Meghan Markle’s estranged father arrested after child abuse material investigation

Thomas Markle, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested in Florida and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material after investigators searched two storage units in California. The case began with a disturbing discovery among his belongings in the Philippines, reportedly made by a family member, and has now become a federal investigation involving the FBI.

Markle, 82, was taken into custody on Friday, November 6, and faces one federal count of possession of child pornography. Prosecutors say officers seized around 78 items from the two storage units, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected abuse material. The allegations have caused further distress for Meghan, who has previously said she kept her father away from her children to protect them. 

FBI traced the investigation to two storage units

According to the criminal complaint, US investigators received information in October from witnesses about suspected material among Markle’s possessions in the Philippines. One person had signed an affidavit describing its discovery, while another told the FBI that Markle rented a storage unit in the Los Angeles area. Agents obtained search warrants and examined two units registered to Markle. He had rented both since 2008 and had continued paying for them, with the latest payments made in October this year, according to the Justice Department.

The FBI seized approximately 27 items from one unit and 51 from the second. The materials included slides, film negatives and books. The affidavit says investigators identified suspected child sexual abuse images among the film negatives and describes photographs which they allege show Markle with prepubescent girls. A witness who had known him since the 1970s identified the adult man in two images as Markle, according to the court document.

The investigation is continuing and the material has not all been reviewed. The affidavit says agents had identified around 18 suspected images in one collection of film negatives at the time it was prepared. The 78 items seized should not be mistaken for 78 confirmed images. The criminal complaint sets out allegations supporting the charge; it is not a finding of guilt.

Arrested at Florida care facility

Markle was arrested in Lakeland, Florida, where he had been living after returning from the Philippines earlier this year. He appeared before a federal magistrate in Tampa on Friday and did not enter a plea. He was released on bond and returned to his assisted-living facility under home detention and electronic monitoring. Conditions also restrict his travel and access to internet-connected devices, according to reports of the court hearing.

He is required to undergo health evaluations. The case is expected to proceed in California, where the charge was filed.  If convicted, Markle could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The US Department of Justice has stressed that the complaint contains allegations only.

Meghan said she kept her children away to protect them

The arrest follows weeks of reports about the investigation in the Philippines, where Markle had been living. The Associated Press reported that Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, found a collection of suspected abuse images while clearing out their father’s former home in Cebu City and contacted police and the FBI. Markle previously denied the accusations, describing them as “sick lies”, according to Reuters. Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the allegations and referred to a letter sent to London police in 2018 which contained what she described as troubling claims about her father.

She said she had been assured the allegations were being investigated. Meghan also addressed years of speculation about the estrangement, saying her decision to keep her father away from her and her children had been made to protect them.  There has been no public comment from Meghan’s representative on Friday’s arrest. The FBI investigation remains active, while the criminal case will determine whether the allegations can be proved in court.