Two previously undisclosed California storage units reportedly rented by Thomas Markle Sr are expected to be searched as part of an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse material, according to claims made today. The units are said to contain belongings once owned by his daughter, Meghan Markle, as well as memorabilia from his own career.
Thomas Markle Jr, the Duchess of Sussex’s half-brother, 60, has reportedly given the FBI the location of two units at a storage facility in Los Angeles.
“I dread to think what they might find,” he said, as related investigations continued in the Philippines and Mexico.
Our News Outlet previously reported finding alleged child abuse images inside a storage unit in Rosarito, Mexico, rented by Markle Sr. The findings were referred to the FBI last week, prompting Mexican authorities to raid the facility.
Authorities in the Philippines are also reportedly close to deciding whether to bring charges against Markle Sr after alleged child abuse material was said to have been found at his apartment.
Thomas Markle Jr said his father told him around 2011 that he had two storage units “stuffed to the brim” with Meghan’s former furniture and possessions from her years at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
The former Hollywood lighting director is also said to have kept boxes of career memorabilia in the units, which could now become part of the investigation.
Thomas Markle Jr, who was reportedly interviewed by the FBI for two hours, told The Sun: “My father told me about the two units years ago. He’s had them for about 15 years.
“One is packed with Meghan’s old furniture. The other contains boxes, books, photographs and memorabilia from his Hollywood career, along with items from Meghan’s college years and God knows what else.
“I dread to think what the FBI might find, particularly given what has allegedly been discovered in the Philippines and Mexico.”
Meghan Markle, pictured as a teenager, has been estranged from her father, Thomas Markle Sr, for years. Two previously undisclosed storage units he reportedly rented are said to contain some of her belongings and his personal memorabilia.
Our News Outlet alerted the FBI after reporting the discovery of sexually explicit books, magazines and photographs—including images of Asian women who appeared notably young—in a Mexican storage unit rented by Thomas Markle.
Thomas Markle Sr pictured with an unidentified young woman among items reportedly found in his belongings.
Markle Sr strongly denies the allegations, describing them to Our News Outlet as “sick lies.”
He is now living in a Florida care facility specialising in dementia care, near his daughter Samantha.
An insider claimed that Samantha had stopped discussing the allegations on social media after the meeting.
Thomas Markle Sr and Samantha reportedly held crisis talks lasting more than three hours yesterday.
Investigators in the Philippines said they had found “explicit content” on digital devices allegedly belonging to Meghan’s father, including footage said to involve “male and female minors.”
Police received a warrant on Thursday to examine material recovered from four storage boxes at the 82-year-old’s apartment in Cebu.
CONTINUE READING: California’s Vito, 97, Dies After Dancing to Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive
Officers spent the weekend reviewing nine mobile phones, three SD cards, five hard drives, a camera and another non-digital item.
Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police said: “We were able to find files consisting of CSEAM [Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material].
“These files will undergo further analysis. They include videos involving male and female minors, as well as material involving people who are not minors and other explicit content.
“Digital forensic analysis is continuing, while field investigators are working to verify the information provided to us. The investigation is moving in the right direction.”
He said none of the children shown appeared to be from the Philippines, although they appeared to be Asian or Caucasian.
The Sun reported last night that police were therefore “very close” to bringing formal charges against Meghan’s father.
The potential evidence was reportedly handed to authorities by Markle’s son, Thomas Jr, 60, who lives in the Philippines.
Thomas Jr claimed he had discovered “hundreds, if not thousands” of images and videos depicting child abuse, including one that appeared to show his father having sex with an underage girl.
Markle Sr has denied wrongdoing. He acknowledged paying for sex in the Philippines but said the women involved were adults.
He has called the allegations “sick lies” and suggested that he was set up.
Meghan, now the Duchess of Sussex, is the only child of Thomas Markle Sr and his second former wife, Doria Ragland, pictured with Meghan in 2018.
Markle moved from Mexico to the Philippines in January last year, then relocated to the United States in May after undergoing an amputation of his lower leg. He was reportedly transferred on Friday to a Florida care facility for dementia patients.
Legal experts have said that extraditing someone with advanced dementia would be unlikely.
Meanwhile, Mexican authorities confirmed that they had raided a Rosarito storage unit previously rented by Markle after the Mail reported finding alleged indecent images of children there.
The FBI is also believed to be examining the case after Scotland Yard shared a letter containing allegations made by Markle’s late former wife, Roslyn Loveless, in January 2019.
The Metropolitan Police referred itself to the independent police watchdog over its failure to act on the letter, despite providing copies to Meghan and Prince Harry.
The letter reportedly alleged that Markle had moved to Asia because “12-year-olds are legal there.”
Police have also reportedly advised Meghan not to comment publicly on the allegations. She previously said she was “deeply distressed” by the claims.
A source said Philippine police were “still going through everything,” but that serious alleged child abuse images had been found and formal charges could be imminent.
