Thomas Markle removed ankle monitor shortly after arrest
US officials report that the estranged father of Meghan Markle cut off his electronic monitoring device days after being detained on federal charges in Florida.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, removed an electronic monitoring device from his ankle just days after his arrest in the United States, according to authorities speaking on Tuesday.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Markle was taken into custody awaiting a federal court hearing in Tampa, Florida. The detention occurred shortly after the ankle bracelet was severed at 1:45 a.m., a time that coincided with the moment he was arrested.
The initial arrest took place on Friday following the seizure of approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected child sexual abuse images. These materials were found in storage units located in the Los Angeles area of California.
During his original detention last week, Markle was transported by ambulance from a senior care center in Lakeland. Hours later, a judge authorized his release under the condition that he wear an ankle monitor. The judge also ordered a mental competency exam and required a report to be submitted by November 20.
Markle has been estranged from his daughter for some time. Meghan Markle, an American citizen and former television actor who starred in the drama series Suits, married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. The couple has two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
In recent statements, Meghan described herself as deeply distressed by the allegations regarding a collection of child sexual abuse images found at her father's former home. She disclosed that a letter containing troubling allegations about him had been sent to police in London in 2019.
Meghan explained that the letter made disturbing claims against her father and that she was assured an investigation was underway. She stated that the distance she has maintained from him and her decision to limit his contact with their children were made specifically to protect them, countering what she described as media distortions over the years.
Markle was living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg. This medical event necessitated his return to the United States.
The legal action against Markle followed reports from The Sun, a British tabloid, which noted that Meghan's half-brother discovered the collection of images while clearing out their father's residence in the Philippines. That discovery provided the lead for investigators to examine two U.S. storage units in California that Markle had rented since 2008.
