Women Who Found Abandoned Baby in 1972 Reunite with Her 53 Years Later

Rita Marshall and Darlene Gilleland cared for the newborn until authorities arrived, and now they've reconnected with the woman she became.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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In 1972, Rita Marshall and Darlene Gilleland were leaving a movie theater in Cleveland, Ohio when they noticed a shopping cart pushed against their car. Inside the cart was a paper bag containing a newborn baby, just hours old and dressed in yellow and wrapped in a blanket. The women called the police and stayed with the baby until she was taken to the hospital, where she was examined, declared healthy, and given the name Jeanne Westgate. After 53 years, the woman Jeanne became, now known as Pearl Marshall, tracked down Rita and Darlene, and the three women recently reunited, sharing tears, hugs, and laughter.

Why it matters

This heartwarming story highlights the kindness and compassion of two strangers who stepped up to care for an abandoned newborn, as well as the power of human connection and the lifelong impact that small acts of kindness can have. It also speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of closure and reunion, even decades later.

The details

In 1972, Rita Marshall and Darlene Gilleland were leaving a movie theater in Cleveland, Ohio when they noticed a shopping cart pushed against their car. Inside the cart was a paper bag, and inside the bag was a newborn baby, just hours old, dressed in yellow and wrapped in a blanket. The women called the police and stayed with the baby until she was taken to the hospital, where she was examined, declared healthy, and given the name Jeanne Westgate - 'Westgate' for where she was found, and 'Jeanne' after the nurse who cared for her. After 53 years, the woman Jeanne became, now known as Pearl Marshall, tracked down Rita and Darlene, and the three women recently reunited, sharing tears, hugs, and laughter.

  • In 1972, Marshall and Gilleland found the abandoned newborn baby.
  • The baby was given the name Jeanne Westgate.
  • In 2026, 53 years later, Pearl Marshall (the woman Jeanne became) tracked down Marshall and Gilleland and the three women reunited.

The players

Rita Marshall

One of the women who found the abandoned newborn baby in 1972 and cared for her until authorities arrived.

Darlene Gilleland

One of the women who found the abandoned newborn baby in 1972 and cared for her until authorities arrived.

Jeanne Westgate

The name given to the abandoned newborn baby that Marshall and Gilleland found in 1972.

Pearl Marshall

The woman that Jeanne Westgate became, who tracked down Marshall and Gilleland 53 years later.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This heartwarming story of reunion and closure, 53 years in the making, reminds us of the profound impact that small acts of kindness can have and the importance of human connection, even across decades. It's a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring bonds that can form, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.