Published: 11:15, November 11, 2026
US judge orders Meghan's estranged father jailed ahead of child sex abuse case
By AFP

A private security guard stands behind the railing on the front porch of Maravida Senior Living, where Thomas Markle was staying, in Lakeland, Florida, on Nov 6, 2026. (PHOTO/AFP)

A US judge on Tuesday ordered Meghan Markle's estranged father to be detained in jail until he faces charges for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material.

US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a post on X Tuesday that he had requested Thomas Markle be detained because the court ordered him to wear a monitoring device but "he allegedly cut the bracelet off at 1:45 am last night."

This booking photo, released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office in Largo, Fla, shows Thomas Markle. (PHOTO/PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE VIA AP)

US Magistrate Judge Lindsay Griffin later ordered Thomas Markle "detained pending the resolution of this case" on Tuesday, writing "the defendant violated the conditions of his pretrial release."