A New Jersey man who killed a 7-year-old Girl Scout in 1973 has reportedly died in prison.
Joseph McGowan was convicted of raping and murdering his neighbor Joan D’Alessandro on April 19 that year after she knocked on his door while selling cookies, according to NorthJersey.com.
McGowan reportedly lived just three doors down from the little girl and was a high school chemistry teacher.
“She said, ‘Goodbye, Mommy. I’ll be right back,’” Rosemarie D’Alessandro told News 12 of New Jersey, recalling the last words her daughter said to her.
After McGowan admitted to the murder, little Joan’s body was later found at Harriman State Park in New York state.
The killer was sentenced to life in prison and was last denied parole in 2009. He would have been eligible for parole again in 2025, according to D’Alessandro’s family, NorthJersey.com reported.