Maryland decide heard ‘surprising’ proof in divorce case hours earlier than his killing, tapes present

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — Pedro Argote was conspicuously absent final Thursday when a Maryland decide granted his spouse a divorce and sole custody of their 4 kids, citing “surprising” testimony concerning the abuse that Argote allegedly inflicted upon them for years.

However later that day, authorities say, Argote confirmed up at Decide Andrew Wilkinson’s dwelling and shot him to death in his driveway. Now a wished man, Argote stays at massive amid a law enforcement search spanning a number of states.

Wilkinson dominated in opposition to Argote after listening to testimony from his spouse and an grownup daughter, who mentioned he managed each side of their lives, conserving them remoted and subjecting them to numerous acts of violence in recent times.

Police have pointed to the decide’s choice as a motive for the capturing, which despatched a shock wave by way of Maryland’s authorized neighborhood.

An audio recording of the listening to didn’t seize any apparent warning indicators that Argote posed a hazard to anybody outdoors his household, but it surely does present new perception into the abuse allegations he was going through.

His grownup daughter from a earlier relationship mentioned she spent most of her teenage years confined to her bed room. She mentioned Argote had cameras put in all through the home and was “watching my each transfer.” Throughout emotional testimony, she mentioned he would beat her with a belt and different objects — “no matter he had shut by.”

“The explanation I labored up the braveness to testify was in order that my siblings wouldn’t need to undergo the psychological torment that I presently have,” she instructed the courtroom, explaining that she left dwelling at 18 to flee the abuse and hadn’t had contact along with her father since.

Wilkinson concluded that Argote wasn’t match to have custody of his 4 youthful kids, ages 12, 11, 5 and three.

“The way wherein Mr. Argote has remoted these kids and mother over the previous two years, I believe that has gone on all through the wedding, and it’s surprising,” the decide mentioned. “I believe he’s abusive in a number of methods.”

Argote’s spouse described intimately how he rendered her powerless and mistreated their kids. She wept whereas recounting how he would stuff a towel into their crying child’s mouth. The circumstances solely worsened after he came upon she deliberate to go away him final 12 months, she mentioned.

Earlier than she might get the paperwork collectively, Argote filed for divorce himself. Courtroom information present a messy authorized battle ensued and Argote’s abuse escalated, in response to courtroom testimony.

Argote’s spouse requested a protecting order quickly thereafter, saying Argote was carrying a gun and surveilling her. However they later settled on a “nesting association” the place he would stay on the primary ground of their home and she or he would stay upstairs.

All through their marriage, Argote dealt with the household’s funds and managed their joint enterprise ventures, together with most just lately a meals truck and a digital promoting firm. He additionally restricted his spouse’s entry to their shared automobile, in response to courtroom paperwork.

In a March 2023 written opinion, Wilkinson mentioned he had “the uneasy sense that Father engages in absolute management over Mom, their funds, and their lives.” The decide once more referenced that assertion Thursday, saying his prior evaluation grew to become “crystal clear” throughout latest testimony.

Displays filed into the courtroom file embrace photographs of Argote smiling and posing together with his kids, driving bikes and swimming. In a single photograph, two of his kids are sitting of their driveway subsequent to a sidewalk chalk message that reads: “I really like you Dad.”

In an Oct. 11 electronic mail despatched to his spouse’s lawyer, Argote mentioned he had bought her an SUV and left it outdoors her home. However the lawyer instructed him to take away it and as an alternative make obtainable their shared automobile.

“You can’t drive a automobile upon my consumer,” the lawyer wrote in an emailed response to Argote. “This isn’t a smart answer. … You could have didn’t pay the mortgage, however have taken on one other legal responsibility.”

The latest divorce listening to lasted two days. In the course of the first half, which happened Sept. 26, Argote represented himself. He testified concerning the couple’s funds and repeatedly questioned whether or not his kids have been receiving enough homeschooling instruction from their mom, claiming she was too lenient with them. Throughout his testimony, Argote at occasions expressed frustration, however his voice remained calm and he typically addressed the decide respectfully as “your honor.”

However Argote failed to seem for the second half of the listening to final week. As an alternative, he known as the courthouse saying he had a headache.

“I’m undecided that I discover that plausible,” Wilkinson mentioned, explaining his choice to proceed.

Erika Garrott Johnson, the lawyer representing Argote’s spouse, mentioned she believes Argote didn’t come to courtroom as a result of he didn’t need to hear his household’s emotional testimony “and since he is aware of the writing is on the wall.”

An lawyer representing the kids, Ashley Wilburn, mentioned she was involved for his or her security, “significantly in mild of the truth that Mr. Argote didn’t present up right this moment.”

She urged the decide to resolve the case shortly in hopes of conserving the kids protected, saying the most effective case state of affairs for them would possible be transferring to Florida with their mother, who has a household help system there. Wilburn mentioned even supervised entry to their father can be “detrimental.”

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

Wilkinson was shot in his driveway Thursday evening whereas his spouse and son have been dwelling. The circuit courtroom decide was a longtime resident of Hagerstown and closely concerned locally. The town of almost 44,000 lies about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Baltimore within the largely rural panhandle of Maryland.

Sheriff’s deputies discovered Argote’s Mercedes SUV in a wooded space south of Hagerstown on Saturday, however concluded he wasn’t within the space. Officers with the U.S. Marshal Service mentioned he has ties to different states, together with New York and Florida.

Argote’s spouse and kids are receiving safety because the seek for him continues, in response to Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert.

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Kunzelman reported from Silver Spring, Maryland.