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Let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief that convict  Joseph McGowan has been denied parole. McGowan is an inmate at East Jersey State Prison. He’s been there since being convicted of the 1973 rape and murder of 7-year old Joan D’Alessandro.

Joeseph McGowan was once a high school chemistry teacher. He was convicted of raping and killing his neighbor’s 7 year old daughter when she went to his home to deliver girl scout cookies. As recently as 2002 he is known to have refused to accept any responsibility for the death of Joan D’Alessandro. It would be a criminal act in iteself to put an unrepentant child rapist and murderer back out on the street.

Joan’s mother Rosemarie campaigned to get a law enacted that would make life in prison without parole the minimum penalty for people who molest and murder children under 14. Joan’s Law has since been passed, however, the law passed after the sentencing of Joseph McGowan, so he continues to be eligible for parole every few years.