Timothy Busfield’s Whereabouts Still a Mystery as U.S. Marshals Join Police Efforts After Arrest Warrant Issued

Timothy Busfield.
Credit :

Arturo Holmes/ABC via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• The U.S. Marshals Service is assisting in locating Timothy Busfield following an arrest warrant for alleged child sex abuse.
• The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is collaborating with the U.S. Marshals Service on the case.
• The warrant accuses Busfield of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys.

The U.S. Marshals Service has taken action to find actor Timothy Busfield after the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) issued an arrest warrant. The warrant alleges that Busfield participated in unlawful sexual conduct with two 11-year-old twin boys.

Officials from the APD confirmed that they are working in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service to both locate and arrest Busfield. The U.S. Marshals Service has not responded to requests for comment regarding the situation.

When questioned about Busfield’s current status, an APD spokesperson stated, “Not that I am aware,” indicating that he has not yet been located, detained, or arrested.

The arrest warrant, as obtained by sources, includes allegations from Officer Marvin Brown stating that the twins, whose identities remain confidential, were victims of sexual crimes involving Busfield. One of the minors reported that incidents began when he was just seven years old.

Busfield is married to Melissa Gilbert. The couple, both well-known actors, wed in 2013.

Timothy Busfield.

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

An investigation into Busfield, a noted TV director, began in November 2024, initiated by a report from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital concerning alleged sexual abuse.

The parents of the twins informed Officer Brown that their children had previously worked with Busfield on the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where he directed from January 2022 to June 2025.

The parents had consulted with an attorney who advised them to take their children to UNMH, where professionals indicated that the boys might be victims of grooming. However, it was later determined that the case did not meet the acceptance criteria for referral.

In October 2025, the mother of the twins filed a police report, claiming that both boys had disclosed incidents of sexual abuse involving Busfield from November 2022 to Spring 2024. However, the warrant indicated that authorities informed her that no action could be taken since physical abuse had not occurred.

Melissa Gilbert (left) and Timothy Busfield (right) in 2023.

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty

During the investigation, Busfield reportedly suggested that the parents were upset their children had been replaced with a younger actor during auditions. Following this, he received notification from Warner Bros. regarding an ongoing investigation into the complaint.

Weeks prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant, Gilbert publicly addressed the topic of child sex abuse in a social media post. In November, she shared a nostalgic photo and reflected on her experiences filming Little House on the Prairie with an older co-star, clarifying that she did not allege any improper conduct on the actor’s part.

This reflection was prompted after comments made by Megyn Kelly concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.