Barbara Cowan, 89, Authors Passionate Defense of Son-in-Law Timothy Busfield Amid Criminal Charges

other of actress Melissa Gilbert joins family members submitting character testimonials as actor faces serious allegations

Critical Points:

• Barbara Cowan submits emotional letter defending Timothy Busfield’s character
• 89-year-old describes actor as trusted family figure across three generations
• Legal proceedings continue as actor maintains innocence against all accusations

Mother-in-Law’s Compelling Testimony

Among multiple character statements submitted to the court, Barbara Cowan’s letter stands out for its emotional intensity and generational perspective. The 89-year-old mother of actress Melissa Gilbert composed powerful testimony regarding the man who became her son-in-law, addressing serious criminal accusations currently facing the 68-year-old performer.

Court documentation reviewed by media outlets reveals Cowan’s deeply personal defense of Busfield, who faces charges including two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse following his January 13th surrender to Albuquerque authorities.

Unwavering Family Support

“My love and respect for him couldn’t be greater even if I had given birth to him myself,” Cowan stated in her written submission. “I feel sympathy for anyone who hasn’t experienced his love, generosity, kindness, playfulness, caring nature, guidance, availability, strength, and countless other qualities.”

The letter emphasized her protective instincts across multiple generations. “I’m an extremely protective mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother,” she explained. “Tim has cared for all my young family members. They eagerly anticipate their enjoyable and special moments with him. I completely understand why. Tim possesses a magical quality. I would entrust anyone to his care today.”

Service and Character Assessment

Cowan expanded beyond personal family experiences to address Busfield’s broader contributions. “From the beginning, he became my true son,” she wrote. “He represents the strength and support I value as I navigate my nineties. I need his presence in my life. Nobody could ever replace him for me, or for anyone else in this family or our extended family. The world benefits from Timothy Busfield’s existence.”

Gilbert Family Background

Melissa, now 61, entered the Cowan-Gilbert family through adoption in May 1964 when Barbara and Paul Gilbert became her parents. Her brother Jonathan Gilbert joined the family two years later, also through adoption.

Following Barbara and Paul’s divorce, Barbara welcomed daughter Sara Gilbert with her second husband, Harold Abeles, in January 1975. Sara initially used the surname Abeles professionally before adopting the Gilbert name shortly thereafter.

Entertainment Industry Legacy

All three siblings pursued acting careers from young ages. Melissa achieved widespread recognition portraying Laura Ingalls Wilder on the beloved series Little House on the Prairie, where Jonathan also appeared as Willie Oleson.

At thirteen, Sara secured the role of Darlene Conner on the groundbreaking sitcom Roseanne. Both Melissa and Sara maintained successful Hollywood careers into adulthood, while Jonathan departed the industry at eighteen.

Legal Context and Allegations

The criminal charges connect to incidents allegedly occurring during Busfield’s directorial work on The Cleaning Lady. Court filings identify the purported victims as 11-year-old twin brothers. Additional pretrial detention documents filed January 14th, accessible to journalists, included separate unrelated sexual abuse allegations.

Defense Response

Busfield has categorically denied all accusations. Video statements obtained by entertainment media outlets show him declaring his intention to “confront these lies” and “fight” the charges.

His civil representation, attorney Larry Stein, issued statements strongly refuting the allegations. “He’s absolutely shocked by these false accusations,” Stein told reporters on January 13th. “He’s devastated and will defend himself vigorously, because these allegations are completely false.”

Widespread Family Support

Cowan’s letter joins numerous other character statements from Busfield’s relatives and associates, including testimony from Melissa Gilbert herself and her son Michael Boxleitner, who described Busfield as fulfilling paternal roles more completely than his biological father.

The collective testimonials present a consistent narrative portraying Busfield as a devoted family figure trusted across multiple generations—a portrait sharply contrasting with the serious criminal allegations requiring judicial examination.

Upcoming Legal Proceedings

Busfield has a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for January 20th, where judicial officials will consider various factors including the character statements submitted by family members, alongside evidence and arguments related to the criminal charges.

The case illustrates the complex emotional and legal territory families navigate when loved ones face serious allegations, balancing decades of personal relationships and trust against accusations requiring thorough investigation and due process.

As proceedings advance, the court will weigh the extensive character testimony from family members spanning three generations against the serious nature of the criminal charges and evidence presented by prosecutors—a balance between personal experience and legal accountability that defines such difficult cases.