Police find child abuse videos on devices from Thomas Markle's flat in the Philippines that were handed in by his son
Meghan Markle, pictured with Thomas Markle Sr., 82, whose move to a Florida dementia care facility has raised fears that federal agents may be unable to question him.Seized devices examined by Philippine National Police officers in Cebu City, as investigators said a video recovered from Thomas Markle Sr.'s former home depicted children of Asian and Caucasian backgrounds engaged in sexual acts.
Philippine National Police Major General Wilson Asueta told a press conference in Cebu that forensic analysis of devices recovered from Thomas Markle Sr.'s flat had revealed footage of Asian and Caucasian male and female minors engaged in sexual acts. The weekend-long examination covered nine mobile phones, three SD cards, five hard drives and further devices seized under a warrant issued on 29 October. Asueta said the investigation is "going in the right direction" and police are "very close" to filing formal charges against the 82-year-old.
The devices were turned over to police by Markle Sr.'s son Thomas Markle Jr., 60, who reported finding 'hundreds, if not thousands' of images and videos at his father's Philippines home.
The FBI has opened a parallel investigation and is coordinating with Philippine police, though UK authorities have yet to make contact with the Philippine force.
A dementia diagnosis — Markle Sr. has since been placed in a Florida care home — could complicate prosecution, though legal experts say it does not automatically prevent an arrest or charges.
