'LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRE' STAR SOBS IN COURT OVER SEX CHARGES

Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: 'LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE' STAR SOBS IN COURT OVER SEX CHARGES
Air Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace (iHeartPodcasts & CrimeOnline)

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Episode Overview

In one of her most sensational episodes yet, Nancy Grace unpacks the explosive criminal case against Timothy Busfield—renowned actor, director, and husband of “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert—who faces child sexual abuse charges. With a panel of legal, psychological, and investigative experts, Grace interrogates the evidence, the credibility of witnesses, possible motives, and the wider implications for child actors and their families.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Accused and Allegations

• Who is Timothy Busfield?

  • Emmy-winning actor/director with a long Hollywood résumé; husband to Melissa Gilbert.
    (03:11)
  • Grace details Busfield’s career highlights and current notoriety due to the charges.

• Nature of Charges:

  • Alleged abuse of twin boy actors, with behavior including fondling over clothing and inappropriate touching.
  • Accusations emerged after the boys were let go from a show, allegedly causing parental resentment.

“Ten heavily armed U.S. Marshals…use a battering ram to breach the door, gaining access to the home not knowing what they will find…” — Dave Mack (04:27)

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2. Potential Motive: Revenge or Justice?

Revenge theory:

• Defense and reporting raise the possibility the boys’ parents “set up” Busfield after the twins, their children, were dismissed from the show.
  • Parents allegedly upset their children were aged out, replaced with younger actors (06:26, Jessica Finn).

“If your victim can be attacked…and the mother allegedly said ‘I’m gonna get his ass’ for not bringing my children back…that could be a mortal blow to the state’s case.” – Nancy Grace (07:10)

• One parent, a disbarred attorney with a fraud conviction, and financial desperation are discussed as potential motives.
  (11:07+)

“She is essentially saying that these boys’ parents are scam artists…she’s arguing…these parents have put these boys up to making these allegations against Tim.” — Jessica Finn (11:07)

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3. Lack of Physical Evidence and Forensic Challenges

• Emphasis on the typical lack of forensic evidence in fondling cases (no DNA, no confession, no eyewitnesses). (07:46–08:58)
• Initial interviews and hospital “CART” (Child Abuse Response Team) exams:
  • Both boys denied abuse occurred during original forensic interviews.
  • Only reported “tickling... they didn’t like.” (25:02–31:31)

“That is going to be extremely damaging on cross-examination if these boys do take the stand… if these boys ever testify as adults that’s going to be a hell of a cross.” — Nancy Grace (27:59)

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4. Changing Testimony & Timeline of Disclosures

• 1st Interview: Both boys deny any sexual abuse.
• Hospital Exam: No claim of sexual touching, only tickling.
• 1 Year Later: One boy claims Busfield did touch both front and back parts (35:13).

Prosecution’s position: Delayed disclosure common among minors due to fear, trauma, or grooming. Defense argues shifting stories damage credibility.

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5. Psychological Analysis & Family Dynamics

• Dr. Bethany Marshall explores the adult influence, possible parental coaching, and the impact of using children as “pawns.”
  (17:48–21:36, 29:31, 40:46)

“If the parents are already monetizing their children in one way as actors…it would be interesting to know if they’re willing to cross that line and monetize their children in other ways…yes, it is very, very dark.” — Dr. Bethany Marshall (20:41)

• Discussion of classic indicators of abuse (sudden withdrawal, nightmares, avoidance) and the complexity of family exploitation vs. true victimization. (37:07–38:33)

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6. Testimonial Evidence and Set Protocols

• Testimony that Busfield hugged and kissed children on set, violating boundaries. Debate arises—is this just poor boundaries or something more sinister?
  (21:36–23:11)

• Set personnel claim it would be difficult for children and Busfield to be totally alone due to the constant presence of multiple adults.
  (45:45)

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7. Prior Allegations Against Busfield

• At least 8 documented allegations stretching back to 1994, with some claims settled out of court (including a $150,000 payment).
  (46:37–49:16)

“A $150,000 settlement on a prior claim... that’s a lot of money.” — Nancy Grace (48:45)

• Debate over whether prior incidents would be admissible as evidence (“similar transactions”) and whether they reinforce a pattern or are irrelevant in this trial. (49:16–49:54)

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8. Melissa Gilbert’s Role & Public Image Management

• Melissa Gilbert was present in court, crying, supporting her husband, and also did a refrigerator tour video—perhaps signaling normalcy and support. (43:49)

“She may be trying to normalize their household…to indicate that she’s a nurturing person, that she believes her husband…” — Dr. Bethany Marshall (44:07)

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9. Legal Strategy and Next Steps

• Busfield took and passed a privately arranged polygraph en route to surrendering to police.
• Judge released Busfield ROR (on his own recognizance), despite nature of charges, due to strength of defense arguments and lack of physical evidence. (52:30)

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "If your victim can be attacked ... and the mother allegedly said 'I'm gonna get his ass' ... that could be a mortal blow..." – Nancy Grace (07:10)
• “She is essentially saying that these boys’ parents are scam artists…” — Jessica Finn (11:07)
• “It doesn’t smell good at all—and I don’t expect victims to be angels... but this is bad.” — Nancy Grace (17:02)
• "If the parents are already monetizing their children as actors... would they cross that line?" — Dr. Bethany Marshall (20:41)
• "In almost every rape or molestation case that I prosecuted, universally, somewhere in the defendant's past, somebody said he was always so creepy..." — Nancy Grace (23:45)
• “You know what, I am speaking from a place of investigation. I'm trying to find out what really happened.” — Nancy Grace (49:54)

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Important Timestamps

• 02:40 — Episode proper begins: "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace"
• 03:11 — Busfield’s status as beloved actor outlined
• 04:27 — Details on Busfield’s dramatic arrest
• 06:26 — Introduction of “revenge motive”
• 08:34 — Prosecution’s case weak due to lack of physical/forensic evidence
• 11:07 — Parental criminal history and credibility explored
• 15:42 — Role of victim credibility and morality in sexual crimes
• 25:02/27:25 — Original police interviews: boys deny abuse
• 31:06–31:31 — Hospital CART exam: only tickling disclosed, not molestation
• 35:13 — First direct claim of inappropriate touching, a year later
• 37:07 — Withdrawal of one twin as classic trauma symptom
• 46:37 — Prior allegations and settlements discussed
• 52:30 — Polygraph, Busfield released on own recognizance

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Memorable Moments

• Nancy’s personal reflection on working homicide, rape, and child abuse—using “Little House on the Prairie” as a coping tool (38:33).
• Replay of boys’ police interview audio where they deny abuse—“that is going to be extremely damaging on cross…” (27:59).
• Analysis of how wealthy or disbarred parents might push a false narrative for financial gain, and the psychological trauma for exploited children (20:41).

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Conclusion

Nancy Grace and her panel navigate the murky waters of celebrity, credibility, and justice in child abuse cases. The episode is a probing, skeptical examination of both the victims’ and defendant’s stories, ultimately asking: Are these allegations motivated by truth, revenge, or greed? The case remains fraught with contradictions—shifting testimony, a high-profile defendant, and prior accusations—leaving listeners with more questions than answers about justice, credibility, and the welfare of children in Hollywood.

If you have information about this case, contact Albuquerque PD at 505-843-7867.

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For those who haven’t listened: This is an intense, fast-paced, and deeply analytical look at a complex criminal case, distinguished by Nancy Grace’s unflinching confrontational style and her expert panel’s nuanced perspectives.

Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Stories with nancy grace little house on the prairie star sobs in court over sex charges i'm nancy grace this is crime stories i want to thank you for being with us timothy busfield a.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Well known actor director and producer now finds himself not behind the lens but directly in front of facing disturbing allegations that threatened to redefine his public image.

[Nancy Grace]

We all know who melissa gilbert is the star of little house on the prairie that ran for years and years and years people watched her grow up and here she is now but many people didn't recognize the name timothy busfield but i bet you recognize this quiz show field of dreams revenge of the nerds wow blue bloods striking distance lizzie mcguire entourage sleepy hollow matlock the client list west wing lois and clark joan of arcadia stripes it goes on and on and on this is us graceland fbi most wanted i've got reams of titles timothy busfield connected to all of these hits there he is now a famous famous actor director now brought in court in shackles after this at least.

[Dave Mack]

Ten heavily armed us marshals from the new york regional task force gather at the upstate home of award winning actor director timothy busfield the agents wearing helmets and protective gear use a battering ram to breach the door gaining access to the home not knowing what they will find as the property is searched for.

[Nancy Grace]

Evidence that from our friends at daily mail and you see the use of a battering ram which is very very unusual to chris melcher joining us high profile celebrity lawyer partner walzer melcher question to you melcher how often have you seen a battering ram used to get.

[Chris Melcher]

To a defendant the battering ram seems excessive but i have definitely seen it in my practice when law enforcement enters a home which is an inherently dangerous.

[Nancy Grace]

Thing to do guys you're seeing a shot from our friends at the daily mail this is when in full tactical gear le law enforcement descends on the upstate new york home of little house on the prairie star melissa gilbert and husband actor director timothy busfield as you heard earlier not knowing what would be inside they batter the door down that from our friends at daily mail which leads us to now tonight in the last hours bus felt in a court in new mexico answering up to charges of child sex abuse now in court the argument in court that this whole child sex abuse claim is fabricated over revenge okay joining me an all star panel straight out to jessica finn senior investigative reporter at the us sun on the story from the very beginning jessica thank you for being with us what is she talking about revenge so the.

[Jessica Finn]

Boys were basically taken off the show sometime in early twenty twenty four and apparently the parents were very upset about this it sounds like from the description of what the defense attorney amber was saying is that the boys had basically aged out like the role was only over the course of a couple of years and the boys had suddenly between covid and other like delays in filming the boys had basically aged out and so they decided to replace them with younger actors and so it was you know they they were off the show and then all the way in november of twenty twenty four is the first time we hear an allegation that timothy had allegedly done something untoward towards the.

[Nancy Grace]

Boys dave mack maybe i need to check my fb here dave mack joining us crime stories investigative reporter but does a witness state that the boys mother said upon learning the boys the twin boys were not going to be brought back to the set i'm going to get his ass did she say that.

[Dave Mack]

According to a witness nancy the lead actress of this series is the one who is they say actually overheard that the mother of the twins said we're going to get rid of it we are going to get his ass okay.

[Nancy Grace]

We'Re going to get to the claims in just a moment the actual claims in an indictment that looks bad and apparently the judge bought into it you know to veteran defense attorney chris melcher joining us chris going into a case where you do not have forensic evidence you don't have dna you don't have a fingerprint you don't have a confession and you don't have an eyewitness what you do have is a victim and if your victim can be attacked and remember these were little boys and the mother allegedly said i'm gonna get his ass for not bringing my children back that could be a mortal blow to.

[Chris Melcher]

The state's case absolutely nancy i am really surprised that this case was even filed just based on the affidavit that was that was presented to the and the information that's come out now is devastating and it just seems to me that he's innocent and that i don't really believe this case is long for the world based on what we're saying.

[Nancy Grace]

Well isn't it true chris melcher that that's what you're paid to think you're a defense attorney and you are paid to state my client's innocent just yes no isn't that what you're paid to do i mean i'm just being blunt.

[Chris Melcher]

It'S the harsh truth as a defense attorney yeah but as as a citizen here just reviewing this information there is no reasonable prospect that the def that the prosecutor can secure a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt in my mind okay.

[Nancy Grace]

Hold on just a moment you do know melcher about similar transactions claims of abuse on teens and young people dating back to nineteen ninety four for you think all that that didn't happen either.

[Chris Melcher]

Those aren't really similar there's no so.

[Nancy Grace]

It always happens to younger individuals sixteen years old seventeen years old it often happens in relation to a tv or movie set there is always a position like a fiduciary position for instance he is in charge and the other person is coming to audition or to try out or to be mentored so i see a lot of similarities but i do agree a case in chief must stand on its own the similar transactions are to corroborate or bolster your case in chief so who are we going to believe could all things be true could the mother be hell bent on revenge and the boys be telling the truth there's problems with that too this case is riddled with problems that doesn't mean it didn't happen but straight back out to jessica finn joining us what is fayerberg saying she's saying that what one of the boys parents was a lawyer that had been disbarred and that they were running out of money explain to me what she's arguing to the.

[Jessica Finn]

Judge so she is essentially saying that these boys parents are scam artists she is telling the judge that they have a history of nefarious behavior that both the father and the mother and she's arguing that essentially these parents have put these boys up to making these allegations.

[Nancy Grace]

Against tim wow okay dave mack crime stories what can you tell us about claims that one of the parents is a disbarred lawyer that would be the.

[Dave Mack]

Father nancy his name's ronald rodis defense attorney that actually pleaded guilty in twenty seventeen to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud he was accused in a multi million dollar scheme defrauding over fifteen hundred homeowners that's just the dad mom's not innocent either she ain't.

[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Better crime stories with nancy grace to doctor bethany marshall joining us renowned psychoanalyst joining us out of la author of deal breaker you can see her now on peacock and you can find her at dr bethanymarshall dot com doctor bethany i've had to argue to a jury that a prostitute can be raped a prostitute can be ag assaulted a prostitute can be armed robbed i have had to argue that a dope addict can be murdered that it's still a murder no matter who the victim is all the victims that i represented in inner city atlanta for a decade i can promise you they were not nuns and priests and virgins can we just put that out there right now and i would have to tell the jury up front you're going to hear this this and this but that does not mean a crime didn't happen but i got to tell you something these parents that's a doozy you got the did you hear what dave mack just said he's.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

Right yes i did when i hear.

[Nancy Grace]

Lawyer disbarred i'm like what what because bethany and melcher i'm sure you're going to agree i don't know if you'll admit it or not but to get thrown out of the bar you have to do a lot to get thrown out of the bar i mean a lot he's disbarred i mean and it was a fraud case which is critical here because when you don't know a horse bethany you look at the track record dad thrown out of the bar for fraud and now the defense is claiming this is a fraud for money it doesn't smell good it doesn't smell good at all and i don't expect victims to be angels i never get an angel victim but this is bad.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

Or you can be a sex predator but also not be guilty of predating on two victims you're accused of you know nancy instead of thinking about who's right and who's wrong timothy busfield or the parents how about thinking about it as a group of people who acted something out together so again this is made up i don't know timothy busfield but let's say the parents are very angry that the boys are no longer hired for the show they get wind that timothy busfield is potentially predatory and because of that it entices them to set him up as having molested the boys and in that case you can see that all the adults in this scenario acted something out together or if timothy busfield did indeed molest these boys he may have come up with formidable opponents who are actually looking for for an opportunity for a shakedown so i don't think this is going to be an one's an angel and one's a devil i think this is going to be adults colluding with each other in a very terrible way with two little boys victimized being used as pawns by probably all parties involved but at what.

[Nancy Grace]

Juncture first of all i'm trying to imagine a mom and a dad not destitute i mean one's got a law degree he can go work well no he can't he's disbarred he can be a mediator right melcher even lawyers that have been to sparg can go perform mediations right and make a good living at it too yes no yes and.

[Chris Melcher]

He was making a lot more money off of their kids good point so.

[Nancy Grace]

What i'm saying is bethany i've got to imagine a scenario of two parents a mother and a father going along with using their children as pawns and fabricating a sex molestation now this was not a full on rape of a child this was allegations the children were fondled over their clothes all right and their private parts which the reason i bring that up molestation is molestation is molestation but it's harder to prove a fondling because you have no physical evidence when you have a full on attack you will probably get physical evidence from the child's body we don't have that here but i'm trying to imagine a scenario bethany where a mom and a dad would put their children up to pretend that they're sex victims that is dark that is evil because the rest of their lives are going to remember hey my mom and dad they told me to say this so we could get some money i mean nancy i.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

Have a lot of adults in my practice who were once child actors and a good number of them were used as pawns by their parents and their money was taken you know nancy if the parents are already monetizing their children in one way as actors it would be interesting to know if they're willing to cross that line and monetize their children in other ways parents use their children all the time we call it exploitation interpersonal offending and yes it is very very dark they could not accept the reality that their boys had aged out they would not have this role forever but then if you get a predator on the set who has poor boundaries i don't know if timothy buzzfield is of course but you have a predator then you have yet another dark scenario where you have a predator whose parents are potentially asleep at the wheel.

[Nancy Grace]

Bethany bethany before i lose this thought and i'm going to go back in the courtroom and i'm going to play audio of the boys okay but when you said no boundaries there is evidence from several witnesses that state that busfield would come on the set he would hug the boys and actually would like plop a kiss on their head and that's against protocol and i know that because i had to train to go on these scout campouts with the children and you're not supposed to touch the children ever and i was out in the middle of nowhere camping and a little like ten year old boy came walking down by himself just crying and snotting and wailing i'm like what is wrong baby come here and i hugged him another scout master came out and went just stop right now i'm like and i unhugged and then remembered you're not supposed to touch no matter what the little boy was upset it was his first night and he wanted to go home that's what happened but you know when i'm thinking about busfield walking onto the set and kissing a kid on the face like i think on the forehead so i don't know how that will play into this when you're talking about boundaries was that part of a wicked scheme was it just a tiny taste of further exploitation or is it a natural response to seeing a child you've been working with for a year you know when you have i'm just imagining how parents could use their children in some kind of money scheme.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

Well you know when you have wealth power privilege you should know the rules timothy busfield has been on so many sets as you pointed out so by now he's well acquainted with the fact that he could potentially be a target right for people who are disgruntled or angry so he knows to watch his p's and q's there was one interview with a makeup artist who said that everybody kind of watched out for timothy busfield because he had poor boundaries and she used the word creep so i find that interesting that somebody on the else on the set said that bethany.

[Nancy Grace]

Bethany bethany bethany you just raised the hair on the back of my neck my antenna went because in every case that i well not every but almost every rape or molestation case that i prosecuted universally somewhere in the defendant's past somebody said he was always so creepy he was always a weirdo he was always a per whatever adjective they would put in right there just hearing somebody say that it's like a sixth sense okay bethany are you sitting down you look like you're sitting okay you may need to lay down i'm going to play something for you guys brace yourself the defense is having a field day with this audio of the little boys when they we're little boys listen you.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Know what's right and wrong right yeah you know no one could touch your.

[Nancy Grace]

Private areas yeah but it doesn't touch.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Them doesn't touch your private parts okay.

[Ad Voice]

Okay.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

And you know what's right and.

[Dave Mack]

Wrong right you know where people can't.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Touch where people can't do yeah you know that right does tim ever do.

[Nancy Grace]

That no he's never touched me never touched you yeah.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

In the in like you know your private areas right never.

[Nancy Grace]

Did that never okay you just heard audio police audio that we got from our friends at tmz interviewing the two twin boys we're not saying their names we're referring to them as v victory l love and s s sally l love vl and sl that is the original police interview with accusers and it sounds like that is a forensic interviewer that establishes with the child they understand right from wrong and not to tell stories okay that's just part of the interview where both boys deny anything happened.

[Dave Mack]

Emmy award winner timothy busfield joins cast as an actor and director tells boys to call him uncle tim in a inappropriate action happens on multiple occasions and parents of the boys say busfield masks the inappropriate touching as play one boy says he was touched on his intimate parts over his clothing the boys are referred to as sl and vl the parents say sl wakes up scared from nightmares about busfield touching him and is diagnosed ptsd buzzfield and his wife actress.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Melissa gilbert live a quiet secluded life in their catskills mountainside home until accusations.

[Chris Melcher]

Pull them into public scrutiny even that.

[Nancy Grace]

Quiet secluded life in the catskills did not protect timothy busfield from a battering ram just crashing through his door when he did not come to the door he has now been in court take a look at this video this is what went down at their catskills refuge take a look everybody in full tack gear this is from our friends at daily mail and in the end timothy busfield is in court now another field day another touchdown for the defense is when they obtained an audio recording from the time these claims were first brought they were originally dismissed i want you to hear again the police recording listen we've transcribed it for you so you can see and hear exactly what the boys said at the time you know.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

What'S right and wrong right yeah you know no one could touch your private.

[Nancy Grace]

Areas yeah but he doesn't touch them.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Doesn'T touch your private parts okay okay and you know what's right and wrong right you know where people can't touch where people can't yeah you know that right does tim ever do that no.

[Nancy Grace]

He'S never touched me never touched you yeah.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

In the in like you know your private areas right never did that.

[Nancy Grace]

Never okay okay that's bad for the state i'm i'm just telling you and i'm prone to believe the victims but that is going to be extremely damaging on cross examination if these boys do take the stand that they're no longer boys that's my friends at tmz so how did this whole thing happen now.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

Years later after busfield joins the show as director the parents discover there have been allegations against busfield of sexual assault against women and minors the mother asks the boys if anyone has ever touched them in a manner that made them feel uncomfortable the children reply you mean like uncle tim hearing this the parents contact a law firm that recommends taking the children to unmh okay right there.

[Nancy Grace]

Doctor bethany marshall there's it's hard to ask your children but i found a way to ask the children when they were little starting as young as two and three if anybody had ever touched their private parts ever front end or back end and i had learned a lot you know from learning about interviewing children forensically which i had to do as a prosecutor and there's a problem here because if the twins either one of them had ever said yeah i would have immediately called the hospital and the police my first thought would not be to call a lawyer what what.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

Do you think that is right here's what i think it could be that the little boy who's having ptsd and dreams about being touched by uncle tim actually in fact his parents are coaching him and talking to him about sex and what it's like when somebody touches your private parts and that that they are so excited over the prospect of a shakedown that that this is the the biggest topic in the household at this point and that it's that that's actually traumatizing this little boy i had a family who brought a sixteen year old to me who had been raped by her best male friend who was also sixteen but they they would invade the session excitedly talking about the nature of the rape and i i became aware that actually they were setting up the other family by continually planting stories in the sixteen year old's head she wasn't traumatized whatever happened with the other sixteen year old it's her parents who were traumatizing her because they just saw a big paycheck at the end of the day now i don't know for sure if that's what's happening here but i would certainly consider that as a.

[Nancy Grace]

Possibility the parents have not been accused of any fraud in this case at all for all we know these claims could be true and the parents are doing what they can for their children that said they call a lawyer and.

[Dave Mack]

This happens next examining the children hospital staff advise the parents it appears their children were groomed and in reference to a cart exam an interview of a child by a specialized forensic interviewer as part of a child abuse response team cart protocol in interviews with both boys neither child discloses any sexual contact but both say uncle tim would tickle them on the stomach and legs and they.

[Nancy Grace]

Didn'T like it oh my stars chris melcher i guess you're just dancing up and down the halls with glee right now because here they are in another interview at the hospital and they're doing a full on cart a cart which is a specialized exam you do with potential child abuse victims both times neither child discloses sex contact they do say quote uncle tim would tickle them on the stomach and legs and they didn't like it okay bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum it's lining up for the state it pains me to say it but here is another blow to potential victims i don't know if it's right or wrong but i know here's another point of cross exam i mean i'm just looking at it analytically melcher because if i'm preparing these boys for direct i got to prepare them for the fact that this hospital staff is going to come in and say he said it didn't happen you got to be ready for that if you believe the boys or don't believe the boys there's another nail in the.

[Chris Melcher]

Coffin absolutely all this evidence points towards his innocence and it's exculpatory again it's maddening to think that the prosecutor filed this case to begin with as you know they have a wait a minute.

[Nancy Grace]

Melcher wait a minute what if the prosecutor i assume has spoken to the boys and believes the boys so what you don't bring a case just because somebody like chris melcher says i can't believe they did that if you believe the victim then put the victim up on the stand and give it all you got go in guts a blazing.

[Chris Melcher]

Man no it's not about believing anyone it's whether you can secure a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt that's an ethical obligation of the prosecutor that i don't think is being honored here based on this evidence because malcher sure if you ask a child a young child over and over again in highly suggestive interviews potentially by their parents have you been abused eventually you will get the answer that you're looking for and it's well.

[Nancy Grace]

They haven't gotten it yet well they just i know the prosecution hasn't spoken to the child victims now adults young adults and they convince the prosecution this happened and the prosecution believes them and believes that they will carry the day regarding credibility and they will win the case i mean what you say is reasonably expect a conviction they may reasonably expect a conviction based on the interviews of the alleged victims you don't know that what i'm saying is you got to prep them for what's going to happen on cross and if you it ain't pretty okay what happens then they go to the hospital they do the cart interview hospital staff says all they did was tickle them all right how does that turn into this listen police.

[Chris Melcher]

Begin investigating busfield in november twenty twenty four when an investigator responds to a call from a doctor at university new mexico hospital calling for investigation the parents.

[Dave Mack]

Take their boys to the hospital and.

[Chris Melcher]

The mother contacts child protective services accusing busfield of abusing the children one of the boys tells police buzzfield first touched him inappropriately when he was just seven and again when he was eight so.

[Nancy Grace]

Jessica finn senior investigative reporter the us son on the case from the very beginning jessica so at this juncture when a police officer speaks to the boys they do say at least one of them says timothy busfield did touch them either their front end or their back.

[Jessica Finn]

End right so there was actually a year between the kids going being brought into the hospital and the hospital reporting to police that they had believed that the child the children were being groomed by timothy and then a year later they had said he had just tickled us but he didn't touch our privates at that point and so the police declined to prosecute anything on that and so a full year later now we're talking october of twenty twenty five the boys were one of the boys reported to his counselor at the time allegedly that timothy had touched him or in the front on his privates and in the back on his privates and so the counselor who's a mandated reporter called the cops and that's how the cops came to this point where where we're at where timothy has been arrested because there were was an allegation of actual touching made now even though it's a full year later that's yeah that is the prosecution argues that basically you know it takes time for kids to come forward with allegations like this and that they were intimidated by timothy and they were intimidated by you know the police and there are no conversations with police where they denied any kind of touching.

[Dave Mack]

Like this detectives find the children didn't say anything to anyone on the set even though they didn't like it because buzzfield was the director and the children are afraid of making the director angry or getting in trouble the investigation reveals even though buzzfield should not have been alone with the children measures preventing such one on one contact were ignored and there were times when buzzfield could have been alone with the children in particular sl on the set interviews with personnel.

[Ad Host / Announcer]

On the show reveal how the children changed after busfield joined the show the boys were equally happy to be in front of the cameras but after busfield joined the show sl became withdrawn did not want to be on set and vl ended up being used more than sl the investigation determines busfield did not have the opportunity to be alone with the boys particularly sl okay to doctor.

[Nancy Grace]

Bethany marshall renowned psychoanalyst doctor bethany that means something one of the boys became withdrawn and didn't want to go on the set anymore there are classic textbook symptoms of molestation you look for such as does a child start wetting the bed do their grades drop do they become quiet withdrawn sometimes they don't want.

[Dave Mack]

To eat.

[Nancy Grace]

There are many classic symptoms of child molestation yes if you know what to look for not wanting to go to the set anymore when they previously loved going to the set that's an indicator it's not enough to build a case on i can tell you that right now but it is an.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

Indicator well not the reason that's an indicator nancy is that avoidance is a primary symptom of trauma so when little boys who love to be in front of the camera all of a sudden don't want to go to set that's something you have to pay attention to you know nancy some predators sex predators or pedophi are what we call interpersonal offenders that means they don't go as far as fondling the child's genitals or groping or molesting but they exploit the child emotionally they have as i said earlier poor boundaries and they make the child feel like the child is under their control and that can be traumatic.

[Nancy Grace]

As well okay to the control room you keep showing shots of melissa gilbert i know what you're doing she's married to busfield and i know what you're doing everyone that works on crime stories knows that as my cases became more and more complex and more and more upsetting when i specialized in almost universally homicide rape child molestation i would watch little house in the prairie little house on the prairie in the morning to brace myself to go to court and finally in the end when it was serial killers serial rapists serial child molesters i had to watch two episodes every morning before i could go to work okay that said i'm attached to little house on the prairie so this case is not about melissa gilbert even if you want to make it about melissa gilbert and yes she was in court front row crying crying and while her husband was in custody for some reason she gives a tour of her fridge.

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

With nancy grace doctor bethany marshall neither here nor there when it comes into the case in chief whether this is going to actually be a case but why is she giving a tour of her fridge while her husband is being charged with child molestation multiple counts she.

[Dr. Bethany Marshall]

May be trying to normalize their household nancy she may be trying to indicate that she's a nurturing person that she believes her husband that this is a warm and cozy home it's not a place where a sex predator lives but you know nancy some something i always tell my patients when they're about to marry somebody where this questionable alliance i say when you marry a person you marry their crimes okay so that's just wisdom i would impart to everybody also the letter that she wrote to the court is very loving she calls her husband a sweet sweet husband but i would say that idealization is necessary for a good marriage you have to idealize your partner a little bit and when the idealization is gone the love is gone so if he did commit these crimes that idealization is going to come crashing down and we're going to see.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay we're not going to see a full refrigerator anymore bethany i don't care if they have fresh cut flowers in a vase i don't care if there's real butter in the fridge because i've had child molesters that range from literally the creepy dude in the raincoat to pastors so appearances mean nothing to me maybe it means something to this judge because he let busfield watt r o r release onward cognizance now this is something that means something to me a guy off of the set where the children worked listen to this guy at.

[Chris Melcher]

Any given time if the child was on set there was at minimum of ten people there on the set with.

[Nancy Grace]

Them it's just how it works there's.

[Chris Melcher]

Two cameras two camera operators two focus pullers two boom guys a prop person a hair and makeup person the studio person would usually be there the first assistant director two dolly grips and that's.

[Nancy Grace]

For every take for every shot always.

[Chris Melcher]

Especially with the children because we had such a limited amount of time with.

[Nancy Grace]

The children that from our friends at tmz welcome back we have heard a lot about what is wrong with the two little boys now grown and their testimony their claims of being abuse victims we've heard a lot about that but what about other alleged victims of busfields it cannot be ignored listen years ago.

[Chris Melcher]

Sacramento california busfield accused of abuse against a sixteen year old auditioning for busfield at sacramento's b street theater the teen reports busfield kissed her put his hands down her pants and touched her privates busfield begged the family not to report to law enforcement if he received therapy and the father who was a therapist himself thought at the time that this was the best thing to do the father now says the incident changed the trajectory of his daughter's life and he regrets not having gone to the police.

[Nancy Grace]

At the time ouch to dave mack that was a sixteen year old girl what else is lurking in busfield's background.

[Dave Mack]

You know nancy we've got the the first one we actually know about was from the set of the movie little big league where a seventeen year old accused him busfield of taking her back to his trailer giving her alcohol and then trying to kiss her and eventually groped her and tried to rape her in the trailer just off the set that actually came front they ended up settling it out of court and that was just like a taste she was seventeen when you go to the sacramento event again a girl about the same age and in that instance they decided.

[Nancy Grace]

They be let's stop right there dave mack let's not call alleged victims event okay don't say that okay now you told me the one about the sixteen year old girl on little big field okay go ahead next we've got the.

[Dave Mack]

The one in ninety four and then we've got another one in twenty twelve in that particular case woman said that she went on a date with buzzfield and while in the theater he groped her and assaulted her that actually went to the police nancy they sat down and everything and decided they didn't have enough evidence to move forward from the attack in the dark in theater but that was in twenty twelve now wait.

[Nancy Grace]

A minute the nineteen ninety six case involving allegations of a child sex assault he paid one hundred fifty thousand dollars to settle it that's a lot of money okay so chris melcher however that gives credence to the current case we have a string of prior allegations and on at least one of those he settled for one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

[Chris Melcher]

Well i don't think that's ever going to see the light of day in any criminal case because that would be.

[Nancy Grace]

I didn't ask you that that's not character evidence he entered a settlement to make the case go away i don't even know what you're saying we're not.

[Chris Melcher]

It'S character evidence because they would be.

[Nancy Grace]

Trying to transaction that's what it is.

[Chris Melcher]

Yeah to try to establish that he acted in conformity with that alleged prior incident with this prior this current incident no way that's getting in see harvey weinstein case where that was reversed where they had uncharged okay you know what.

[Nancy Grace]

I can see you know what i am speaking from a place of investigation i'm trying to find out what really happened so he a one hundred fifty thousand dollars settlement on a prior claim and to dave mack can i talk to you about jim wicka a former lawyer who represented a seventeen year old girl who accused busfield of sex harassment in ninety four what can you tell me about a judge ordering bus filled to pay up to wicca well you.

[Dave Mack]

Know wicca actually was the attorney in that case the ninety four case with the woman from little big league and timothy busfield countersued his wicca and the law firm saying they damaged him in fight and damaged his character so he filed that one hundred fifty thousand dollars lawsuit against wicca and his partners and the judge was just beside himself and that this is ridiculous and tossed everything and it went back to timothy busfield having to pay for the attorney's fees and everything associated with that case with that woman that young lady who actually you know was the actual victim in.

[Nancy Grace]

This case okay so that's where they figure one hundred fifty thousand dollars comes from as after the lawyer sued him for defamation to dave mack how many alleged priors are there against busfield eight.

[Dave Mack]

I believe documented nancy i've seen that number i haven't seen every one of those just a lot of the ones.

[Nancy Grace]

That we've talked about and jessica finn what can you tell me about busfield passing a polygraph a lie detector was it a private lie detector set up by his lawyers or is it a police lie detector test so timothy took.

[Jessica Finn]

A private lie detector test in a really unusual move while there was a warrant out for his arrest and as he was driving two thousand miles from upstate new york to new mexico to finally turn himself in which again took five full days along the way he decided he was going to take a lie detector test about this to i guess help exonerate him or try and keep him out of jail and he was of course held for several days behind bars until the detention hearing that happened earlier this week but he did take a lie detector test that supposedly tells you know is supposed to prove that he did not molest this little.

[Nancy Grace]

Boy allegedly the judge seemingly agrees with the defense he releases busfield r o r released on own recognizance what is true what is just in this case you just heard this judge speaking from the bench and our friends at tmz recorded that thank you harvey levin the search for justice goes on are the boys telling the truth what about the other alleged victims what happened to their cases and what if anything does that have to do with the here and now if you know or think you know anything regarding this case please call albuquerque pd five zero five eight four three seven eight six five zero five eight four three seven eight six seven we remember an american hero assistant chief johnny patterson verona pd mississippi killed in the line of duty after twenty eight years leaving behind a distraught and grieving wife and two sons american hero assistant chief johnny patterson nancy grace signing off goodbye friend.

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[Chris Melcher]

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[Nancy Grace]

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