Meghan Markle's father cut off his electronic tag and was sent back to custody

Thomas Markle, 82, the father of Meghan Markle, was arrested in Florida after cutting off and removing the electronic tag attached to his ankle. Days earlier, he had been arrested on suspicion of possessing materials depicting child sexual abuse. The court ordered him to remain in custody.

Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle, was arrested again in Florida after cutting off and removing the electronic tag attached to his ankle. The arrest occurred just days after he was taken into custody on suspicion of possessing materials depicting child sexual abuse. According to reports, Markle cut the tag at 1:45 a.m. He was brought before a federal judge in Tampa, Florida, and federal prosecutor Bill Asayli made clear that the conditions of release are not subject to the suspect's discretion. Judge Lindsey Griffin ordered him to remain in custody pending further legal proceedings. As part of the investigation, authorities seized about 78 items from two storage units in the Los Angeles area, including photographic slides, negatives, and books suspected of containing documentation of child sexual abuse. Markle's health condition is complex: he suffered a stroke earlier this year, and his left leg was amputated. Meghan Markle has addressed the family conflict, saying the decision to keep her father out of her children's lives stemmed from a desire to protect them.