Melissa Gilbert, the beloved star of “Little House on the Prairie,” made a shocking move by deleting her Instagram account amidst a scandal involving her husband, Timothy Busfield. Busfield, a well-known actor and director, is currently the subject of a child sex abuse investigation in New Mexico.
Authorities in New Mexico recently issued a warrant for Busfield’s arrest, accusing him of inappropriately touching two boys on the set of his TV series, “The Cleaning Lady.” The allegations date back to incidents that occurred between January 2022 and June 2025. The warrant, signed by a Bernalillo County judge, charged Busfield with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
After the warrant was issued, Busfield was reported as “missing,” prompting the U.S. Marshals to assist in locating him. However, on January 13, Busfield turned himself into police and maintained his innocence in the face of the allegations.
The complaint against Busfield alleges that he engaged in sexual conduct with the minors on multiple occasions. One of the boys reported that the abuse began when he was seven years old and continued over the course of several incidents. The allegations include touching the boys inappropriately and causing emotional distress.
According to the affidavit filed in court, one of the boys disclosed the abuse to a therapist, detailing how Busfield touched him inappropriately while on set. The boys reportedly referred to Busfield as “Uncle Tim” and were given gifts by him and Gilbert. The mother of the boys reported the abuse to Child Protective Services, leading to further investigation.
Busfield denied the accusations, claiming that the parents sought revenge after their children were not invited back for the show’s final season. Warner Bros. and Fox released a joint statement expressing cooperation with law enforcement and prioritizing the safety of their cast and crew, especially minors.
Before the scandal, Gilbert had publicly shared her discomfort over her experiences filming romantic scenes as a teenager. She expressed shock and disgust at the thought of her younger self being put in such situations. Currently, her Instagram account displays a message stating that her profile is not available.
The unfolding scandal has rocked the entertainment industry and left fans and colleagues of Gilbert and Busfield in disbelief. The investigation into Busfield’s alleged actions continues as authorities seek justice for the victims.
