In the Interest of M.B.A

I respectfully dissent. I believe the evidence falls well short of showing abandonment of the children for the six months preceding September 18, 1981.

Section 211.447.2(2)(a)b, RSMo Supp.1984 (since amended, see RSMo Supp.1985), under which the principal opinion finds abandonment, states in part that abandonment occurs if the “parent has, without good cause, left the child without any provision for support and without any communication or visitation from the parent.” Abandonment under this section requires both a finding of failure of support and a failure to communicate with or visit the…