Photos have surfaced depicting the disarray of actor Timothy Busfield‘s cabin in the Catskills, New York, following a significant FBI raid. The raid occurred as federal agents and US Marshals sought to apprehend Busfield, who is facing serious charges of child sex abuse. The 68-year-old actor, known for his role on The West Wing, was arrested earlier this month in New Mexico on two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse.
The legal troubles for Busfield have escalated, with additional allegations emerging since his surrender to authorities. Among the accusations are claims from 2001 involving the assault of a 16-year-old girl, and another from 1997 concerning a 17-year-old. Busfield has publicly denied these allegations, characterizing them as “all lies.” He is currently being held without bond, with a hearing scheduled for January 20, 2024.
Details of the Raid and Property Condition
The FBI raid involved approximately ten armed officers from the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, although Busfield had already turned himself in by the time the operation was executed. The raid aimed to arrest him as part of the ongoing investigation into the serious charges he faces.
Images of the Catskills property have garnered attention since the raid, revealing its condition prior to Busfield and his wife, Melissa Gilbert, acquiring it. The couple purchased the cabin in 2018 for $98,000, a property that sprawls across 14 acres. Gilbert described the home as having a “stinky” and “sad” atmosphere, recalling its unsettling state filled with remnants from previous owners.
In an interview with Next Avenue in 2022, Gilbert recounted the initial impression of the cabin. “Tim found this place on Zillow, and it looked cute in the pictures, and the price was certainly right,” she said. Upon viewing the property, they discovered it was in a much worse state than anticipated. Gilbert remarked on the overwhelming musty smell upon entering the house, stating, “I’ve never smelled anything like the smell that came from this house. It was overwhelming.”
Previous Owners and Unpleasant Discoveries
Before settling in, the couple faced the challenge of clearing out the previous owners’ belongings. Gilbert noted that the cabin was cluttered with items left behind, including boxes of cereal in the pantry, shampoo in the shower, and even rotting deer heads mounted on the walls. “Every corner had something in it. Bottles of holy water everywhere, which I don’t know if I want to understand,” she commented.
As they began renovations, they uncovered additional surprises, including adult materials and hidden bottles of alcohol. Despite the initial state of disarray, Gilbert expressed that the more they worked on the house, the more they appreciated its potential. “The more we could see past the musty, stinky, crowded place,” she reflected.
The couple moved into the cabin during Christmas 2019, living there together until Busfield’s arrest. The ongoing legal situation has cast a shadow over their time in the property, transforming it from a hopeful new beginning into a site of controversy and distress.
