Meghan Markle's father arrested in Florida over alleged child sexual abuse images

WARNING: This article contains descriptive or legal details regarding child sexual abuse that may be disturbing to readers.

The estranged father of Meghan Markle was arrested Friday morning in Lakeland, Florida, over allegations he possessed child sexual abuse material, including "sexually explicit photos of himself with prepubescent girls," the Justice Department announced.

Thomas Markle Sr. was arrested in Lakeland and is charged with one count of possession of child pornography, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

The federal complaint alleges the 82-year-old kept child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls, in two Los Angeles-area storage units he rented for nearly two decades.

Federal agents seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books that contained suspected child sex abuse material. The affidavit describes disturbing images that investigators said appear to show Markle with children in various stages of undress, including one with "a nude prepubescent girl."

“These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr. Markle to the fullest extent of federal law," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.

“Mr. Markle allegedly targeted innocent children and sought to steal their innocence through his criminal actions," said FBI Director Kash Patel, adding the agency "will use every single resource at our disposal to protect innocent kids – any predator who targets children will have zero safe haven in this country or anywhere they try to hide."

Markle Sr. is expected to appear in court in Tampa, Florida on Friday. If convicted, he faces 20 years in federal prison.

A spokesperson for Meghan and Prince Harry said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not commenting on the arrest at this time.

The arrest comes nearly two weeks after The Sun newspaper, a British tabloid, reported that Thomas Markle was being investigated over claims he kept child sexual abuse videos and images at his home in the Philippines. Authorities in the country later said they had recovered thousands of photos featuring “underage male and females," NBC News reported.

The report said Markle Sr.'s son had informed police after he said he found “hundreds, if not thousands” of child sex abuse images in boxes at his father’s home.

The 82-year-old denied the reported allegations, calling them “sick lies” in a statement to Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper. He added they were “the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.”

Meghan said last month she was “deeply distressed” by the report and revealed that at she was informed by police of “disturbing allegations” against him in 2018.

“The breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine,” said Meghan, who has in recent years had a limited and fraught relationship with her father. He did not attend her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018, drawing widespread media scrutiny.

If you or someone you know is a victim of child abuse or sexual exploitation, free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 1-800-422-4453 or visit Childhelp. You can also report online child sexual exploitation, abuse material, or trafficking via the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)