Thomas Markle Cut Off Ankle Monitor After Arrest

Thomas Markle, 82, was in custody in Tampa, Florida, awaiting a hearing in federal court after cutting off an electronic monitoring device from his ankle, said Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney, on November 10, 2026. Markle is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s father, though they are estranged.

Authorities said he cut off the bracelet at about 1:45 a.m. and was arrested shortly afterward. The arrest came days after he was taken into custody over material found in storage units in the Los Angeles area.

The search led to the seizure of about 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse images, Essayli said. Markle was being held in Florida pending his federal court hearing.