Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was ordered back into federal custody Tuesday after authorities said he intentionally cut off his court-ordered electronic monitoring device.
During an emergency hearing in Tampa, Florida, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin revoked Markle’s pretrial release. Griffin ruled that no combination of release terms could guarantee community safety or assure his presence at future court dates, citing an absence of suitable housing options.
Device Disabled Overnight
Prosecutors reported that Markle, 82, severed the ankle monitor early Tuesday morning. Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a public statement that the bracelet was removed around 1:45 a.m.
“Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions,” Essayli said, adding that prosecutors sought to detain him through trial and pursue the case to the fullest extent permitted by law. Government attorneys told the court that the monitoring equipment showed signs of being both cut and stabbed in an effort to disable tracking.
Markle had initially been granted release on electronic monitoring following his Nov. 6 arrest at a senior residential facility in Lakeland, Florida. Law enforcement officers took him into custody following a federal investigation into suspected child sexual abuse material.
Federal Allegations and Background
The criminal complaint filed in California alleges that Markle maintained two Los Angeles-area storage units for nearly two decades, keeping up automated payments as recently as October. Federal agents searched the units and confiscated roughly 78 items, including books, photo slides and strips of 35mm film negatives.
Court records state that investigators have identified about 18 images depicting illegal material, with a witness who has known Markle since the 1970s identifying him in photos alongside an underage girl. If convicted of the single count of possessing child pornography, Markle faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Markle, a former Hollywood lighting technician, previously resided in the Philippines before relocating to Florida following severe medical setbacks, including a stroke and a leg amputation. In an interview published last month by the Daily Mail, he denied similar accusations, labeling them “sick lies” and stating he could never commit such acts.
Meghan, who has been estranged from her father since before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, expressed deep distress in a prior statement regarding the allegations and said her thoughts were with any children who may have suffered harm. She also indicated that safeguarding her children was the driving reason behind maintaining distance from him.
Pending Competency Review
Markle’s physical and mental fitness has become a central element of the proceedings. During his initial court appearance last week, Judge Griffin cited his advanced age, medical condition and a notable lack of recall, finding reasonable cause to question his legal competence.
The court ordered an independent psychiatric evaluation to determine whether a mental defect renders him unable to comprehend the legal proceedings or assist his defense counsel. The examining physician has been directed to submit an evaluation report to the court by Nov. 20, while Markle remains detained in federal custody without bond.
