By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/thomas-markle-father-of-meghan-cut-off-his-ankle-monitor-while-awaiting-hearing-doj-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, cut off his ankle monitor while awaiting hearing, DOJ says Nation Nov 10, 2026 3:11 PM EST TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, cut an electronic monitoring device off his ankle, just days after his arrest for keeping child sexual abuse material in storage units in California, authorities said Tuesday. Thomas Markle was in custody awaiting a hearing in federal court in Tampa, Florida, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. READ MORE: AP report: Thomas Markle Sr. arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material He was arrested shortly after he cut off the ankle bracelet at 1:45 a.m., Essayli said. Markle's arrest on Friday followed the seizure of approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books that contained suspected child sexual abuse images in storage in the Los Angeles area, Essayli said. During his arrest last week, he…
Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, cut off his ankle monitor while awaiting hearing, DOJ says
In short
Markle had recently secured conditional release from a Lakeland senior care center under orders to wear a tracking device and complete a mental competency evaluation by November 20. Investigators originally built the case after searching his Los Angeles-area storage units and recovering roughly 78 items containing suspected child sexual abuse material. The probe was initially triggered when his son discovered similar materials while clearing Markle's former residence in the Philippines. Following his recapture, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, expressed deep distress over the situation and cited child protection as the primary reason for their prolonged separation.
Key points
- The defendant faces ongoing federal legal proceedings in Florida regarding charges tied t…: The defendant faces ongoing federal legal proceedings in Florida regarding charges tied to child sexual abuse material.
- The original investigation expanded internationally after Markle's son found illicit mate…: The original investigation expanded internationally after Markle's son found illicit materials at a former residence in the Philippines.
- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, revealed that a letter detailing troubling allegations about h…: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, revealed that a letter detailing troubling allegations about her father was submitted to London police in 2019.