Thomas Markle arrested in Florida on federal child pornography charges
Federal agents seized 78 items from storage units in Los Angeles where the 82-year-old man kept materials showing him with minors.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
Federal agents arrested Thomas Wayne Markle in Lakeland, Florida, on Friday morning.
The 82-year-old former television lighting and camera director faces one federal charge for possessing sexually explicit images of himself with minors. A guilty verdict carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He has not spoken publicly since his arrest.
Acting Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that the charges are severe and that the government will prosecute the case with the full weight of federal law. Essayli noted that the material includes photographs showing Markle with underage girls. The indictment, obtained by NBC News, confirms the specific count of possession of child pornography.
The investigation began in October 2026 after authorities received information about potential abuse material found in Markle’s belongings in the Philippines. Markle Sr. returned to the United States earlier this year following a stroke and the amputation of his left leg. He had been living in Cebu, Philippines, before that health crisis.
According to the federal affidavit, FBI agents located the evidence in two storage facilities in the Los Angeles area. Markle rented these units starting in 2008. Agents found approximately 78 articles, including slides, photographic negatives, and books, that contained the alleged material. The documents describe images showing Markle with minors in various states of undress.
The discovery in the Philippines preceded the federal arrest. The Sun reported that Thomas Markle Jr., Meghan Markle’s half-brother, found the collection while clearing out his father’s home. Markle Jr. told the British tabloid that he reported the images to local police and contacted the FBI. He described the collection as containing hundreds, if not thousands, of images.
Meghan Markle said she is deeply distressed by the accusations. She revealed that a letter containing concerning allegations was sent to the London police in 2018. Markle said she was assured at the time that the matter was being investigated. The couple, who married in 2018, have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Thomas Markle Sr. did not attend their wedding.
