Thomas Markle investigated over alleged child abuse material

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 10:39 · Archive

Mexican police have raided a storage unit belonging to Meghan Markle's father Thomas Markle, allegedly seizing child sexual abuse material.

Mexican police raided an abandoned storage unit belonging to Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, just after midnight on Saturday. Guardia Nacional officers, identified as state sex crime investigators, seized alleged child sexual abuse material including computers, thumb drives, videotapes, photographs and magazines. A judge had authorised the search for evidence of child sexual abuse material and human trafficking. Officers found black-and-white prints of naked females, books and magazines sexualising children, and VHS tapes with titles suggesting exploitative content. The unit also contained old computers, hard drives and a paper plate marked 'DARK WEB' with various URLs written on it.

The raid follows separate discoveries of alleged abuse material linked to Markle's belongings. His son, Thomas Markle Jnr, reportedly handed over electronic devices to police in the Philippines after allegedly discovering disturbing material. A second collection was subsequently discovered in the Mexican storage unit near Markle's former home in Rosarito.

Markle, 82, has strongly denied all allegations. 'I'm not a paedophile. I've never done anything bad to a child. Never,' he told The Sun, dismissing the claims as 'a bunch of lies' and saying he was being framed. He has since been admitted to a memory care facility in Florida specialising in dementia care. Florida lawyer Spencer Kuvin warned that Markle's reported dementia diagnosis may prevent formal questioning, saying investigators 'can't just barge into a memory care facility and conduct an interview'.

How it is being reported

• Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's father Thomas Markle 'moved to dementia care home'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's father Thomas Markle has reportedly been moved to a care home for dementia patients in the US just days after it was revealed he's facing a police investigation in the Philippines over alleged possession of child sexual abuse images.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 07:08
• Thomas Markle FBI investigation takes new turn amid child abuse material allegationsA disturbing investigation involving Meghan Markle’s estranged father Thomas has taken an unexpected turn.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 04:00
• Thomas Markle FBI investigation takes new turn amid child abuse material allegationsA disturbing investigation involving Meghan Markle’s estranged father Thomas has taken an unexpected turn.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 04:00
• Thomas Markle’s Mexican storage unit raided, police allegedly seizing boxes of child pornographyAn abandoned storage unit belonging to Meghan Markle’s father has been raided, with a trove of alleged pornography seized.Perth Now · 1 Nov, 00:37
• Thomas Markle’s Mexican storage unit raided, police allegedly seizing boxes of child pornographyAn abandoned storage unit belonging to Meghan Markle’s father has been raided, with a trove of alleged pornography seized.The West Australian · 1 Nov, 00:37

In this story: Thomas Markle · Meghan, Duchess of Sussex · Thomas Markle Jnr · Mexico · Philippines · Florida · FBI · Guardia Nacional

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log