The FBI is set to search two further storage units in Los Angeles allegedly linked to Thomas Markle Snr, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, as the investigation into suspected possession of child sex abuse material expands.
Mr Markle, 82, is suspected of paedophilia after a stash of images was discovered at his home in Cebu City, the Philippines, and a raid on a unit in Mexico believed to belong to him. In the latest development, his son, Thomas Jnr, 60, is said to have alerted federal agents to two additional lock-ups in Los Angeles allegedly connected to his dad.
Son alerts FBI to additional units
Thomas Jnr, Meghan's stepbrother who was caring for his ailing father, was the person who first alerted police to four boxes of child abuse material allegedly belonging to Mr Markle in the Philippines last month. Information about the two units in Los Angeles emerged during a two-hour interview of Thomas Jnr by the FBI, the Sun reports.
Thomas Jnr claimed his father told him about the units years ago, and that he had them for around 15 years. He said: 'One is stuffed to the brim with Meghan's old furniture. The other is packed with boxes, books, photos, mementoes for his career in Hollywood, stuff from Meghan's college days and God knows what else.'
He added: 'There's something there, that's my gut feeling, I dread to think what the FBI might find, especially given what has been found in the Philippines and Mexico.'
Background of allegations
Meghan distanced herself from her father years ago after Mr Markle was caught selling family pictures to the paparazzi. In January 2019, Meghan was handed a letter by a Met Police royal protection officer containing child sex abuse claims against her dad. Written by his first wife, the late Roslyn Loveless, it is said to have prompted Meghan to want to go public with the claims, but she was allegedly advised against doing so by the officer.
The same officer failed to alert senior command to the letter, leaving senior royal aides and even the then Met Commissioner in the dark, it is understood. The Met Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over the matter. In her final letter to him, the Duchess told her father she 'knows he is an abuser' and that he will never meet Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, it is claimed.
Duchess responds
The Duchess has said in a statement that a letter handed to her by the Met Police 'made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father.' She said: 'I hope it can now be understood that, despite certain media publications' distortion over the years, any distance from my father and my choice to not allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason: to protect them.'
She added that her 'sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.' Mr Markle, who was reportedly moved to a care home for dementia patients last week, has denied the accusations, labelling them 'sick lies.' He has admitted he paid for sex in the Philippines, but has denied possessing any child abuse material, and has also denied having a storage unit in Rosario, Mexico.
