Meghan Markle’s Father, Thomas Markle, Reportedly Under Investigation After Son Alleges He Found Child Abuse Material

The Duchess of Sussex's estranged father is once again making headlines, this time over allegations far more serious than any family feud. Authorities in two countries are now reportedly involved.

Meghan Markle's father, Thomas Markle Sr., 82, is reportedly under investigation after his son, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, claimed he found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) belonging to his father at his home in the Philippines.

According to a new report from The Sun, Thomas Jr. told police he discovered "hundreds, if not thousands" of child sex abuse images in four large boxes at his father's home in the city of Cebu.

Authorities looking into the Duchess of Sussex's estranged father "are now preparing to seize the evidence," the outlet reported.

Among the material, Thomas Jr. claimed, were videos showing girls aged no more than 10 or 11 engaged in sexual acts, along with a 15-minute clip of naked girls stored on his father's old cellphone.

He told The Sun that one of the images appeared to have been taken at his father's former home in Rosarito, Mexico. Thomas Jr. reportedly stumbled upon the stash while going through his father's boxed-up belongings in search of a phone for his Filipino girlfriend's father.

Thomas Sr. had left the house in May and returned to the US after suffering a stroke and a blood clot, which led to the amputation of his left leg. He allegedly left the material behind, packed into storage boxes.

Thomas Jr. told police the disturbing images and footage were mixed in with harmless family keepsakes.

"When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad," he told The Sun on Thursday evening, October 22, after submitting his sworn statement to child abuse police in the Philippines.

"I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now," Thomas Jr., who has been caring for his father since his 2022 stroke, said. "I won't speak to my father ever again unless I'm called to give evidence against him."

"What I saw made me sick to the stomach — all this stuff was just dumped on me and I didn't know what to do," he shared. "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 realized I had to report him."

According to The Sun, Thomas Jr. first flagged the discovery in July, alerting the FBI hotline, the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the state police in Pennsylvania, where his father was living at the time.

On Thursday, The Sun said investigators from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking appointed a task force led by the specialist Women and Children's Protection Center.

The outlet also said the FBI has confirmed receipt of Thomas Jr.'s affidavit. A source close to the case in Cebu said, "An FBI agent has already requested the contact details of investigators leading the case in the Philippines."

"Thomas Markle Sr is a US citizen, he is currently living in the US and may be linked to alleged offenses committed on US soil," the source continued. "There is a strong precedent for cases in circumstances like this to be investigated by the FBI."

Thomas Sr. currently resides in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Florida, where he has been supported by his daughter Samantha, 60. He has been estranged from his youngest child, Meghan, since the lead-up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.