Thomas Markle ‘jailed’ after ‘cutting off ankle tag’ following little one abuse picture arrest
Breaking news – Thomas Markle Snr has been jailed after allegedly cutting off an electronic tag from his ankle, just days after being arrested in connection with child abuse images
Meghan Markle’s elderly father, Thomas Markle, is seen for the first time at his new home in the Philippines(Image: Karl Larsen PR Photos / BACKGRID)
Thomas Markle Snr has been reportedly jailed after allegedly cutting off an electronic tag from his ankle, just days after being arrested in connection with child abuse images. Authorities said on Tuesday (November 10) that the 82-year-old, who is estranged from Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, allegedly removed an electronic monitoring device from his ankle just days after his arrest over child sexual abuse material found in storage units in California, USA.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant US Attorney, reportedly said Meghan’s estranged father was being held in custody ahead of a hearing at federal court in Tampa, Florida.
He was reportedly arrested soon afterwards, after allegedly cutting off the ankle tag at about 1.45am.
Thomas Markle Snr has been reportedly jailed(Image: Fox News)
A spokesperson reportedly said a judge remanded him in custody without bail, and he is now being held in federal detention. Essayli said Markle was arrested on Friday (November 6) after authorities seized around 78 items from storage units in the Los Angeles area, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse images.
Essayli wrote on X today: “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.”
When he was arrested last week, he was taken by ambulance from a senior care centre in Lakeland, the Guardian reported. A judge later approved his release, on condition he was electronically monitored – typically involving an ankle tether.
He allegedly cut off his ankle tag(Image: ITV)
The judge also requested a mental competency assessment, with a report due by November 20.
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