Convicted rapist and murderer Joseph McGowan denied parole for the third time

 Convicted rapist and murderer Joseph McGowan was denied parole today for the rape and murder of 7-year old Joan D’Alessandro in 1973.

This is the third time that McGowan went up against the parole board.  In 1993 and 1998, the former high school chemistry teacher was denied parole. The board found that McGowan was unwilling to take responsibility for murdering Joan.

Rosemarie D’Alessandro, Joan’s mother, lobbied successfully for the state and federal Joan’s Law, which eliminate parole eligibility for anyone convicted of murdering a child while committing a sex crime.