Meghan Markle’s Father Reportedly Arrested In Child Abuse Images Case

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., has been detained on suspicion of having pictures of child s*xual abuse.

Following accusations that surfaced earlier this year after images of child s*xual abuse were allegedly found at his home in the Philippines, Markle was taken into custody on Friday morning at a senior care facility in Florida.

One count of possessing child pornography was brought against him.

The US Department of Justice claimed in a statement that Markle kept pictures of child s*xual abuse, including “explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls,” in two storage facilities near Los Angeles.

“A Florida man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging he kept child s*xual abuse material (CSAM), including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls, in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented for nearly two decades,” the statement reads.

While cleaning out his father’s house, Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan’s half-brother, allegedly found the materials on his father’s computers and phone. He then reported the discovery to the police.

Authorities were able to locate two storage units in the Los Angeles region that Markle had allegedly been renting since 2008.

The arrest came after approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books, containing suspected images of child s*xual abuse were taken from the storage units, according to Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney.

An FBI affidavit submitted to the court stated that some of the pictures seemed to show Markle with kids.

Essayli promised that the case against Markle would be prosecuted to the greatest degree allowed by federal law.

These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law,” Essayli said.

However, Markle Sr. denied the allegations, saying he is “shocked and hurt” by his son’s claims and insisting he could never commit such acts.

“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of,” he said.

Markle was released on bond on Friday afternoon after meeting the conditions for his release. He was ordered to remain under house arrest at his care home, where he will be subject to home detention and electronic monitoring.

This is a deeply serious matter, and reports that his own son brought the allegations to authorities add another troubling dimension. The accusations have not been proven, and the investigation is ongoing. We hope it proceeds carefully and fairly, and that the facts come to light.