Meghan’s father returned to federal detention after alleged ankle monitor breach
Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been ordered back into federal custody after a judge revoked his pretrial release over an alleged breach of electronic monitoring conditions.
The 82-year-old appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, November 10, after prosecutors said he had removed his ankle monitoring device earlier that morning. Judge Lindsay S. Griffin ordered him detained without bond.
In the ruling, Griffin said Markle’s housing arrangements were no longer suitable and that no combination of release conditions could adequately address concerns about public safety and his return to court. The judge also ordered a medical evaluation and directed that he continue receiving prescribed medication unless a physician advises otherwise.
Markle was initially arrested on November 6 following an FBI investigation into suspected child sexual abuse material allegedly found in two storage units in the Los Angeles area. The US Department of Justice said agents seized about 78 items, including film negatives, slides and books, during searches conducted under court-authorised warrants.
He faces one federal count of possessing child sexual abuse material. Markle has denied the allegations, describing them as “sick lies”. No plea was entered at his initial court appearance, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Meghan has previously said she was deeply distressed by the allegations and expressed concern for any children who may have been harmed. She has been estranged from her father since 2018 and has said keeping him away from her children was intended to protect them.
Source: BBC
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