Episode 165: Joan D'Alessandro (Part 2)

Last week, I told you about the abduction and murder of seven-year-old Joan D’Alessandro. On April 19, 1973, Joan was delivering Girl Scout cookies when her neighbor, Joseph McGowan, a high school science teacher, lured her into his basement, sexually assaulted her, and brutally beat and strangled the helpless little girl. McGowan pleaded guilty to felony murder and was sentenced to life in the New Jersey prison system with the possibility of parole after 14 years.

In this episode, I’ll dig deep into McGowan’s various psychological evaluations and his interview with famed FBI profiler John Douglas, trying to reconcile the mild-mannered man McGowan appeared to be with the heinous rapist and murderer he became on Holy Thursday, 1973. Also in this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Joan’s mother, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, who has spent decades advocating for children and victims’ families in her beloved daughter’s name.

This is part 2 of the horrifying but incredibly inspiring story of Joan D’Alessandro.

Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring the show! Use my promo code (STLC20) for the next 10 days only to save up to 50% off your first subscription to Magic Mind or up to 20% off your first one-time order. https://www.magicmind.com/stlc

Email Rosemarie D’Alessandro about purchasing a signed copy of her book or learning more about the Joan’s Roy Relaxation & Kindness Program: rosebd@gmail.com

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/

Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod

You can also follow the podcast on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod

My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod

Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.

Please help make the show my full-time gig to keep the weekly episodes coming! By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive rewards. Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod.

You can also support the podcast on www.Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.

Merch is available at www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com/shop.

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

Music for this episode is licensed from https://audiojungle.net.

Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/suffer-the-little-children
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/PC:61848?part=PC:61848&corr=podcast_organic_external_site&TID=Brand:POC:PC61848:podcast_organic_external_site
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support.

If you see something, say something. https://childhelp.org