Thomas Markle Jr. Arrested in Florida Over Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
Federal agents detained the estranged father of Meghan Markle in Lakeland on Friday following a discovery of images in his former Philippine home.
By Andrew Bennett ·
Thomas Wayne Markle was taken into custody by federal agents in Lakeland, Florida, on Friday morning. The arrest follows a federal indictment accusing him of possessing sexually explicit images of himself with minors. Two people familiar with the matter confirmed the detention to The Associated Press, while NBC News obtained the specific charges.
The legal action comes after a report by the British tabloid The Sun. The publication stated that Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., found a large collection of child sexual abuse images while clearing out his father’s former residence in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Jr. told the newspaper that he discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of such images in boxes at the property.
Markle Jr. said he reported the findings to local police in the Philippines and contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He described the discovery as the end of a long period of support for his father. In a statement to The Sun, he said he would not speak to his father again unless called to testify against him.
Meghan Markle, who has not seen her father in years, spoke recently about the allegations. She described herself as deeply distressed by the news. She also revealed that a letter containing concerning accusations about Thomas Markle Sr. was sent to London police in 2018. Meghan noted that she was told the matter was under investigation at the time.
In her remarks, Meghan explained that her decision to distance herself from her father and limit his contact with their children was driven by a single motive: protecting them. She referenced a letter that contained disturbing accusations and said she had been assured they were being examined by authorities.
The pair married at Windsor Castle in 2018. They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Thomas Markle Sr., a retired lighting and photography director, did not attend the wedding. His absence drew considerable media attention to the estrangement between him and his daughter.
Earlier this year, Markle Sr. suffered a stroke while living in the Philippines. The medical event led to the amputation of his left leg. He subsequently returned to the United States. The federal indictment now charges him with possession of images showing himself in explicit situations with children.
