Meghan Markle Father Jailed After Removal of Ankle Monitor
by Kosta Papadopoulos · Greek City TimesMeghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has been remanded in custody after allegedly cutting off his electronic ankle monitor just days after US authorities charged him with possessing child sexual abuse material.
A US magistrate judge, Lindsay Griffin, ordered Mr Markle’s detention at a Federal Court hearing on Tuesday, local time. Authorities have not disclosed where they will hold him while his case proceeds, ahead of an expected transfer to California.
US prosecutor Bill Essayli said authorities arrested Mr Markle shortly after he removed his ankle monitor in the early hours of Tuesday at the senior care facility in Florida where he had been living.
In her written order, Judge Griffin described Mr Markle’s housing situation as “untenable” but provided no further details.
Read more: Meghan Markle Father Investigated Over Alleged Child Abuse Material
On Friday, US authorities charged Mr Markle with possessing child sexual abuse material, alleging that investigators found images of him with prepubescent girls.
Prosecutors said authorities seized approximately 78 items from storage facilities in the Los Angeles area, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse images.
A judge had initially granted Mr Markle conditional release, requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device, commonly known as an ankle bracelet.
“Release conditions are court orders, not suggestions,” Mr Essayli said.
Meghan says allegations against father deeply distressing
Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018, has two children with the Duke of Sussex.
The Duchess recently said she felt “deeply distressed” by allegations that investigators had discovered a collection of child sexual abuse images at her father’s former residence.
She also disclosed that someone had sent London police a letter in 2019 containing what she described as “troubling allegations” about her father.
“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” she said.
Meghan added that her decision to distance herself from her father and prevent him from contacting her children had one purpose: protecting them.
On Tuesday, the Duchess made her first public appearance since authorities charged her father, attending an event at the European Parliament in Brussels addressing the dangers children face online.
Meghan and Prince Harry had been scheduled to deliver a joint address. However, only Prince Harry spoke at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial, an installation honouring 50 children who died following online abuse and exploitation.
Meghan maintained a low profile and declined to answer a shouted question about her father.
Mr Markle had been living in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and underwent an amputation of his left leg. The medical emergency forced him to return to the United States.
His arrest followed reports by British tabloid The Sun that Meghan’s half-brother had discovered a collection of child sexual abuse images while clearing out their father’s former home in the Philippines.
The discovery prompted investigators to examine information about two storage units in California, which Mr Markle had rented since 2008.
(Source: AP)
Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on WhatsApp, Google News and Apple News.
Related coverage
Advertising