Thomas Markle jailed after cutting off ankle monitor while awaiting hearing, US officials say

Summary

Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was jailed after U.S. authorities said he cut off the electronic ankle monitor he was wearing while in custody awaiting a hearing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Markle cut off the bracelet at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday and was arrested shortly afterward. The incident came days after his arrest for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material in storage units in California, and the monitor was a condition of his bail. A U.S. judge ordered him to go to jail. Meghan has said she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations that such images were found at her father's former home.

Timeline

1. PBS

   10 Nov 2026, 20:11 UTCSource ↗

   PBS reports that First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Markle was arrested shortly after he cut off the ankle bracelet at 1:45 a.m.

2. CBC

   10 Nov 2026, 20:45 UTCSource ↗

   CBC reports that Markle, 82, cut an electronic monitoring device off his ankle days after his arrest for keeping child sexual abuse material in California storage units, authorities said Tuesday.

3. Hindustan Times

   10 Nov 2026, 20:54 UTCSource ↗

   Hindustan Times reports that Markle was arrested again after cutting off his ankle monitor, and that Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" by allegations that images were found at her father's former home.

4. ABC

   10 Nov 2026, 21:02 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reports that a US judge ordered Markle to go to jail after he allegedly cut off the ankle monitor, which was a bail condition after he was charged over child sexual abuse material.

5. NDTV

   10 Nov 2026, 22:23 UTCSource ↗

   NDTV reports that Markle was jailed again after cutting off his ankle monitor, and that Meghan said she was "deeply distressed" over the allegations about his estranged father.

6. The Guardian

   10 Nov 2026, 22:37 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that Markle, 82, was in custody awaiting a federal court hearing in Tampa, Florida, after Essayli said he cut off the ankle bracelet at 1:45am on Tuesday.