Distraught Mother's 'Dear Abby' Letter Stirs Concern

By: E&P Staff "Dear Abby" columnist Jeanne Phillips has been the focus of newspaper and TV interviews the past few days since running a letter Aug. 24 from a new mother fearful of hurting a baby she didn't want, according to Universal Press Syndicate.

No name or phone number appeared in the San Diego woman's letter, so there was nothing Phillips could do but publicly urge her to get help.

After "Dear Abby" appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune on the 24th, the phones started ringing with people who wanted to help the woman. Two days later, Union-Tribune Family Editor Jane Clifford wrote an article noting that some of the newspaper's readers "are going crazy trying to figure out what to do" to help the mother and baby. The story went on to give resources to the woman, just in case she reads the Union-Tribune.

During an Aug. 30 interview on a Los Angeles radio station, Phillips made an appeal for the woman to get in touch with her.

According to Universal, there are still no leads.