Thomas Markle arrested in Florida on child pornography possession charges
U.S. authorities say images, including photos of Markle with underage girls, were found in rented storage units in California.
Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle, was arrested in Florida on charges of possessing child pornography, U.S. authorities said. Investigators allege images — including photographs showing Markle with underage girls — were kept in rented storage units in California.
Charges and arrest
Federal agents carried out the arrest in Florida, the FBI said, and the criminal complaint was announced by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of California. The indictment names Markle with possession of child pornography related to material discovered in the California storage facilities.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the gravity of the case and the agency’s response. "Markle targeted innocent children and sought to take their innocence through his criminal actions. The FBI will use every resource at its disposal to protect innocent children. No predator who targets children will have any safe haven in this country or anywhere he tries to hide," Patel said.
The indictment and the arrest mark a significant development in a high-profile case because of Markle’s public profile. Prosecutors say the evidence recovered from the storage units includes images that formed the basis for the possession charge.
Authorities did not disclose additional details about when the materials were placed in storage or how long they had been there. The case is being handled by federal prosecutors in the Central District of California; any further court filings and scheduled appearances will be a matter of public record as the prosecution proceeds.
Photo: Shaterstok)
