Thomas Markle Jr. says he discovered hundreds, if not thousands, of suspected child sex abuse images and videos packed inside four large cardboard boxes tied to his father's former home in Cebu, Philippines. The 60-year-old reported the alleged find to Philippine police and to U.S. authorities back in July, and now, months later, the case is drawing fresh scrutiny over whether the FBI will open its own investigation into his father, Thomas Markle Sr., the estranged father of Meghan Markle.
According to The Daily Beast, Thomas Markle Jr. reported what he found on July 10, contacting the FBI's tip line, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Pennsylvania state police. The outlet also reports that Thomas Markle Sr., 82, is currently in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Florida, having been flown back to the United States in May following a stroke and blood clot that cost him his left leg.
Separately, the New York Post reports that Thomas Markle Sr. was living in Pennsylvania at the time his son made the report in July, and that FBI investigators are now planning to look into the matter, per a report attributed to The Sun. The Post also notes that FBI investigators reportedly requested contact information for the Philippine investigators handling the case.
Philippine Investigation and a Sworn Statement
The Telegraph reports that Thomas Markle Jr. has submitted a sworn statement to child abuse police in the Philippines. Thomas Markle Sr. currently lives in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Florida.
A Philippine police investigation has been triggered by the alleged discovery, according to PerthNow, which reports that an FBI agent had already requested contact details for investigators leading the case in the Philippines. The outlet states plainly that the allegations against Thomas Markle Sr. have not been proven and that no charges have been filed.
No Charges Filed, FBI Role Still Unclear
The Telegraph reports that the FBI is said to be looking into opening an investigation in the U.S., though this has not been confirmed as an active FBI probe. The Daily Beast likewise states plainly that no charges have been brought against Thomas Markle Sr. as of its report, and nothing in the available reporting establishes what, if anything, Philippine forensic examiners found inside the boxes.
Meghan Markle and her father have not spoken since 2018, according to the Telegraph's reporting, a rift that has played out publicly for years as the Duchess built a life separate from her father's orbit. That estrangement adds a layer of family drama to a story that, for now, remains an open investigation rather than a settled legal matter.
A Pattern Philippine Authorities Have Tracked Before
The case echoes a broader enforcement push in the Philippines, where agencies have worked to combat the online sexual exploitation of children involving foreign nationals. In a separate case, Homeland Security Investigations and the National Bureau of Investigation found child sexual abuse material on a U.S. citizen's phone after a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the National Bureau of Investigation. Philippine authorities have also rolled out an anti-trafficking handbook aimed at intensifying action against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, per the Philippine Department of Justice.
For now, no charges have been brought against Thomas Markle Sr., and the allegations against him have not been proven. Thomas Markle Sr. currently lives in a nursing and rehabilitation center in Florida. What is documented is that his son took the alleged discovery to authorities on both sides of the Pacific in July, and that investigators in the Philippines and potentially the FBI are now examining what, if anything, those boxes contained.
