Thomas Markle cut off his ankle monitor after child porn arrest, prosecutors say, as they demand for him to be held in jail

Detailed summary

Markle, 82, allegedly cut off the location monitor in the early hours of Tuesday morning, just days after his arrest for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material in storage units in California.

By WILL POTTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and BEN ASHFORD, US SENIOR REPORTER

Published: 19:45 GMT, 10 November 2026 | Updated: 20:23 GMT, 10 November 2026

Thomas Markle Sr. was caught cutting off his ankle monitor ahead of a court appearance over child porn charges, prosecutors say.

Markle, 82, allegedly cut off the location monitor in the early hours of Tuesday morning, just days after his arrest for allegedly keeping child sexual abuse material in storage units in California.

The allegation was shared Tuesday by US Attorney Bill Essayli, who said that Markle attempted to cut off the ankle monitor while out on custody pending trial.

The prosecutor said Markle was ordered to wear the location monitor ahead of court appearances, but said Markle cut the bracelet off at 1:45am on Tuesday night.

Essayli said the allegedly brazen move has led prosecutors to request Markle's release be revoked, and for him to be detained pending trial.

A spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service – the branch of federal law enforcement responsible for monitoring Markle’s whereabouts via his GPS ankle monitor - said it was working to establish exactly what had happened.

‘The adult living facility would not take him back. So, he was released to the custody of his other daughter who lives in Lakeland, Florida. And that’s the last that we’ve heard.’

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