Thomas Markle Sr., 82, the estranged father of the Duchess of Sussex, appeared in a Florida court Friday facing charges of possession of child pornography. Federal agents arrested Markle at his senior living facility in Lakeland, Florida.
According to an unsealed federal complaint, Markle is accused of possessing sexual material, including photographs allegedly depicting himself with minor girls. The Daily Mail reported that Mexican police, alerted by the Daily Mail, raided a storage unit rented by Markle in Rosarito, Mexico, days before his arrest.
Markle appeared disheveled in court and was described as winching. When questioned by a Daily Mail reporter about whether he was a pedophile, Markle responded weakly with a "No." He remained silent when asked if he had ever collected child pornography.
Markle was released on house arrest on Friday afternoon. The Duchess of Sussex has not commented on the recent developments concerning her father.