Thomas Markle Arrested in Florida After FBI Seizes Evidence from LA Storage Units
The 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle faces a federal charge after agents recovered suspected child sexual abuse material from units rented since 2008.
By Martin Reynolds ·
Thomas Wayne Markle, the estranged father of Meghan Markle, was arrested in Florida on Friday. He faces a federal charge of possession of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced the arrest and seizure of evidence on the same day.
FBI agents executed search warrants at two storage facilities in the Los Angeles area. Prosecutors stated that Markle had rented these units since 2008, with payments recorded as recently as October 2026. Agents seized approximately 78 items from the locations. The inventory included photographic slides, film negatives, and books containing suspected child sexual abuse material.
The investigation originated in October 2026. Authorities initially discovered suspected material in Markle's belongings in the Philippines. This discovery led investigators to the Los Angeles storage units. According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, the FBI then obtained warrants to search both facilities.
Federal officials detailed the contents of the seized photographs. Two images reportedly showed an adult man, identified by a witness as Markle, with a nude prepubescent girl. Another image allegedly depicted a nude young girl in a motel room in the Philippines. Additional photos appeared to show Markle with children in various stages of undress.
Markle, 82, was taken into custody in Lakeland, Florida. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Tampa on Friday. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described the allegations as extremely serious. He stated that prosecutors will pursue the case to the fullest extent of federal law.
Markle previously denied the allegations, describing them as sick lies in comments reported by CBS News. Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry in 2018, said she was deeply distressed by the news. She told The Associated Press that she had learned of troubling allegations years earlier and sought to protect her children.
If convicted, Markle faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI continues to investigate the case while federal prosecutors in Los Angeles handle the prosecution. The charge remains an allegation, and Markle is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
