Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been returned to federal custody after allegedly cutting off an electronic ankle monitor imposed as a condition of his release from detention.
The 82-year-old was ordered back to jail on Tuesday following a court hearing in Tampa, Florida, after US authorities accused him of violating the conditions of his pretrial release.
First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said Markle removed the monitoring device at approximately 1:45 a.m., prompting federal prosecutors to ask the court to revoke his release and keep him behind bars pending trial.
In a statement addressing the development, Essayli stressed that court-imposed restrictionss must be respected.
“Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions,” he said, adding that prosecutors would continue pursuing the case to the fullest extent of the law.
US Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin granted the prosecution’s request, ordering Markle’s return to federal detention without bond.
The latest development comes just days after Markle was arrested on November 6 over allegations of possessing child sexual abuse material reportedly discovered in storage facilities in the Los Angeles area.
According to federal prosecutors, investigators recovered approximately 78 items, including photographic slides, film negatives and books containing suspected illegal images.
An FBI affidavit filed as part of the criminal complaint reportedly identified several images that investigators believed depicted children in sexually explicit circumstances.
The investigation also reportedly uncovered photographs allegedly showing Markle with underage girls.
Markle faces a federal charge of possessing child sexual abuse material. However, the allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings, and he has not been convicted.
Following his initial arrest, the court had permitted him to leave detention under strict conditions, including electronic monitoring and restrictions on his movements.
He was also ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, with the judge expressing concerns about his advanced age, health condition and apparent difficulty recalling certain information during his initial court appearance.
A report on his mental competency is expected by November 20.
Markle’s health has also attracted attention following reports that he suffered a stroke earlier this year while living in the Philippines, resulting in the amputation of his left leg. He subsequently returned to the United States.
The case has attracted considerable international attention because of his estranged relationship with his daughter, Meghan, who married Britain’s Prince Harry in 2018.
Meghan has previously spoken publicly about her distress over the allegations surrounding her father, saying her decision to maintain distance from him and prevent contact with her children was motivated by concerns about their protection.
She also disclosed that a letter containing disturbing allegations about her father had been sent to British police in 2019.
The latest developments have further complicated an already strained family relationship that has remained under public scrutiny for several years.
Markle’s return to custody now places his immediate future in the hands of the American judicial system as prosecutors pursue the underlying criminal case.
The proceedings are expected to address both the allegations against him and questions surrounding his mental fitness to stand trial.
