Meghan's father Thomas Markle detained for allegedly cutting off ankle monitor, officials say

What the report says

Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been taken into federal custody in Florida after officials said he allegedly removed his ankle monitor while under house detention. According to U.S. justice department officials cited by the BBC, he appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Tampa after the alleged removal, and was ordered jailed without bond. The BBC reported that the monitor was allegedly taken off at about 01:45 local time.

Markle, 82, was first arrested last week and placed under house detention after being charged with possessing child sex abuse material. The BBC said prosecutors also required him to wear a location-monitoring device. Court documents quoted by the broadcaster said a judge found his housing situation had become untenable, citing a lack of suitable housing and saying no set of conditions would reasonably ensure public safety or his appearance in court. The judge also ordered a medical evaluation.

The case follows FBI searches of storage units in Los Angeles registered to Markle, where agents allegedly found dozens of items including film negatives, slides and books said to contain child sex abuse material. Witnesses reportedly identified Markle in two of the images. Markle has denied the allegations, which the BBC said he has described as false. Meghan and Markle have been estranged for years; the BBC noted she has previously said she cut off contact because of concerns about abuse.