Murder of Joan D'Alessandro

Murder of Joan D'Alessandro
LocationHillsdale, New Jersey, United States
DateApril 19, 1973
Attack type
Rape, murder
Deaths1
VictimsJoan D'Alessandro
PerpetratorsJoseph McGowan
ChargesMurder
Rape
ConvictionsGuilty plea to murder

On April 19, 1973, Joan D'Alessandro, a 7-year-old Girl Scout from New Jersey, was raped and murdered by her neighbor Joseph McGowan after she went to his house to sell cookies. McGowan, a high school teacher, pled guilty to the crime.[1] The crime led to the passing of "Joan's Law" in New Jersey in 1997,[2] which was amended in 2017 to state that "a person convicted of the murder of a minor under the age of 18 in the course of the commission of a sex crime will serve life imprisonment without the option of parole".[3]

Campaigning to prevent McGowan's parole and his eventual death in prison

Joan's mother later sued McGowan,[4] while campaigning to prevent McGowan's parole prior to the passing of Joan's Law.[5][6]

McGowan died in prison in June 2021.[7][8]

Coverage

The murder was detailed in The Killer Across the Table by John E. Douglas,[9] and was also the subject of a documentary film.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Treaster, Joseph B. (June 20, 1974). "Former Teacher Admits To Killing of Brownie, 7" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ↑ "Joan's Law: the Murder of a Girl Scout Brownie | Archives & Special Collections". archives.law.virginia.edu. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  3. ↑ McLaughlin, Shannon (July 31, 2017). "Seven-year quest ends in signing of Joan's Law; no parole for sex-crime killers of kids". Pascack Press & Northern Valley Press.
  4. ↑ "Mother Gets $750,000 in Suit Against Her Daughter's Killer". September 27, 2001 – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ↑ "Mother fights for 30 years to keep daughter's killer in prison". News 12 New Jersey. June 9, 2021.
  6. ↑ Santiago, Katherine (June 12, 2009). "'Joan's Law' killer Joseph McGowan denied parole for another 30 years". nj.
  7. ↑ Stimson, Brie (June 13, 2021). "New Jersey man who killed 7-year-old Girl Scout 48 years ago dies in prison". Fox News.
  8. ↑ Martin, Julia (June 19, 2021). "Rosemarie D'Alessandro reads letters from her daughter's killer". North Jersey Media Group.
  9. ↑ "Booktalking "The Killer Across the Table" by John Douglas". The New York Public Library.
  10. ↑ Morel, Kyle. "Documentary on 1973 murder of Joan D'Alessandro to premiere at Ridgewood film festival". North Jersey Media Group.
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