Murder of Joan D'Alessandro
The murder of Joan D'Alessandro occurred in New Jersey on April 17, 1973, when Joan, a 7-year-old Girl Scout, was raped and murdered by neighbour Joseph McGowan after she went to his house to sell cookies. McGowan, a high school teacher, pled guilty to the crime. The crime led to the passing of "Joan's Law" in New Jersey in 1997, 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".
Campaigning to prevent McGowan's parole and death in prison for McGowan
Joan's mother later sued McGowan, whilst campaigning to prevent McGowan's parole prior to the passing of Joan's Law.McGowan died in prison in June 2021.