MELISSA Gilbert is reeling after her husband Timothy Busfield was charged with child sex offences, with close friends from Little House on the Prairie rallying to her side.
The actor, 68, denies the allegations made by 11-year-old twin boys during filming of The Cleaning Lady, but the scandal has left Gilbert devastated.
Costars Alison Arngrim and Dean Butler have been a rock for Gilbert, urging her to consider divorcing Busfield and move on.
“They’re heartbroken that she’s having to go through this,” a source revealed.
Despite the shock, some in their inner circle believe Busfield is innocent, pointing to audio evidence from police interviews with the twins that form part of his defence.
In the recordings, the boys deny that Busfield ever touched their private parts.
Busfield was released on his own recognisance after a judge ruled the evidence against him was not overwhelming and saw no risk of further offences if he remained free pending trial.
However, insiders say Gilbert is “absolutely shattered,” describing the situation as a bomb going off in her life.
With the scandal unfolding, Gilbert’s future remains uncertain as she leans heavily on family and old Hollywood pals for support.