Thomas Markle arrested in Florida on child sexual abuse material charges
Federal agents detained Thomas Markle, father of Meghan Markle, in Lakeland, Florida, on allegations of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Federal authorities arrested Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle, at his senior living community in Lakeland, Florida, on charges related to child sexual abuse material, a U.S. Justice Department official said. The arrest follows investigations that uncovered alleged illegal images in a storage unit in Mexico and at Markle's former residence in the Philippines, according to reports citing unnamed sources.
British police indicated they would refer the case to overseas law enforcement after learning the allegations had not been previously forwarded. Philippine authorities opened a probe last month after the material was reportedly found in the Philippines.
"The allegations are untrue and sick lies," Markle said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
Meghan Markle previously expressed distress over the accusations and said she had blocked contact between her father and her children. Prince Harry and Meghan, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, returned to the United Kingdom with their two children in August.