Timothy Busfield, Charged With Child Sex Abuse, Allegedly on the Run as Feds Brought Into the Case

Melissa Gilbert’s husband Timothy Busfield, who has a warrant out for his arrest in connection to child sex abuse charges, is reportedly on the run.

Federal law enforcement is now on the case to track the 68-year-old actor down, Deadline reported on Monday, January 12.

“Albuquerque Police Department is working with the U.S. Marshal Service to get Mr. Busfield into custody,” APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos told the outlet. “I do not have a timeline.”

When People asked an APD spokesperson if Busfield had been located as of Monday, they responded, “Not that I am aware.”

The Emmy Award winner made headlines this month for being accused of inappropriately touching a minor. An arrest warrant was issued January 9 in New Mexico with charges that include one count of child abuse and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under the age of 13.

The charges against Busfield stem from incidents involving two young brothers that allegedly occurred on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady between November 2022 and the spring of 2024. One of the boys claimed he was 7 years old when the alleged incidents began.

The arrest warrant stated, per multiple reports, that Busfield touched one of the boy’s “penis and buttocks, masking it as play.” The investigation into the matter began in November 2024, and their identities remain withheld.

Reports have stated that the former Little House on the Prairie actress, 61, was aware of her husband’s phone interview with police amid the investigation, and she has since deactivated her Instagram profile.

According to the warrant, Busfield allegedly told police that there was never a “weird” moment with the kids, and claimed that the parents were upset their sons had been replaced with a younger actor who auditioned, per People.

NBC has pulled an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, scheduled to air Thursday, January 15, which featured Busfield as a guest star.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.