Melissa Gilbert's Husband Timothy Busfield Vanishes As Federal Search Intensifies

Federal authorities are intensifying their search for Melissa Gilbert's husband, Timothy Busfield, as a child sex abuse warrant draws national attention and Hollywood shockwaves.

As US Marshals join the manhunt, disturbing allegations from a television set, denials of wrongdoing, and mounting legal pressure collide with the sudden online silence of his wife, Melissa Gilbert, turning a celebrity crisis into a federal investigation.

Federal Warrant Sparks Urgent Manhunt

The search for Timothy Busfield escalated this week after federal authorities confirmed they are assisting local police in locating the missing actor.

A warrant has been issued for the 68-year-old, charging him with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

The alleged incidents are tied to his work as a director on the television series "The Cleaning Lady."

The US Marshals' involvement underscores the seriousness of the situation.

According to officials, the Albuquerque Police Department has been working to locate Busfield since the warrant was issued in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

When pressed on whether Busfield had been found, detained, or arrested, an APD spokesperson told PEOPLE, "Not that I am aware."

Authorities have not disclosed when Busfield was last seen, nor whether they believe he has left the state.

His disappearance has only intensified scrutiny around the allegations, as investigators seek to take him into custody and formally proceed with the case.

Melissa Gilbert And The Allegations On Set

The investigation into Busfield's alleged conduct began in November 2024, following a report from staff at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

According to police, concerns were raised about twin 11-year-old boys who appeared to be potentially groomed while working on "The Cleaning Lady," a show Busfield directed.

Court documents state that the alleged abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024.

An affidavit filed in the case and obtained by The Los Angeles Times details how Busfield allegedly "grew closer to the boys" during filming and encouraged them to call him "Uncle Tim."

The document also claims that Busfield and his wife, actress Melissa Gilbert, bought the boys Christmas gifts.

The affidavit further alleges that Busfield would "tickle them on the stomach and legs, despite them not liking the tickling."

At the time, the children reportedly did not accuse him of sexual touching. However, the situation took a more serious turn months later.

Disturbing Claims From Child Actors

In October 2025, one of the parents reported to Child Protective Services that her child disclosed alleged sexual abuse by Timothy Busfield.

One child actor later claimed that Busfield first touched his "private areas" multiple times on set when he was just seven years old.

The following year, the child alleged that the inappropriate contact happened again on several occasions.

The boy reportedly explained that he was "afraid to tell anyone because Tim was the director, and he feared Tim would get mad at him."

Investigators also interviewed therapists and medical professionals as part of the inquiry.

According to the affidavit, one of the children told a therapist that Busfield touched his "genitalia" and "bottom" while in a bedroom on the set.

The document notes that the child experienced bed-wetting "along with other behavior issues," was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and suffered nightmares "about the director touching him."

Studio Findings And Melissa Gilbert's Husband Responds

The criminal complaint also outlines a separate internal investigation conducted by Warner Bros.

The studio reportedly received an anonymous tip through the SAG-AFTRA hotline in February 2025 concerning a December 2024 incident.

While Warner Bros. investigated the claims, the studio later said it did not find evidence to support them.

Despite that conclusion, the criminal complaint includes additional allegations. It claims Timothy Busfield once entered a hair and makeup trailer and "kissed a minor male on the face as the minor was getting a haircut."

It also alleges that "there are pictures of Mr. Busfield' tickling and caressing the head and body of minor boys.'"

When questioned by investigators, Busfield allegedly suggested the accusations were motivated by retaliation.

He claimed the boys' parents wanted "revenge" after their children were not asked back for the show's final season.

Busfield also reportedly said, "I don't remember overtly tickling the boys ever, but it wouldn't be uncommon for me."

Melissa Gilbert Retreats From Public View

As the case unfolded, attention also turned to Timothy Busfield's wife and "Little House on the Prairie" star, Gilbert.

Observers noticed that Gilbert appeared to have deleted her social media accounts amid the growing controversy.

As of Monday, a link to her official Instagram page displayed the message, "Profile isn't available. The link may be broken, or the profile may have been removed."

The move stood in contrast to statements Gilbert made months earlier about child sex abuse.

In November, she publicly addressed comments made by Megyn Kelly that appeared to downplay the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein. Gilbert referenced her own experiences as a teenager filming romantic scenes with an older co-star.

In a post shared at the time, Gilbert wrote, "So, I debated posting this, but I feel compelled to share. After seeing many women's posts with the hashtags #iwasfifteen #imfifteen #iwasachild, I decided to Google search myself at that age and see what came up. And this is some of what I found."

She continued, "And now, at this age, at this time, I am actually nauseated. The girl on vacation in Hawaii with her family is the same girl who was expected to 'fall in love with' and kiss a man on film who was several years older than she was."

Reflecting on the experience through a modern lens, Gilbert added, "Through the lens of today, this is shocking. I have no words other than to say, 'I WAS A CHILD.'"

She then expressed gratitude for the adults who protected her on set. The actress concluded her message with a direct warning, "@Megynkelly, you need to be careful with your words."