TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  -- The mother of a 7-year-old raped and killed by a neighbor in 1973 tells the state Parole Board why the murderer should not be released.

INTERVIEW: John Montone Talks to Rosemarie D'Alessandro

 

Rosemarie D'Alessandro says convicted killer Joseph McGowan has never shown remorse for strangling young Joan while she delivered Girl Scout cookies to his Bergen County house, across the street from her own.

D'Alessandro testified Wednesday, as a half-dozen people marched in front of the Statehouse. They want to keep McGowan from being paroled in January.

Parole Board spokesman Neal Buccino says victims are invited to show how the crime has affected them and present reasons why the criminal should not go free.

D'Alessandro fought for Joan's Law, which eliminates the parole option for people who kill children while committing sex crimes. Ironically, the law came too late to affect the sentence of her daughter's killer.

Photo: Rosemarie D'Alessandro holds picture of Joan/AP Photo/Mel Evans