Thomas Markle bailed as Philippines plans child sexual abuse charges

ITV News reported that Thomas Markle, the estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is bailed in Florida after being charged with possessing images of the sexual abuse of children. The channel said he is living under house arrest at a care facility in Florida and wearing an electronic monitor.

According to ITV News, the FBI claims it found images of him sexually abusing young girls. The channel reported that papers filed at the district court in Tampa allege explicit photos show Markle with a child at a hotel in the Philippines. Markle, 82, has always denied the allegations, ITV News said.

ITV News reported that it understood authorities in the Philippines would begin their own criminal proceedings after his former residence there was recently searched. Cebu police are working closely with their American counterparts, according to the channel. ITV News said it understood Philippine authorities would proceed with criminal charges of their own.

The channel reported that the multinational investigation was triggered when Markle's son handed boxes of materials to Philippine police. The son alleged the boxes belonged to his father and contained evidence of child sexual abuse, according to ITV News. The channel said the material led to searches in the Philippines, Mexico and California. In Cebu, officers found photos and videos alleged to show children being abused by adults, ITV News reported. The FBI was asked to trace the serial numbers on several mobile phones to establish whether they belonged to Markle, the channel said.

ITV News reported that Markle did not enter a plea during his initial court hearing. The channel said he will undergo a psychiatric evaluation before the case moves forward. It also reported that the Duchess of Sussex has said she is deeply distressed by the allegations engulfing her father.