On April 19, 1973, seven-year-old Joan D’Alessandro left her family’s home in Hillsdale, New Jersey to deliver her last two boxes of Girl Scout cookies. She never returned. After a massive search and an intensive investigation, police zeroed in on the family’s neighbor, 27-year-old high school science teacher Joseph McGowan, who soon confessed that he had sexually abused and murdered Joan before dumping her body in Harriman State Park, just over the border in New York State.

For decades, Joan’s mother, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, has led a charge to change laws, both state and federal, to better protect victims’ families. She has also created a nonprofit foundation focusing on child safety and programs for underprivileged youth. It is my great honor to help Rosemarie tell the story of her beautiful daughter, Joan, and how her memory has inspired decades of important work.

This is part 1 of the horrifying but incredibly inspiring story of Joan D’Alessandro.

Joan’s Joy website: https://joansjoy.org

Rosemarie D’Alessandro’s book, The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness: https://www.amazon.com/Message-Light-Amid-Letters-Darkness-ebook/dp/B0CQRNWHXV/

Joan’s Joy Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/joansjoypage/

The Killer Across the Table by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker: https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Across-Table-Unlocking-Mindhunter-ebook/dp/B07G76Q6BG/

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This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.

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