Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., was arrested for possession of child pornin Florida on Friday, sources confirmed to The Post.
Federal agents took Thomas Sr., 82, into custody at the Maravida Senior Living care home in Lakeland, Florida where he’s been living, the Daily Mail first reported.
Page Six has reached out to the FBI.
As Page Six previously reported, Thomas Sr. was under investigation by the Cebu City Police Office in the Philippines after child sexual abuse material was allegedly discovered in his home and turned over to local police by his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
According to the Sun, which first reported the news, Thomas Jr., 60, said he found “hundreds, if not thousands” of images — some allegedly depicting girls between the ages of 10 and 11 engaging in “sex acts” — in storage boxes kept among family “mementos.”
“When I found this material, I was horrified, and I had no option but to report my dad,” Thomas Jr. told the outlet.
Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, defended their father after news of the investigation broke, accusing their brother of making the allegations for personal financial gain.
“There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever, and my brother is disgusting for making them up. He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him,” Samantha, 61, told the Daily Mail in part.
She also claimed to Dan Wootton Outspoken that Thomas Jr. was seeking “revenge” after allegedly being cut off financially by their father.
Samantha’s partner, Mark Phillips, also pushed back against the allegations, telling Page Six, “I will say one thing: It’s bulls–t,” adding that Thomas Jr. had “sold the dad out with lies” before.
Days later, the Daily Mail alleged that one of their reporters found additional “vile” materials in Thomas Sr.’s abandoned storage unit in Mexico.
The Sun reported that he has been diagnosed with dementia and was staying in a care facility in Lakeland, Florida specializing in “dementia care.”
He was seen being pushed in a wheelchair by aides at the facility last Saturday.
Thomas Sr. left his home in Cebu in May for Florida following a stroke that led to a blood clot, and the subsequent amputation of his left leg.
Meghan, for her part, said she’s “deeply disturbed” by the investigation into her father, noting that other “troubling and disturbing” allegations made against him in 2018 contributed to their estrangement.
In a statement to Page Six, the Duchess of Sussex, 45, said her “thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed” and expressed hope that “the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Sr. has denied his son’s allegations and slammed them as “sick lies.”
“I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me,” Thomas Sr. told the Daily Mail. “I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of.
“This is bulls–t. It’s just a bunch of lies. It’s sick. I have no idea why Tom is trying to destroy me with these lies.”
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