Overview
- The inquiry began after Thomas Markle Jr. reported finding boxes of suspected child sexual abuse material and turned them over to Philippine police on October 22.
- Philippine National Police officials say digital forensics have identified files classed as child sexual exploitation and abuse material, including videos showing male and female minors who appeared Asian or Caucasian.
- Authorities have seized phones, hard drives and storage boxes from Markle’s former Cebu home and investigators say analysis is ongoing to determine who produced the material and whether any suspect appears in the files.
- U.S. agencies including the FBI and Mexican prosecutors have contacted Philippine investigators and reported seizures in Rosarito are being reviewed as part of a cross‑border evidence effort.
- No criminal charges have been filed yet; police say they will press charges if evidence warrants, while Scotland Yard has self‑referred over a 2018 letter about Markle and Thomas Markle Sr. denies the allegations and is in a Florida memory‑care facility, which may affect next steps.