The FBI arrested Meghan Markle's estranged father Friday on a federal child pornography charge after agents seized suspected child sexual abuse material from two Los Angeles-area storage units, according to Western Journal.
Thomas Wayne Markle, 82, was taken into custody at a senior living facility in Lakeland, Florida, near Tampa, and is charged with one count of possession of child pornography. He is expected to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida in Tampa.
According to Western Journal, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said agents searched two units Markle had rented since 2008 and seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected CSAM. Some images appear to depict Markle with children, according to an FBI affidavit filed with the complaint.
"These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law," Essayli said. FBI Director Kash Patel said agents "moved quickly, identified and located the explicit material, and arrested Mr. Markle in Florida."
The investigation accelerated after law enforcement learned in October that an individual in the Philippines signed an affidavit about discovering suspected CSAM among Markle's possessions there. That tip, plus a second witness who disclosed Markle rented Los Angeles storage, led agents to the two California units.
Agents seized 27 items from one unit and 51 from the other. At least 18 images converted from negatives appeared to constitute child pornography, the complaint states, and a witness positively identified Markle as the adult man in images with nude prepubescent girls.
Markle, a retired television lighting director, had denied earlier overseas allegations, calling them "sick lies." A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan declined to comment on the arrest, and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond.
Meghan said last month she was "deeply distressed" by allegations against her father and has kept her children away from him "to protect them." British police earlier confirmed she received a 2019 letter containing claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom.
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