Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, is reportedly under investigation after a hoard of alleged child sexual abuse material was allegedly discovered at his home and reported to police by his own son, Thomas Markle Jr. Thomas Markle Sr. has yet to respond to the allegations and has not been arrested or charged.
According to The Sun, Thomas Jr. contacted authorities after discovering “hundreds, if not thousands” of images and videos allegedly depicting child sexual abuse inside several storage boxes at his father’s home in Cebu, Philippines.
The alleged discovery reportedly came after Thomas Sr. returned to the United States following a series of serious health complications. The 82-year-old suffered a stroke and a blood clot, which ultimately led to the amputation of his left leg. Following news of his deteriorating health, the Duchess of Sussex reportedly “reached out” to her estranged father, with whom she has had a fractured relationship for nearly a decade.
It was while searching through boxes his father had left behind, reportedly in an attempt to locate a missing phone, that Thomas Jr. allegedly stumbled upon the material.
The Sun reported that Thomas Jr has alleged that girls: “appearing to be aged no older than ten or 11 appeared in sex acts captured on video along with three still pictures of naked and scantily clad girls of about the same age.”
Following the alleged discovery, Thomas Jr. informed the FBI Hotline, the US-based National Centre for Exploited and Missing Children as well as submitting a sworn statement to authorities investigating child abuse in the Philippines.
Speaking to The Sun, he alleged: “When I found this material I was horrified and I had no option but to report my dad. I have supported, cared for him and helped him for years — but that stops now. I won’t speak to my father ever again unless I’m called to give evidence against him.”
The allegations only compound the tensions surrounding the Markle family’s long-running estrangement. Meghan and her father have been estranged since 2018, following multiple controversies in the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Harry, including when Thomas Sr. was busted staging photographs for paparazzi.
In the years since, he has repeatedly criticised his daughter in the press, while also publicly expressing his desire for reconciliation. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he previously said: “I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too.”
Following reports that Thomas Jr. had contacted police about his father, a source suggested the allegations may further enlighten the public on Meghan’s decision to distance herself from him. “Now maybe people will finally understand why she has had nothing to do with her father since 2018,” a source told The Sun.
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