Four days after a warrant was issued for his arrest, actor and director Timothy Busfield has reportedly surrendered to police.
Timothy Busfield, husband of “Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert, reportedly turned himself in to the Albuquerque Police Department on Tuesday (January 13). The Emmy Award-winning actor is facing charges of “criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse related to alleged misconduct involving child actors” during the filming of The Cleaning Lady, according to news outlet KOAT.
An investigation into the claims brought by twins who appeared on the Busfield-directed Fox series started in 2024. The boys, now 11, were 7 years old when the alleged abuse started. Their mother contacted authorities, and an investigation into the claims ensued.
Court documents obtained by KOAT show that an investigation into the claims was conducted by Warner Bros., the production company behind the series, and that, at the time, the claims could not be substantiated.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department said that Busfield’s whereabouts were unknown.
The rep also shared that they had enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals Service to find Busfield and take him into custody. But those measures were unwarranted as the actor reportedly turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico on Tuesday.
TMZ was the first to report the news of the surrender and shared a video of Busfield addressing the claims. In the video, he maintains his innocence and tells viewers, “I’m sure most of you know … that I was ordered to come to Albuquerque. I’m here now. I got the call Friday night. I had to get a lawyer. On Saturday, I got into a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.”
He then called the allegations “lies,” saying that he is going to confront them.
“They’re horrible. They’re all lies. And I did not do anything to those little boys. And I’m gonna fight it,” he said. “I’m gonna fight it with a great team. And I’m gonna be exonerated. I know I am because this is all so wrong and all lies.”
He concluded by saying that he hopes he’s “out real soon” and “back to work.”
Melissa Gilbert’s representative issued a statement on the actress’s behalf.
Moments after Timothy Busfield’s video was released, Ame Van Iden, a spokesperson for Melissa Gilbert, issued a statement on behalf of the actress.
Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time. Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online — including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ — should not be treated as coming from her,” Van Iden shared.
“She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds. During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
Melissa Gilbert married Timothy Busfield in 2013. Both had been married twice before and had children from their previous relationships. They currently live in a cabin in New York’s Catskills Mountains.
