Melissa Gilbert revealed that she is moving out of New York City amid her husband Timothy Busfield's legal battle, which began in January when he was arrested on charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
The Little House on the Prairie star took to Instagram to share her life update, as she moved out of her NYC apartment and to a house upstate.
"So long perfect little one bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. The last eight years here have been so special," she began in the caption, alongside photos of her moving process.
© Instagram"I'll miss the walking and our neighborhood, the subway rides, the amazing people I've met there and on the streets," she continued. "Goodbye favorite newsstand, bodega, dance studio, and laundry. Goodbye shoe repair, dry cleaners, nail salon. Goodbye sweet neighbors whom we love so much."
"And a very fond 'farewell and see you soon' to our favorite city in the world," Melissa added. "I promise we will be back, it's just that right now…well…you know. Excited to live in our wonderful home upstate full time for a good long while."
The 62-year-old shared a snap of her lying down amongst her moving boxes, as well as a video of her emptying apartment.
© InstagramMelissa's move comes amid controversy for her family, after her The West Wing star husband was indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor on February 6.
Learn more about Timothy's case below...
The charges relate to alleged events that occurred in October 2022 and September 2023 on the set of The Cleaning Lady, the TV series which he directed.
Timothy pleaded not guilty to the charges and filed a motion to overturn the indictment, as his lawyer alleged "prosecutorial misconduct during grand jury proceedings” and claimed that "exculpatory evidence was repressed and suppressed".
© Getty Images, timothy busfieldMelissa and Timothy have been married since 2013, and the former child star has stood by his side during the legal battle. The actress shared on Good Morning America that she was "100 percent confident he will be exonerated" and that she believed his account wholeheartedly.
© Getty Images"I heard his side of the story – which nobody has ever heard – which is the truth. And when the time is right, and that is not now, Tim will tell the truth of all of these past allegations when he needs to," she said.
Melissa added that the allegations and subsequent legal battle had tainted their lives forever. "Our life as we knew it is done," she said. "We are grieving what we had – all of our plans, all of our dreams, all of our ideas, all of our projects. For Tim, it's done. He's canceled. Even if he's exonerated, he will always be that guy."
