Meghan Markle’s half-brother now 'person of interest' in child sexual abuse images investigation

Meghan Markle’s half-brother now 'person of interest' in child sexual abuse images investigation Authorities in the Philippines investigating Thomas Markle Senior over child sexual abuse image allegations say his son, Thomas Markle Junior is also a ‘person of interest’ — but not being treated as a suspect Meghan’s half-brother Thomas Markle Jr has been named a “person of interest” by authorities investigating child sexual abuse allegations facing the Duchess of Sussex’s father. Jonvic Remulla, the Philippines interior and local government secretary, told a press conference in Manila today that there are “signs that point that the son is involved in the crime as well”. But he said Mr Markle Jr, who alerted local police and the FBI to images he found in his father Thomas Markle Snr’s belongings, was not yet being treated as a suspect. More than 7,000 photos and one video — all of underage males and females of Asian, Latin and European descent, with some as young as 10 and 11 — were uncovered, Mr Remulla said. He described the images as “the most deplorable displays of impunity towards sexual activity that I have ever seen”. Mr Markle Snr, who is estranged from Meghan, has been moved into a care home for dementia patients, prompting fears the FBI will not be able to interview him. Mr Remulla said: “We’re determining if son is involved… There are signs that point that the son is involved in the crime as well but only as a person of interest so far.” He added: “We will know in the next few days.” Last week, four boxes of materials allegedly found in Mr Markle Sr’s former home in the Philippines are said to have been handed over to authorities. It is understood the boxes contained computers, phones, hard drives and old video tapes. Mr Remulla said Mr Markle Jr was still in Cebu City. Mr Markle Sr has denied the allegations against him, calling them sick lies. Meghan is the only child of Mr Markle Sr’s marriage to Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland. The Duchess became estranged from her former TV lighting director dad in the run-up to her 2018 wedding after he was caught staging paparazzi photographs in the days before the ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor - and did not attend the wedding. When allegations against him surfaced, she revealed she was sent a letter via the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection in 2019 which made “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father, but that she was given assurances these were being investigated. The Met has admitted it never shared the details with other law enforcement agencies, with the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), now investigating the force’s conduct. The Duchess had wanted to “speak out” immediately after reading the letter but police advised her against this, sources said. When former TV lighting director Mr Markle Sr had his leg amputated in the Philippines last year, he made pleas for the Duchess to contact him. Meghan is said to have written him a final letter in which she said she knew he was an abuser and that he would never see his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.