Thomas Markle returned to US federal custody after alleged ankle‑monitor breach

Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been placed back in federal custody in Tampa, Florida, after prosecutors allege he removed his ankle monitor.

At a hearing before US Magistrate Judge Lindsay S. Griffin on Tuesday, the judge denied Markle’s request for bond, finding that he had violated the conditions of his pre‑trial release. Griffin described his housing situation as “untenable” and ordered a medical evaluation, noting that Markle must continue any prescribed medication.

Markle, 82, was initially arrested last week following an FBI search of storage units in Los Angeles that yielded about 78 items, including film negatives, slides and books alleged to contain child sexual abuse material. He is charged with one count of possessing indecent images of children.

Legal proceedings continue

US Attorney Bill Essayli reiterated on X that release conditions are court orders and that the case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Markle has denied possessing the illegal images. He had been under house detention with a location‑monitoring device before the alleged breach.

The Duchess of Sussex has been estranged from her father since 2018 and reportedly cut contact last year after learning of the allegations.

Source: BBC News. Photo: Phil Evenden / Pexels.