Actor and director Timothy Busfield, 68, is missing several days after an Albuquerque arrest warrant accused him of sexually abusing two 11‑year‑old twin child actors who worked on Fox’s The Cleaning Lady. The affidavit says one boy reported abuse beginning at age seven and that the alleged conduct continued for several years. The case traces to a November 2024 medical report and a renewed complaint by the twins’ mother in October 2025; the U.S. Marshals have been asked to assist APD in locating Busfield.
Timothy Busfield Missing After Arrest Warrant Alleging Sexual Abuse Of Two Child Actors
Timothy Busfield at a Detroit Lions game
Actor and director Timothy Busfield has been unlocated for three days after an Albuquerque arrest warrant accused him of sexually abusing two child actors, according to police and media reports. The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has asked the U.S. Marshals Service to assist in the search.
Busfield, 68, is best known for his roles on the series Thirtysomething and The West Wing, and he has an extensive directing résumé that includes numerous television episodes. He married actress Melissa Gilbert in 2013 and has three children from earlier marriages.
Allegations and Charges
On Jan. 9 the APD issued a warrant for Busfield charging him with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. The affidavit identifies the alleged victims as 11‑year‑old twin boys who worked as child actors and met Busfield while he was directing episodes of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady, which he joined as a director in 2022. The boys are identified in court records by the initials “SL” and “VL” to protect their identities.
How the Investigation Began
According to the affidavit and reporting, the inquiry began after a physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital reported suspected child sexual abuse in November 2024. Police did not pursue the case at that time. In October 2025 the twins' mother filed an updated report with additional information to both APD and Child Protective Services; that new information led to the arrest warrant issued in January 2026.
Allegations described in the affidavit: The boys’ mother told investigators the children were "groomed and sexually abused by Timothy" and that Busfield had encouraged them to call him "Uncle Tim." She also said that a practice of distributing iPads to allow parents to monitor child actors on set stopped after Busfield joined the production. One twin (SL) told his therapist that Busfield touched his "genitalia" and "bottom," and said the abuse began when he was seven. Both boys recounted multiple incidents over several years.
Busfield's Reported Response
When questioned by investigators, Busfield reportedly told police in a phone interview that he "probably tickled the boys," described the set as a "playful environment," and suggested the allegations were motivated by the boys’ mother after the children were removed from the show, according to reporting by The New York Times. Those statements are described in the affidavit filed with the warrant.
Current Status
People magazine and other outlets reported that, three days after the warrant was issued, Busfield had not been located. An APD spokesperson confirmed to People that the U.S. Marshals Service was assisting in the search and that Busfield had not been "located, detained, or arrested." The investigation is ongoing.
Note: These are allegations contained in a law enforcement affidavit and media reports. Busfield has not been convicted of a crime; anyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sources: AP, People, The New York Times, APD affidavit.
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