{"id":275800,"date":"2026-06-23T22:31:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/275800\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T22:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T22:31:18","slug":"melissa-gilbert-says-goodbye-to-nyc-moves-upstate-amid-husband-timothy-busfields-child-sex-abuse-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/275800\/","title":{"rendered":"Melissa Gilbert says goodbye to NYC, moves upstate amid husband Timothy Busfield&#8217;s child sex abuse case"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Melissa Gilbert is bidding farewell to New York City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Little House on the Prairie alum has revealed that she is moving upstate as her husband&#8217;s legal troubles continue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Timothy Busfield, her husband of 13 years, has been accused of inappropriately touching two 11-year-old boys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/melissa-gilbert\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Melissa Gilbert;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Melissa Gilbert&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Melissa Gilbert<\/a> is going through a major transition amid her husband <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/timothy-busfield\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Timothy Busfield;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Timothy Busfield&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Timothy Busfield<\/a>&#8216;s ongoing legal troubles for alleged child sex abuse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Tuesday, the Little House on the Prairie star revealed that she is moving out of her New York City apartment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;So long perfect little one bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side,&#8221; she wrote on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DZ7j2YGEURD\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Instagram;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Instagram&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Instagram<\/a>, offering followers a peek at the moving process. &#8220;The last eight years here have been so special.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The carousel included several photos, including one with labeled boxes stacked against a wall and another where Gilbert is sprawled out on the floor, lying beside the boxes of her packed-up home. Another photo showed the apartment before everything was packed away, and in an additional video, Gilbert offered a tour of the apartment.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Melissa Gilbert lies on the floor of her apartmentCredit: Melissa Gilbert\/Instagram\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/9bd879cb96a219573f98c70fbba4b6eb.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Melissa Gilbert lies on the floor of her apartment<br \/>Credit: Melissa Gilbert\/Instagram<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;A lot of amazing work was done in and around this city,&#8221; Gilbert noted in the caption. &#8220;So many theaters and soundstages. So many wonderful dinners with friends and nights out on the town. I&#8217;ll miss the walking and our neighborhood, the subway rides, the amazing people I&#8217;ve met there and on the streets. This city truly has a pulse. You can feel it in your heart.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She then bid farewell to many of her favorite neighborhood spots and to the city as a whole before alluding to her husband&#8217;s ongoing legal battle, in which he has been accused of child sex abuse by former costars.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Goodbye sweet neighbors whom we love so much. And a very fond \u2018farewell and see you soon&#8217; to our favorite city in the world,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I promise we will be back it&#8217;s just that right now\u2026..well\u2026.you know.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She added, &#8220;Excited to live in our wonderful home upstate full time for a good long while.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield attend the theater in New York City 2022Credit: Arturo Holmes\/Getty\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/c777abcab04f1955d66d272fca271dd5.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield attend the theater in New York City 2022<br \/>Credit: Arturo Holmes\/Getty<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In January, Gilbert&#8217;s husband of 13 years was <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/timothy-busfield-surrenders-to-police-denies-allegations-of-child-sex-abuse-11884762\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:accused of having inappropriately touched;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;accused of having inappropriately touched&quot;}\" class=\"link \">accused of having inappropriately touched<\/a> 11-year-old twin boys that he worked with on Fox&#8217;s The Cleaning Lady on multiple occasions between November 2022 and the spring of 2024. He worked as an executive producer and director on the series.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cMelissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time,\u201d her publicist Ame Van Iden said in an initial <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/melissa-gilbert-supports-husband-timothy-busfield-amid-child-sex-abuse-allegations-11884876\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:statement;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;statement&quot;}\" class=\"link \">statement<\/a> to Entertainment Weekly shortly after the allegations surfaced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the wake of the allegations, Gilbert deactivated her accounts on Instagram and Threads and did not <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/melissa-gilbert-returns-to-instagram-after-husband-timothy-busfield-indictment-on-child-sex-offenses-11974493\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:return to social media;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;return to social media&quot;}\" class=\"link \">return to social media<\/a> until May 12.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After Busfield surrendered to authorities, the <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/little-house-on-the-prairie\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Little House on the Prairie;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Little House on the Prairie&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Little House on the Prairie<\/a> alum traveled to Bernalillo County to support him at a <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/melissa-gilbert-supports-timothy-busfield-in-court-at-child-sex-abuse-hearing-11889215\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:pre-trial detention hearing;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;pre-trial detention hearing&quot;}\" class=\"link \">pre-trial detention hearing<\/a> to determine whether he\u2019d remain in custody as he awaits trial. A judge ultimately ordered the actor be <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/timothy-busfield-will-not-be-jailed-before-trial-on-allegations-of-child-sex-crimes-11889274\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:released;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;released&quot;}\" class=\"link \">released<\/a> under the condition that he has no unsupervised contact with any minors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a Jan. 17 court filing, Gilbert was one of 75 people who wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/melissa-gilbert-supports-timothy-busfield-in-court-at-child-sex-abuse-hearing-11889215\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:letters of support;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;letters of support&quot;}\" class=\"link \">letters of support<\/a> for the thirtysomething actor, including his costars Peter Horton and Ken Olin. Busfield, claimed his wife, \u201chas the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known\u201d and has \u201cdedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Timothy Busfield arrives for a hearing on Jan. 20 in Albuquerque, N.MCredit: Sam Wasson\/Getty\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20050769f8371904559f0f04cb6dc838.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Timothy Busfield arrives for a hearing on Jan. 20 in Albuquerque, N.M<br \/>Credit: Sam Wasson\/Getty<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Busfield pleaded not guilty to four felony counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (a child under the age of 13) on Feb. 11. He had additionally filed a motion to <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/timothy-busfield-files-to-dismiss-grand-jury-indictment-child-sex-abuse-case-12003073\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:dismiss the New Mexico grand jury indictment.;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;dismiss the New Mexico grand jury indictment.&quot;}\" class=\"link \">dismiss the New Mexico grand jury indictment.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with\u00a0our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/ew-dispatch-newsletter-11812417\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:EW Dispatch newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;EW Dispatch newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \">EW Dispatch newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Busfield is scheduled to appear in court on June 30 for a status hearing. <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-case-sets-trial-date-11924424\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:His trial is set to begin in May 2027;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;His trial is set to begin in May 2027&quot;}\" class=\"link \">His trial is set to begin in May 2027<\/a>. If found guilty, Busfield could be sentenced to at least three years in state prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/melissa-gilbert-leaves-nyc-amid-timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-case-12005300\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Points Melissa Gilbert is bidding farewell to New York City. The Little House on the Prairie alum&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":275801,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[5568,106061,106060,106059,9,24,56,63,65,64,45867],"class_list":["post-275800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-child-sex-abuse","tag-legal-troubles","tag-little-house","tag-melissa-gilbert","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news","tag-timothy-busfield"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/275801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}