Mom Of Local Girl Scout Who Was Killed To Give Talk At Library In Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Rosemarie D'Alessandro — whose daughter Joan was killed in Bergen County in 1973 while delivering a box of Girl Scout Cookies — will speak about her new book at the Hillsdale library this weekend.

Her book, "The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness," intersperses her struggles with dozens of letters the killer wrote while in prison. The book came out in December and has gotten many positive reviews on Amazon.

A documentary Rosemarie's fight to protect other children also premiered recently and will have a screening in Westwood in June.

Joan D'Alessandro, 7, a Hillsdale resident, disappeared 41 years ago after asking her mom if she could deliver a box of Girl Scout cookies to a neighbor on the corner.

After an investigation, a chemistry teacher who lived across the street was sent to prison for Joan's sex assault and death.

When he came up for parole in 1993, Rosemarie fought many battles to keep him in jail.

Rosemarie's campaigns were ultimately successful, resulting in Joseph McGowan being denied parole several times. McGowan died in prison in 2021.

"The Message of Light Amid Letters of Darkness" can be purchased on Amazon.

"Too often people want to sympathize with the aggressors," wrote one reviewer, "let them out of jail early; give leniency because 'they have
changed' mentality. If you take a child from this earth in such a monstrous way — what is the message we are giving ... The child will not come back. Some acts have greater consequences - and should. This book is about it all — the loss of a child, the fight to keep those who commit evil behind bars (regardless of whether they change or not), and the huge responsibility we all have to support each other and our children."

The event will take places this Saturday, May 18, at 2:30 p.m.

Find out about events related to the cause at this website: Joan's Joy.

Read more about the film here.