Melissa Gilbert is leaving her New York City apartment of many years as her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, awaits trial on allegations of child sexual abuse.
The “Little House on the Prairie” star revealed Tuesday that she’s moving out of the Upper West Side apartment she’s called home for the past eight years and moving full-time to their upstate New York estate, which was raided by federal agents earlier this year.
“So long, perfect little one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. The last eight years here have been so special,” Gilbert, 62, posted on Instagram.
“A lot of great work was done in and around this city. So many theaters and soundstages. So many wonderful dinners with friends and nights out.”
The actress also reflected on what she will miss most about life on the Upper West Side as she prepares to leave the Manhattan neighborhood.
“I will miss the walk and our neighborhood, the subway rides, the amazing people I’ve met there and on the streets. This city really has a pulse,” she wrote.
“You can feel it in your heart. Goodbye favorite newsstand, bodega, dance studio and laundromat. Goodbye shoe repair, dry cleaner, nail salon. Goodbye sweet neighbors we love so much. And a very loving ‘goodbye and see you soon’ to our favorite city in the world.”
Gilbert’s move comes months after Busfield’s January arrest in New Mexico on charges of child abuse and criminal sexual contact stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched 7-year-old twin boys while working on Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady” in 2022.
The 69-year-old who has denied the accusationswas formally charged Feb. 6 with four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under 13.
Busfield pleaded not guilty on February 21 after waiving his arraignment and appearance at trial. His trial is scheduled to begin in May 2027.
While Gilbert did not explain the reason for the move, she suggested the change comes at a difficult time for her family.
“I promise we’ll be back, it’s just that right now…well…you know,” she wrote. “Excited to live in our wonderful home upstate full time for quite some time.”
Heavily armed federal agents raided the couple’s home in Highland Lake, N.Y., shortly after Busfield surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque in January.
Members of the New York Regional Fugitive Task Force used a battering ram to enter the property before searching the residence and surrounding buildings.
Gilbert has publicly supported her husband throughout the case.
The actress returned to social media in May after largely walking away from public posting following Busfield’s arrest.
She also revealed this during a recent “Good Morning America” interview she was aware of previous sexual assault allegations against Busfield before they married in 2013.
“I am neither naive nor complicit,” Gilbert told George Stephanopoulos. “I talked to him about it. I asked him questions about it.”
“I heard his side of the story — which no one ever heard — which is the truth,” she continued.
“And when the time is right, and it’s not now, Tim will tell the truth about all these past allegations when he needs to.”
