny for my 4 kiddos (ages 11, 10, 4 and 2). I will be working from home and I need someone to keep and eye on them an entertain the two little ones.”

According to the Daily Record, Argote and his wife ran a digital advertising agency together but were experiencing “financial challenges,” court records show.

Eugenia Argote’s wife “filed for a domestic violence protection order against her husband in June 2022.”

In that petition, she said Argote “was leaving her without any financial resources and controlling her movements because he kept the car keys in his possession at all times.”

Eugenia and Pedro Argote divorce case

According to court records, Wilkinson presided over Argote’s divorce hearing earlier that same day of the shooting. During the hearing, Wilkinson said that the father cannot have any contact or visitation with his four children or wife.

Wilkinson told Argote that his wife would have “sole use and possession of the family home” and told him not to go there.

The judge also said that Argote had to pay $1,120 a month in child support for their four kids.

the judge also said that Argote had to let the woman use his 2009 Mercedes “upon reasonable request to attend to necessary shopping, medical or dental,” as reported by the newspaper.

Why Pedro Argote is Trending?

Pedro Argote, 49, is being sought after because he is suspected of shooting and killing 52-year-old Washington County Circuit Court Associate Judge Andrew Wilkinson in his driveway in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Thursday, October 19.

Pedro Argote is thought to have killed Judge Andrew Wilkinson, who had just been in charge of a hearing in Argote’s divorce case. A police report said that on Thursday night, officers found Wilkinson in his driveway with multiple gunshot wounds.

He may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with Maryland plates. pic.twitter.com/9QbO3QTVhQ

— Rose (@901Lulu) October 20, 2023

Wilkinson was rushed to Meritus Medical Centre, but he did not make it. The judge’s wife and son were at home at the time of the shooting, according to officials.

The police have named Pedro Argote as a person of interest in the case and say he may be driving a silver 2009 Mercedes GL450 with the Maryland licence plate 4EH0408. Anyone who knew where Argote was should not have talked to him but should have called the police.

Pedro Argote lost custody of his kids hours before killing pressing Judge Andrew Wilkinson

On Friday, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department told the press that Judge Andrew Wilkinson had been killed in a targeted attack.

Authorities say that just hours before the killing, Judge Wilkinson was in charge of a divorce and child custody hearing involving the suspect, Pedro Argote, 49. Argote lost custody of his three children.

Internet court records show that the suspect, Pedro Argote, started the divorce process in June 2022. Not long after the shooting, Ashley Wilburn, an attorney who is representing the children in the divorce case, sent an email to AP praising the late judge.

“Judge Wilkinson was an amazing man, father, husband and judge and I am blessed to have known and worked with him,” attorney Ashley Wilburn wrote in an email. “He is a hero.”

All about Judge Andrew Wilkinson

His court biography says that Judge Andrew Wilkinson was born in Agana, Guam, in 1971 and went to the University of North Carolina before going to Emory University to get his law degree. Since January 2020, he has been an associate judge for the Washington County Circuit Court.

Wilkinson worked as an Assistant Washington County Attorney from 2006 to 2012 before being hired by the Washington County Circuit Court. From 2014 to 2018, he was a Partner at Divelbiss & Wilkinson. From 2006 to 2019, he served on the Character Committee of the State Board of Law Examiners.

After the shooting that killed the man, Wilkinson’s coworkers praised his excellent behaviour in the legal field.

“Drew was an exceptional lawyer and a man who loved his family,” his former law partner Jason Divelbiss said in a written statement to CNN. “His wife and kids were always his highest priority and my thoughts go out to them at this horrible time.” 

As the community grappled with the loss of Judge Andrew Wilkinson, authorities declined to disclose further information, citing an active investigation.

Wilkinson was a private attorney before judge?

From January 2020 to the present, Wilkinson worked as an associate judge for the 4th Judicial Circuit Court.

He graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1997 as a lawyer. He had worked in all levels of Maryland courts, from district court to the Court of Appeals.

He had worked as a lawyer in civil litigation, real estate, zoning, and family law.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLTBmqqeZpOkunDDx6hkoqtdmsKosc2imGaZopy8tbGMppyerF2ptaZ51qKdnmWfm3qxscOrpmaZopy8tbGMrKysqJWYwW61zWahrpyXmnqiusOrnLBlp565rLXNrKanq12iwrOwxKtm