FBI arrests Meghan Markle's father in Florida
Thomas Wayne Markle faces a federal charge of possessing sexual abuse material of minors, with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
Federal agents arrested Thomas Wayne Markle on Friday morning in Lakeland, Florida.
The 82-year-old former television lighting director was taken into custody in a community just outside Tampa. Two individuals familiar with the case confirmed the detention to The Associated Press. A federal indictment accuses Markle of possessing sexually explicit images of himself with minors.
Markle faces one count of possession of child pornography. The charging document indicates that a conviction could result in up to 20 years in federal prison. Bill Essayli, the U.S. deputy attorney general, stated that the charges involve material of sexual abuse, including photographs showing Markle with underage girls. Essayli described the accusations as extremely serious and said the government would prosecute the case with the full weight of federal law.
The federal investigation began in October 2026 after authorities received a tip regarding the discovery of suspected abuse material. The tip came from a person who found the items among Markle's belongings in the Philippines. Agents from the FBI later located approximately 78 items in two storage units in the Los Angeles area. These units had been rented by Markle since 2008. The seized items included slides, photographic negatives, and books containing alleged child sexual abuse material. Affidavits also noted images showing Markle with minors in various states of undress.
The arrest follows reporting by The Sun, a British tabloid, which detailed findings made by Markle's son, Thomas Markle Jr. The son stated that he discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of such images while clearing out his father's former residence in Cebu, Philippines. Markle Jr. reported the findings to local police and contacted the FBI.
Meghan Markle, who has no current relationship with her father, recently said she was deeply distressed by the reports. She revealed that a letter with concerning accusations was sent to London police in 2018. She noted that officials assured her the matter was under investigation.
Markle had been living in the Philippines at the start of 2026 when he suffered a stroke and had his left leg amputated. The medical issues forced his return to the United States. He was previously a resident of Lakeland before his time abroad. His absence from his daughter's 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle had previously drawn significant media attention regarding their estrangement.
