Melissa Gilbert Supports Husband in Child Abuse Case

Melissa Gilbert, the actress known for her role in "Little House on the Prairie," voiced unwavering support for her husband, Timothy Busfield, in a preview of an interview airing on ABC's "Good Morning America" on April 6, 2026. The 61-year-old described the ongoing legal battle over child sex abuse allegations against the 68-year-old actor and director as "hell" and the "most traumatizing experience of our lives," following his arrest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 13, 2026.

Busfield faces four felony counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13, stemming from incidents allegedly occurring on the set of the Fox series "The Cleaning Lady," where he worked as a director. According to court documents, the charges involve two 11-year-old twin boys who worked as child actors on the show. The boys alleged that Busfield, whom they were instructed to call "Uncle Tim," touched them inappropriately, including in private areas over their clothing and through tickling, on at least two occasions: once in October 2022 and again in September 2023. Hospital professionals later noted signs of grooming, and one boy disclosed the incidents during therapy. The...