Thomas Markle Sr, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, has reportedly been arrested by FBI agents in Florida in connection with allegations involving child sexual abuse material.
Mr Markle was taken into custody on Friday near Tampa, according to sources cited by the Associated Press. TMZ reported that the arrest took place at a senior living facility in Lakeland, where he is understood to have been receiving medical care.
The allegations relate to suspected material said to have been found at properties and in devices linked to Mr Markle in the Philippines and Mexico. He has denied the claims, describing them as “sick lies” and saying he had never downloaded such material. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/0bf10d1c7d915b82048c04bd9cca9fc5))
The FBI has not publicly released details of any charges or confirmed the circumstances of the arrest. An agency official previously said it was aware of the allegations and would support Philippine authorities where appropriate, while investigating any potential breaches of US federal law. ([abcnews.com](https://abcnews.com/amp/GMA/Culture/meghan-markle-deeply-distressed-amid-report-father-thomas/story?id=137504267))
Meghan Markle said she was ‘deeply distressed’
Meghan Markle said last month that she was “deeply distressed” by reports that child sexual abuse images had allegedly been found at her father’s former home.
In a statement, the Duchess said a letter containing “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father had been sent to the Metropolitan Police in 2018 and later shared with her.
She said her decision to remain estranged from her father, and not allow him contact with her children, had been made “for one reason: to protect them”.
“Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children,” she said.
The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that it had received a letter in January 2019 alleging offending outside the UK. The force said the letter was passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but that its contents were not shared with other law enforcement agencies. It has referred aspects of its handling of the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and begun contacting overseas authorities. ([news.met.police.uk](https://news.met.police.uk/news/update-receipt-of-2019-letter-alleging-offending-outside-the-uk-514518?utm_source=openai))
Police in the Philippines have been examining digital devices and other material connected with the allegations. The investigation began after Mr Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr, reported the matter to authorities, according to reports cited by US news organisations. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/thomas-markle-snr-arrested-by-fbi-in-florida-report-13608900))
