Meghan Markle's Father Arrested In FL On Federal Child Pornography Charge: U.S. DOJ

LAKELAND, FL — The estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested in Florida on a federal charge of possessing child sexual abuse material allegedly found in two storage units in California, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

Thomas Wayne Markle, 82, of Lakeland, was arrested by federal agents on Friday morning and charged with one count of possession of child pornography.

According to a federal criminal complaint, FBI agents searched two storage units in the Los Angeles area that Markle had rented since 2008. Investigators seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material.

The affidavit filed with the complaint describes three photographs in particular. Two allegedly depict an adult man, identified by a witness as Markle, with a nude prepubescent girl, the DOJ said. A third allegedly depicts a nude prepubescent girl in a room that appeared to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines.

The court document also describes additional photographs that appear to show Markle with children in various stages of undress.

The investigation began in October after authorities learned that an individual had signed an affidavit describing the discovery of suspected child sexual abuse material among Markle's belongings in the Philippines, the department said. Investigators subsequently received.

The discovery in the Philippines was reportedly made by Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan's half-brother, while clearing out their father's former home. His son reportedly contacted authorities about the material.

It’s also reported that prosecutors said there was no evidence of U.S. victims in the material seized from the storage units, though the FBI investigation is ongoing.

Markle is the estranged father of Meghan, who married Prince Harry in 2018. The Duchess of Sussex recently said she was "deeply distressed" by allegations that child sexual abuse images had been found at her father's former home.

She also revealed that a letter containing what she described as "troubling and disturbing allegations" about her father had been sent to London police in 2019. Meghan said her decision to distance herself from her father and not allow him contact with her children was made to protect them.

Her father, a retired television lighting and photography director, didn't attend Meghan and Harry's 2018 wedding. He has been estranged from his daughter for years.

Markle recently returned to the United States from the Philippines after suffering a stroke and undergoing an amputation of his left leg. Prosecutors indicated that his mental health could be considered in decisions about his release while the case proceeds.

If convicted, Markle faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, the DOJ said.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

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