Thomas Markle Snr, the 82-year-old estranged father of Meghan Markle, is under police investigation in the Philippines after his son reported finding a large collection of indecent images at his home. The alleged stash, described as containing 'hundreds, if not thousands' of photos and videos, was discovered in four large boxes at Markle Snr's residence in the city of Cebu.
Thomas Jnr, 60, told The Sun he made the 'sickening' discovery while searching for a mobile phone for his girlfriend. He said he found an old LG device, along with 'old books that turned out to be full of naked little girls' and a desktop 'full of row-upon-row of thumbnail pictures linking to the most sickening child abuse imaginable – the worst of the worst'.
Police and FBI involvement
Police in the Philippines are reportedly preparing to seize the evidence, while the FBI is said to be considering opening an investigation in the US. Thomas Jnr said he reported the find to the FBI Hotline, the US-based National Centre for Exploited and Missing Children, and state police in Pennsylvania, where his father was then living.
Among the files allegedly stored on a hard drive are clips of preschool children either nude or engaged in sex acts. Other images reportedly include a man engaged in a sex act with an Asian girl stored inside the pages of an antique book titled 'Lewis Carroll Photographs Of Children: Four Nude Studies'. Indecent material was also said to be found on the same hard drive as Markle Snr's work files, including his professional CV.
Family reaction
Thomas Jnr, who has cared for his father since he suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2022, told The Sun: 'When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad. I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now. I won't speak to my father ever again unless I'm called to give evidence against him.'
He told friends the discovery had left him a 'shaking wreck', adding: 'I knew right away it was highly illegal and would land me in jail for a long time if I didn't get rid of it. I felt betrayed, angry and disgusted – and realised I had to report him.'
Markle Snr's daughter, Samantha, denied the allegations and accused her brother of inventing the story for money. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: 'There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever and my brother is disgusting for making them up. He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him.'
Background and estrangement
A source close to the Duchess of Sussex told The Sun: 'Now maybe people will finally understand why she has had nothing to do with her father since 2018.' Meghan and her father have been estranged since her 2018 wedding, when he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to the big day.
Markle Snr had to leave the Philippines in May and fly back to the US after suffering a stroke and a blood clot that resulted in the loss of his left leg. It was reported last year that Meghan has no plans to see her father again. He has never met his grandchildren, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.
