Melissa Gilbert has sold her Manhattan apartment of eight years as she and her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, prepare to reside full-time in their upstate New York home. The move comes as Busfield faces a criminal case in New Mexico, where he has been indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under the age of 13.
Gilbert shared her farewell to the Upper West Side apartment on Instagram, posting photographs of the space filled with moving boxes. She reflected on her time in the city, noting the "amazing work" done in and around Manhattan, the "many theaters and soundstages," and "wonderful dinners with friends and nights out on the town." She expressed that she would miss the city's "pulse," its rhythm, and the people she encountered daily, from neighbors to strangers.
"So long perfect little one bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. The last eight years here have been so special," Gilbert wrote, alongside images of packed U-Haul boxes and household items sorted for the move. She also paid tribute to the local businesses and familiar faces that were part of her routine, including her "favorite newsstand, bodega, dance studio, and laundry."
Gilbert alluded to the reason for their relocation, stating, "I promise we will be back it's just that right now…..well….you know." She added, "Excited to live in our wonderful home upstate full time for a good long while."
Busfield, known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and "The West Wing," was indicted by a grand jury on February 6, stemming from allegations of incidents in October 2022 and September 2023. The charges are related to alleged actions involving two child actors on the television series "The Cleaning Lady," where Busfield served as a producer and director. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Busfield's legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, arguing that prosecutors did not present evidence that would have supported his innocence to the grand jury. Court filings indicate that his attorneys claim an independent Warner Bros. investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. The defense has accused the state of pursuing the indictment despite evidence to the contrary and alleged that prosecutors were "willfully blind" to exculpatory evidence. They also stated that Busfield passed a lie detector test denying inappropriate contact with one of the accusers and that a Warner Bros. review included witness affidavits defending him.
Busfield surrendered to New Mexico authorities in January and was released from jail. A judge at the time indicated he had not demonstrated a pattern of criminal behavior. A status hearing is scheduled for June 30, with a tentative trial date set for May 10, 2027.