Thomas Markle Sr. Has been moved into a specialized dementia care facility in Florida as a child pornography investigation targeting him continues overseas.
The 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle, 45, was photographed in a wheelchair Friday in Lakeland, Florida, being transferred between care facilities by aides, according to the US Sun. The outlet reported that he has been formally diagnosed with dementia and is now residing in a facility dedicated to dementia patients.
His apparent cognitive decline could complicate the FBI’s parallel probe into the child pornography allegations, a source told the US Sun. Thomas Sr. Had been living in the Philippines until earlier this year, when he returned to the United States following a stroke that caused a blood clot and ultimately led to the amputation of his left leg below the knee.
His daughter Samantha Markle, 61, said in May that her father relocated to pursue “ongoing medical care” in the United States.
The care home transfer came to light five months after news broke that Philippine authorities are investigating Thomas Sr. For alleged child pornography possession. His son, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, reportedly discovered what he described as “hundreds, if not thousands” of child sex abuse images at his father’s former home in Cebu and reported him to authorities.
Thomas Sr. Has vigorously denied the allegations. In a statement last week, he insisted, “I could never do what I’m being accused of. … It’s just a bunch of sick lies.”
He previously dismissed the claims as “bulls–t” when his son first went public.
Samantha Markle sided with her father and accused her brother of acting out of “revenge.” The family fracture deepened when the outlet reporter came forward with separate allegations of “vile” materials found in Thomas Sr.’s abandoned storage unit in Mexico.
Reports said that Philippine officials have obtained a warrant to search Thomas Sr.’s digital devices. The Department of Justice’s Office of the Regional Prosecutor VII for Central Visayas stated that “appropriate legal action may be pursued” if investigators find “sufficient evidence to identify any person who may be held liable.”
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has addressed the scandal once, writing in part that she is “deeply distressed” by the news. Her representative did not immediately respond to the outlet’s request for comment on her father’s latest move into dementia care.
The scandal has also touched the British royal family. Reports said Friday that Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 44, were made aware of a 2019 letter sent to police accusing Thomas Sr. Of child sexual abuse, which was later passed on to Meghan. However, sources close to the Palace insisted that there is no truth to those claims. The outlet also reported that Prince Harry’s royal family members will likely distance themselves from the couple and not “become involved” in the matter.
The former lighting director’s health has deteriorated significantly since his stroke and amputation, with his current cognitive state now potentially affecting both his care needs and the trajectory of the criminal investigation spanning multiple countries.