Child Safety is Goal of Joan D'Alessandro Memorial

The goal of a planned memorial to Joan D'Alessandro, the Hillsdale girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by a neighbor 40 years ago, is to inspire people to prevent crimes against other children, according to her mother, Rosemarie D'Alessandro. 

In the years since the crime, D'Alessandro has fought to keep the killer, Joseph McGowan, in prison through three parole hearings. She has also advocated for the passage of New Jersey, New York and federal "Joan's Laws" which eliminate the possibility of parole for those who sexually assault and kill young children, and the "Justice for Victims Law" which allows victims' families to sue killers regardless of how much time has passed since the crime. The incident also changed the rules for the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts — Joan was delivering Girl Scout cookies to McGowan's home — and changed how parents treat their children.

"All this came because of this little child," Rosemarie D'Alessandro said. "We don't even know how many people she saved." 

The language for the proposed memorial, which has been given space in front of the Hillsdale Train Station, has raised concern from some over the use of the phrase "molested and murdered" in a planned inscription on the monument.

If the phrase makes some people uncomfortable, that's kind of the point, Rosemarie's son, John D'Alessandro, said.

"If we didn't deal with the heinousness of it, then my mom wouldn't have had success with keeping the killer in prison," he said.

The reality of what happened is what got the attention of parole boards and lawmakers, according to Rosemarie D'Alessandro. Softening the language would have made their message less effective. People focusing on "molested and murdered" were missing the point, she said.

"They're emphasizing these words and not looking at the bigger picture," D'Alessandro said.

This is the complete text currently proposed for the memorial:

"Joan Angela D’Alessandro

"September 7, 1965 April 19, 1973

"Joan was a Brownie who delivered Girl Scouts cookies to her neighbor three houses down from her Hillsdale home and never came back. She was molested and murdered on Holy Thursday and found in Harriman State Park on Easter Sunday. It was in 2006 on a cloudy day in April that her mom visited the site for the second time and saw a white butterfly behind the large boulder in which she was found. Since then the white butterfly has become a symbol of Joan’s joyful and free spirit, giving many a sense of comfort, love and hope. 

"Joan was the inspiration for the passage of these laws. Joan’s Law, NJ - April 3, 1997 Federal Joan’s Law -Oct. 30, 1998 Justice for Victims Law - Nov. 17, 2000 Joan’s Law, NY - Sept. 15, 2004 

"Joan’s legacy brings awareness to child safety and protection forever.Joan was the inspiration for the passage of these laws. Joan’s Law, NJ - April 3, 1997 Federal Joan’s Law -Oct. 30, 1998 Justice for Victims Law - Nov. 17, 2000 Joan’s Law, NY - Sept. 15, 2004

"Joan’s legacy brings awareness to child safety and protection forever."