Meghan Markle’s Father Arrested by FBI in Florida Amid Child Abuse Images Probe
He was taken into custody from a Florida care home for dementia patients.
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of child abuse that some readers may find distressing.
Thomas Markle, estranged father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested by the FBI as part of an investigation into an alleged collection of child sex abuse images. He was taken into custody from a Florida care home for dementia patients. The arrest follows a report made by his son, Thomas Markle Jr., who discovered the images in his father’s belongings in the Philippines and reported them to authorities.
Police reportedly discovered a second hoard in a storage unit Markle rented in Rosarito, Mexico, during a raid. According to the ongoing investigations, Markle Jr. has also been identified as a "person of interest" in the child sexual abuse image allegations involving the Duchess's father. Jonvic Remulla, the Philippines’ interior and local government secretary, said at a press conference in Manila that there are indications of Markle Jr.'s involvement in a crime, although he is not officially a suspect. Over 7,000 photos and one video depicting underage individuals of various descents, some as young as 10 and 11, were discovered. Remulla condemned the imagery as “the most deplorable displays of impunity towards sexual activity” he has encountered.
Meanwhile, the MET has not contacted the Duchess regarding which royal protection officer shared a letter containing child sexual abuse allegations against her father. In 2019, she received a photocopy of the letter from Markle’s ex-wife. Scotland Yard later acknowledged that it did not inform any overseas authorities about the allegations. Reportedly, Meghan received the letter from a royal bodyguard, who promised to investigate the matter and advised her not to disclose the allegations publicly. "The Met has not been in touch to ask for our assistance. They contacted the Duchess’s office to ask for a copy of the letter when its existence first came to light but have not been back in touch since then," a source close to the Sussexes has said.
Meghan had released a public statement last month saying, "I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed."
The Royal Observer has approached a spokesperson for The Duchess of Sussex for comment.
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453.
