Thomas Markle was arrested in Florida on Friday.
The 82-year-old father of British royal Meghan Markle is suspected of possessing child exploitation materials that were found in his Philippines home. Authorities there obtained a warrant to seize his electronic devices last week, according to the BBC.
Markle, who denies any wrongdoing, was believed to have been in Florida recovering from surgery after suffering a stroke. Federal officers took him into custody near Tampa.
The Duchess of Essex earlier said she was “deeply distressed” about the allegations made against her estranged father.
The materials provided to authorities were discovered in the suspect’s Philippines home by his son, Thomas Markle Jr.
Authorities identified Thomas Markle Jr., 60, as a “person of interest” in their investigation of the possible exploitation of minors, but he was not named a suspect. Witnesses said they believed underaged girls may have visited his home. He told the Guardian he was “merely doing TikTok [videos]” when asked about the claims against him.
Philippines’ interior secretary Juanito Victor Remulla told that publication the investigation into the elder Markle may potentially point to a “possible sex offender of the grossest kind.”
Federal agents and local authorities couldn’t immediately be reached for further comment regarding the elder Merkle’s arrest.
With News Wire Services