Washington County Circuit Court Clerk Kevin Tucker (proper) swears in Andrew Wilkinson as a circuit court docket choose on Jan. 10, 2020, as Wilkinson’s spouse, Stephanie, watches.

Julie E. Greene/The Herald-Mail by way of AP, File

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Julie E. Greene/The Herald-Mail by way of AP, File

Washington County Circuit Court Clerk Kevin Tucker (proper) swears in Andrew Wilkinson as a circuit court docket choose on Jan. 10, 2020, as Wilkinson’s spouse, Stephanie, watches.

Julie E. Greene/The Herald-Mail by way of AP, File

A person suspected of killing the Maryland judge who dominated in opposition to him in a divorce case final week was discovered useless Thursday in a closely wooded space not removed from the place the capturing unfolded, ending a weeklong manhunt that rocked the largely rural group.

Authorities consider Pedro Argote, 49, was indignant about dropping custody of his kids when he shot and killed the choose. The Oct. 19 assault unfolded exterior the house of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson, who was shot in his driveway.

Hours earlier, Wilkinson had presided over a listening to wherein Argote’s spouse and daughter delivered emotional testimony in regards to the abuse he inflicted upon them for years. Argote failed to point out up for the listening to, which concluded with Wilkinson ruling in opposition to him and awarding his spouse sole custody of their 4 kids.

Law enforcement launched a seek for Argote virtually instantly after the capturing. They found his SUV in a wooded space in Williamsport, about 8 miles southwest of Hagerstown, the place the choose was shot.

Authorities searched the world the place the automobile was discovered and concluded Argote wasn’t there. But officers stated Thursday morning that they’d returned to the world to conduct “additional evidentiary searches.” They stated there was no security concern.

Argote’s physique was present in a closely wooded space a few mile from the SUV, in response to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. They didn’t launch a suspected reason behind dying.

The sheriff’s workplace stated there might be a information convention at 3 p.m. Thursday with updates on the case.

During testimony in Wilkinson’s courtroom final week, Argote’s kinfolk stated he managed each side of their lives, holding them remoted and subjecting them to varied acts of violence lately.

Wilkinson, whose funeral is scheduled for Friday morning in Hagerstown, stated he discovered Argote “abusive in multiple ways.”

The latest divorce listening to lasted two days. During the primary half, which came about Sept. 26, Argote represented himself. He at occasions expressed frustration, however his voice remained calm and he typically addressed the choose respectfully as “your honor.” But Argote failed to seem for the second half of the listening to final week. Instead, he referred to as the courthouse saying he had a headache.

The choose dominated out visitation rights and barred Argote from contacting his kids or visiting the household’s home.

Hours later, authorities say, he confirmed up in Wilkinson’s driveway.

The circuit court docket choose was a longtime resident of Hagerstown and closely concerned in the neighborhood. The metropolis of practically 44,000 lies about 75 miles northwest of Baltimore within the panhandle of Maryland.