Meghan Markle's dad taken into custody after FBI finds photos in storage

Thomas Wayne Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested by federal agents in Lakeland, Florida, on Friday morning. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that he faces one federal count of possession of child pornography.

The criminal complaint states that FBI agents searched two storage units in the Los Angeles area that Markle had rented since 2008. Investigators seized approximately 78 items, which included slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material.

The affidavit filed with the complaint describes three specific photographs. Two allegedly show an adult man, identified by a witness as Markle, with a nude prepubescent girl. A third image allegedly depicts a nude prepubescent girl in a room that appeared to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines. Additional photographs reportedly show Markle with children in various stages of undress.

The investigation began in October when authorities learned of an affidavit describing the discovery of suspected material among Markle's belongings in the Philippines. The discovery was reportedly made by Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., while clearing out their father's former home. Markle Jr. contacted authorities about the findings.

Prosecutors indicated that there was no evidence of U.S. victims in the material seized from the storage units. The FBI investigation remains ongoing. Markle is a retired television lighting and photography director who did not attend his daughter's 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. He has been estranged from Meghan for years.

Meghan Markle recently stated that she was "deeply distressed" by the allegations. She revealed that a letter containing what she described as "troubling and disturbing allegations" about her father had been sent to London police in 2019. She said her decision to distance herself from her father and limit his contact with her children was made to protect them.

Markle returned to the United States from the Philippines after suffering a stroke and undergoing an amputation of his left leg. Prosecutors noted that his mental health could be considered in decisions regarding his release. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.