RadarOnline.com can reveal Melissa Gilbert deleted her Instagram account as her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield grew to become the topic of an increasing little one intercourse abuse investigation.
The Little Home on the Prairie star’s sudden disappearance from social media got here solely days after New Mexico authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Busfield, 68, accusing him of inappropriately touching two boys on the set of his TV sequence The Cleansing Girl.
The 61-year-old actress, who solely weeks in the past shared a heartfelt publish about little one security and her experiences as a younger performer, eliminated her public profile over the weekend after police confirmed her Emmy-winning actor accomplice was needed on two counts of legal sexual contact of a minor and one rely of kid abuse.
The warrant, signed Friday by a Bernalillo County decide, follows a year-long investigation into allegations involving twin 11-year-old boys who appeared on the set of the Fox drama The Cleansing Girl between January 2022 and June 2025.
After the warrant was issued, authorities revealed on the time how Busfield was “lacking,” and the U.S. Marshals had been helping cops in finding him.
As of January 13, Busfield turned himself into police, whereas additionally claiming he’s harmless.
The grievance towards Busfield alleges he engaged in sexual conduct with the minors on a number of events.
One little one advised investigators the alleged abuse first occurred when he was seven years outdated and that Busfield touched him “three or 4 instances,” later allegedly repeating the conduct “5 – 6 instances” when the kid was eight.
In line with an affidavit filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court docket, one of many boys advised a therapist that Busfield touched his “genitalia” and “backside” whereas in a bed room set, and later apparently suffered nightmares “in regards to the director touching him.”
An Albuquerque Police Division officer mentioned Busfield grew near the boys whereas directing episodes of The Cleansing Girl, telling them to “name him Uncle Tim.”
Busfield and Gilbert additionally reportedly purchased the youngsters Christmas presents.
Investigators allege the actor would “tickle them on the abdomen and legs, regardless of them not liking it.”
The mom of the boys reported Busfield’s alleged sexual abuse to Little one Protecting Companies in October 2025 after considered one of her sons spoke out.
The College of New Mexico Hospital later alerted police.
Busfield, finest recognized for roles in The West Wing and Thirtysomething, has denied the accusations, alleging the mother and father sought “revenge” after their youngsters weren’t invited to return for the present’s closing season.
“I do not keep in mind overtly tickling the boys ever, nevertheless it would not be unusual for me,” he allegedly advised investigators, in line with the grievance towards the actor. Warner Bros. and Fox issued a joint assertion saying they had been cooperating with legislation enforcement.
It mentioned: “The well being and security of our forged and crew is at all times our prime precedence, particularly the protection of minors on our productions. “We take all allegations of misconduct very critically and have techniques in place to promptly and totally examine and, when wanted, take acceptable motion.”
Earlier than the allegations towards her husband surfaced, Gilbert publicly shared her discomfort over her personal experiences filming romantic scenes as a young person.
Reflecting on her early profession, she wrote final November: “And now, at this age, at the moment, I’m really nauseated (by the expertise), by way of the lens of at present, that is surprising. I’ve no phrases apart from to say, ‘I WAS A CHILD.'”
As of Monday, her Instagram account displayed a damaged hyperlink and a message studying: “Profile is not obtainable.”