Courtesy: CBS News
THOMAS Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was taken into federal custody in Florida on Friday, facing a charge of possession of child sexual abuse material.
The 82‑year‑old was arrested by FBI agents following a search of two storage units in the Los Angeles area that he had rented since 2008. Investigators recovered approximately 78 items — including slides, film negatives, and books — containing explicit images of children.
At least two frames on the seized film show a man identified as Markle with nude pre‑pubescent girls in poses described as intended to elicit a sexual response.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated in a release: “Mr. Markle allegedly targeted innocent children and sought to steal their innocence through his criminal actions.”
A criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles charges him with one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment upon conviction. Markle made his initial court appearance in Tampa, Florida, where a magistrate judge ordered him released pending trial under home detention and electronic monitoring.
No plea has been entered, and an arraignment is not scheduled for several weeks. It remains unclear when he will be transferred to California to face the proceedings.
The arrest follows cross‑jurisdictional inquiries that began last month. Authorities in the Philippines, where Markle previously resided, opened an investigation into similar allegations, while British police confirmed they were referring related claims to overseas law enforcement agencies after determining the reports had not been properly shared when first received.
Buckingham Palace and representatives for Meghan Markle have not issued any statements in response to the news. Markle’s legal representation has not yet been identified.
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