Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP / Getty Images
Thomas Markle, the father of Meghan Markle, was arrested by federal agents on Friday (November 6) morning in Florida on charges related to child sexual abuse material.
The arrest follows an investigation involving multiple locations where authorities allege child sexual abuse material was found, including Markle's former home in the Philippines and a storage unit he rented in Mexico.
Investigators in the Philippines secured a warrant to examine several digital devices, including mobile phones, SD cards, hard drives, and a camera, after Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr., turned over items believed to contain illegal material. Police in Cebu reported finding files that will undergo further analysis, including videos involving minors and explicit materials.
Authorities in Mexico also searched a storage unit rented by Markle after receiving an anonymous tip. Officials said the unit contained magazines from Asia dating back 20 years and computer equipment, which are being investigated for links to the case.
Thomas Markle, 82, had lived in Cebu City, Philippines, from January 2025 to May 2026 before returning to the United States for medical treatment. He was residing in a Florida care facility at the time of his arrest. The investigation, coordinated between U.S. and international authorities, is ongoing, and additional analysis of the recovered materials is expected to continue in the coming weeks.