Thomas Markle held again after allegedly removing ankle monitor

Thomas Markle, whose daughter is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been returned to federal detention in Florida. According to court documents, he allegedly took off his ankle monitor early on Tuesday. Later that day, at a hearing before a federal magistrate in Tampa, he was refused bond.

Prosecutors said the device was removed at about 1.45am. US Judge Lindsay Griffin later ruled that he had broken the conditions of his pretrial release. The Guardian, citing the Justice Department, reported that he was jailed again after cutting off the device.

Read also: Thomas Markle charged in Florida over child abuse material

How the case developed

Markle, 82, was arrested last week after federal agents, working under warrants, went through rented storage units in Los Angeles that were in his name. He had reportedly leased the units since 2008, and the latest payment was made in October this year. Investigators say they took roughly 78 objects, among them negatives on film, slide transparencies and publications.

Authorities allege that some of the seized material contained child sexual abuse images. Witnesses positively identified Markle in two of those images, according to the BBC. He has denied possessing such images and has called the allegations sick lies.

At his first court appearance last week, no plea was entered. The court set several conditions, including home detention. Markle also had to wear a tracker that monitors his whereabouts. Griffin later described his housing situation as untenable and said no combination of conditions could reasonably ensure public safety and his attendance in court.

Health and legal proceedings

Markle has had a series of strokes and lost a leg to amputation. He moved to the Philippines last year and lived in Cebu until May. Reports say he was learning to walk again in Florida.

Griffin ordered a medical evaluation and said Markle must receive all necessary prescribed medication. The judge also ordered a mental competency examination, with a report due by 20 November. Griffin cited his health condition and advanced age, as well as a lack of recall during last week’s appearance.

US Attorney Bill Essayli said on X that release conditions are court orders, not suggestions. Prosecutors, he added, will pursue the matter as far as the law allows. Kash Patel, who leads the FBI, commented last week that the accused man had gone after vulnerable kids.

Why the story matters

Markle is the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who has been estranged from him since 2018. The BBC understands she cut contact with him last year. In a statement, she said she was deeply upset and worried for any youngsters who might have suffered harm.

Meghan also said a letter raising troubling allegations about her father had been sent to police in London in 2019. She said she had been told the claims were being investigated. According to a report from the Sun, a British tabloid, Meghan’s half-brother came across the images while clearing out the family home in the Philippines, which led to information about California storage units.

The US Justice Department has filed a single count against him, accusing him of possessing indecent pictures of minors. He has not been convicted, and the allegations remain unproven in court.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• BBC News: Meghan's father Thomas Markle back in federal custody after allegedly removing ankle monitor
• The Guardian: Thomas Markle, Meghan’s father, jailed after cutting off ankle monitor, DoJ says

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