Thomas Markle Sr., the 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was jailed on November 10, 2026, after authorities said he cut off his ankle monitoring device.
Tampa Court Appearance
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that Markle cut off the electronic bracelet at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday in Florida, just days after his initial arrest on November 6, 2026, at a senior care center in Lakeland, according to The Guardian.
Four days ago, a federal judge allowed Mr. Markle to remain out of custody pending trial. He was ordered to wear a location monitoring device. He allegedly cut the bracelet off at 1:45 a.m. last night. Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions. We are asking the court… https://t.co/rjNknXuSA9
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin ordered Markle kept in federal custody following the monitor tampering, noting that his housing situation at the senior living facility had become untenable, US News reported.
Prosecutors asked the court to revoke his release pending trial. His defense attorney, Mary Claire Wolf, wanted to keep him out of custody but has not found a suitable place for him to stay, according to a hearing summary.
A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed that Markle appeared in court in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday after he allegedly removed the device. Essayli told The Associated Press that he did not know why the ankle device was removed or where the removal occurred.
Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions. We are asking the court to revoke his release and detain him pending trial, and we will continue to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.
Bill Essayli, First assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California
Storage Unit Seizures
Federal agents arrested Markle after seizing approximately 78 items—including slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material—from two storage units in the Los Angeles area, according to Yahoo.
Essayli noted that the seized items included sexually explicit photographs of Markle with underage girls. Federal officials noted that Markle had rented the storage units in California since 2008, with the FBI noting that the most recent auto-payment for the units was on October 14.
A special agent noted in the complaint that approximately 18 images from 35mm film negatives seized from Storage Unit 1 registered to Markle appeared to constitute child pornography. Investigators stated that Markle had rented the storage units since 2008.
Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, cut off his ankle monitor after his arrest for having child sexual abuse material, DOJ says. https://t.co/CvbD52aWqZ
Duchess of Sussex Response
Meghan Markle released a statement describing herself as deeply distressed
by the discoveries and allegations involving her father, according to Cbc. She also revealed that a letter containing troubling allegations about him was sent to London police in 2019.
Meghan stated that the letter made troubling and disturbing allegations against her father and that she was given assurances those claims were being investigated. Meghan’s half-brother reportedly found a collection of child sexual abuse images while clearing out their father’s home in the Philippines, which led to information regarding the storage units in California.
Meghan married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018, and the couple has two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. She is an American citizen and an actor who starred in the United States television drama Suits.
Meghan reportedly wrote to her estranged father in December 2025 to state she was aware of child abuse allegations against him and would not permit him to meet his grandchildren, telling him that the letter would be the last time he heard from her.
I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications’ distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children was for one reason: to protect them.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Competency Exam Order
Judge Griffin ordered a mental competency examination for Markle to determine whether he can understand the nature of the proceedings and assist in his defense, with a report due by November 20, 2026, according to Yahoo UK. Markle previously suffered a stroke while living in the Philippines and had his left leg amputated, which forced his return to the United States.
In October, The Sun reported that Markle moved into Maravida Senior Living care home, a facility specializing in memory care. His arrest followed reports by The Sun that a collection of child sexual abuse images had been found at his home in the Philippines.
Markle did not enter a plea at his initial appearance, and the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that his senior care facility refused to let him return following his release, leading to him being released into the care of his daughter Samantha.
Earlier coverage: Meghan Markle's father arrested for child pornography
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