Melissa Gilbert Listened in on Husband Timothy Busfield’s Detective Interview Before His Arrest Warrant

Melissa Gilbert; Timothy Busfield.
Credit :

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Melissa Gilbert was on speakerphone during her husband Timothy Busfield’s interview with police amid an investigation into his alleged sex crimes.
• An arrest warrant issued on Jan. 9 in Albuquerque, N.M., alleged that actor and director Busfield, 68, engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two child actors.
• During the Nov. 3, 2025, phone interview, Busfield allegedly told police that the boys’ parents were upset that they had been replaced with a younger actor, according to the warrant.

Melissa Gilbert was present during her husband Timothy Busfield’s phone interview with police related to an investigation of alleged sex crimes, as indicated by an arrest warrant issued on January 9. The warrant states that Busfield, 68, engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two child actors, specifically 11-year-old twin boys, with one claiming that the incidents began when he was just 7.

According to the warrant obtained by officials, Albuquerque Police Officer Marvin Brown conducted the phone interview with Busfield on November 3, 2025. At the time, Busfield reported that he was in New York and mentioned that his wife, Gilbert, was listening on speakerphone.

During the interview, Busfield allegedly claimed that the boys’ parents were unhappy about their sons being replaced by a younger actor. He stated that shortly thereafter, Warner Bros. contacted him regarding a complaint they were investigating.

Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield in 2023.

TheImageDirect.com

The police investigation began on November 1, 2024, following a report from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital regarding suspected sexual abuse. Victims’ parents informed police that their children had met Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where he served as a director.

Professionals suggested the boys were potentially groomed, though authorities later determined that the case did not meet their acceptance criteria at that time.

In October 2025, the victims’ mother filed a police report and informed Child Protective Services that her children disclosed instances of sexual abuse by Busfield from around November 2022 to Spring 2024. Initially, she was told that these claims could not be acted upon due to a lack of physical evidence.

During his interview, investigators noted that Busfield and Gilbert had a relationship with the victims and their family outside of their professional interactions. They had allegedly given the boys Christmas gifts and attended various social functions together.

In his report, Officer Brown reiterated this relationship, mentioning that Busfield frequently invited the family to off-set gatherings and that Gilbert’s gift-giving was aimed at fostering closeness.

Busfield previously faced sexual assault allegations dating back to 1994; however, these claims did not lead to any charges.

Gilbert and Busfield, known for his roles in Thirtysomething and The West Wing, have been married since 2013. Representatives for both have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

A representative from Warner Bros. Television stated that the health and safety of their cast and crew is their top priority, particularly concerning minors on set. The company is dedicated to investigating all allegations of misconduct seriously and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.

If you suspect child abuse, you can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, available 24/7 in over 170 languages.