Meghan Markle's father jailed after cutting ankle monitor

Thomas Markle, 82, is now in federal custody in Tampa, Florida. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin issued the order on Tuesday after authorities confirmed Markle cut off his ankle monitor. The removal happened at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

Markle was arrested on Friday in Lakeland, Florida. The arrest followed a seizure of approximately 78 items from storage units in the Los Angeles area. Those items included slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected child sexual abuse images. Markle had rented the storage units since 2008.

Essayli stated that release conditions are court orders, not suggestions. He noted that he did not know why the device was removed or where the removal took place. Defense attorney Mary Claire Wolf sought to keep Markle out of custody but had not yet found a suitable location for him to stay, according to a hearing summary.

In her written order, Griffin noted that Markle's housing situation had become untenable. Before this incident, Markle was living in a senior care center. Authorities have not specified where he will be held while his case remains in court. A transfer to California is likely.

A mental competency exam is still pending for Markle. He suffered a stroke earlier this year while living in the Philippines. That medical event required the amputation of his left leg, which forced his return to the United States.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, recently said she was deeply distressed by the allegations. She revealed that a letter containing troubling allegations about her father was sent to London police in 2019. Meghan said the distance between them was a choice made to protect their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.