Who is Thomas Markle Jr.? Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle's estranged half-brother named 'person of interest' in investigation into their father over child sexual abuse images

The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle's estranged half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. has been named a "person of interest" in an investigation into their father Thomas Markle Sr. over child sexual abuse images. The said inquiry is taking place in the Philippines, where Markle Sr. previously lived. Jonvic Remulla, the country’s interior and local government secretary, told a press conference in the capital Manila that there were signs pointing that Markle Jr. was "involved in the crime as well."

What did the official say?

Remulla said that Markle Jr. was not being treated as a suspect as yet, and his alleged involvement was believed not to be directly linked to the material that he handed to the police. The official added that over 7,000 photos and one video -- all of underage males and females of Asian, Latin, and European descent -- had been found. Some of the children were as young as 10 or 11.


Remulla described the photos as the "most deplorable displays of impunity towards sexual activity that I have ever seen."

Markle Sr., who returned to United States from the Philippines in May, has admitted to paying for sex in the Philippines but has strongly denied possessing child sexual abuse images. He instead suggested that he had been "set up".

Markle Jr.'s allegations against father

Markle Jr. alerted the local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, reportedly claiming to have found four storage boxes at his father’s home in the Philippines containing "hundreds, if not thousands" of child sexual abuse images. Markle Jr. is currently in Cebu City in the Philippines.

Markle Jr. was recently interviewed at his home in Cordova, Cebu, as part of an international and multi-agency meeting via online conferencing, according to The Sun. In that meeting, Markle Jr. gave his statement to an FBI agent based in Florida, who specializes in child sex abuse cases.

How has Markle Sr. reacted?

Markle Sr. has described his son's claims as "sick lies." Speaking to the Daily Mail at the time the allegations surfaced, he said: "I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me." He added: "I could never do what I’m being accused of. It’s the worst thing anyone could accuse me of."