Meghan Markle’s Father Led Away in Handcuffs From Nursing Home: He Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison in Child Sexual Abuse Material Case

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has been arrested in Florida on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material. The elderly man, who uses a wheelchair following the amputation of one of his legs, was led away from a nursing home in handcuffs by FBI agents. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Footage of the arrest of 81-year-old Thomas Markle was published by The Sun, which first reported that a large quantity of child sexual abuse material had allegedly been discovered at his home in the Philippines.

In the photographs, Markle is seen wearing a scruffy, stained T-shirt featuring a cat in sunglasses drinking iced coffee. FBI agents wheeled him out of Maravida Senior Living in Lakeland, Florida.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Markle with one count of possession of child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, some of the images allegedly showed Thomas Markle himself engaged in sexual acts with prepubescent girls.

The alleged evidence was discovered at his home overseas, as well as in two storage units in Los Angeles that he had reportedly rented for approximately 18 years.

Thomas Markle underwent a leg amputation in December 2025. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing black trousers and had only one shoe on his remaining foot.

Prosecutors said U.S. investigators seized 78 items during the searches, including slides, photographic negatives and books allegedly containing child sexual abuse material. Markle had reportedly been renting the two storage units in the Los Angeles area since 2008.

Court documents allege that two photographs showed an adult man, identified by one witness as Thomas Markle, with a naked prepubescent girl. Other images allegedly depicted Markle alongside children in varying states of undress.

“Thomas Markle is charged with possession of child sexual abuse material, including photographs allegedly depicting him with underage girls. These are extremely serious allegations, and we intend to hold Mr. Markle accountable to the full extent of federal law,” said Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Markle was released on bail just hours after his arrest. The court barred him from contacting minors, ordered him to wear an electronic monitoring device and warned him against intimidating or retaliating against witnesses.

Thomas Markle, who reportedly suffers from dementia and recently underwent a partial leg amputation, appeared in federal court in downtown Tampa in a wheelchair. Judge Lindsey Griffin ordered a psychiatric examination and an assessment of his mental condition to determine whether, given his age and health, he is capable of understanding the charges against him and the consequences of the legal proceedings.

“Given Mr. Markle’s age and medical condition, it is important to conduct an evaluation to determine whether he understands the nature and consequences of the proceedings,” the judge said.

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, said the allegations against her father had left her “deeply shocked.”

Thomas Markle and his daughter Meghan have been estranged for years.