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On October 16, 2021, Emily Ferlazzo was murdered by her husband, Joseph Ferlazzo, during their first-anniversary trip in Bolton, Vermont. Emily, 22, was shot twice in the head inside the camper they shared, after which Joseph dismembered her body and concealed the remains in garbage bags within the camper's bathroom.
Joseph then spent the following days fabricating Emily's disappearance through deceptive texts and calls to her phone. However, her family, suspicious due to past domestic violence incidents, alerted authorities. Joseph eventually confessed to the murder after returning home without Emily, admitting he had used a red throw pillow during the shooting.
Convicted in December 2024, Joseph was sentenced to 42.5 years to life in April 2025. Emily Ferlazzo's murder case is explored in depth in Where's Emily?, airing on Fatal Destination on June 10, 2025, at 10 pm ET on Investigation Discovery.
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5 key details about Emily Ferlazzo's murder explored
In October 2021, Joseph Ferlazzo came back from what was meant to be an anniversary getaway in Vermont, without his wife, Emily, prompting immediate concerns that would later launch a murder investigation.
Joseph claimed Emily had left after an argument, but her parents sensed something was wrong. Adrienne Bass, Emily's mother, talked to Fox News Digital, as per a Fox News report dated June 7, 2025, regarding this.
"When he handed me her license, that was very strange," she said.
Adrienne also noticed his unsettling demeanour, describing him as "shivering and shaking," initially attributing it to the cold, but later recognizing it as anxiety from lying.
1) Joseph's attempts to cover up Emily's murder heightened suspicion
As per a Rolling Stone article dated October 21, 2021, following Emily Ferlazzo's murder, Joseph took deliberate steps to cover up the crime. He fabricated stories, claiming Emily had left their camper to return home after a dispute. Court TV reported on December 10, 2024, that Joseph also sent deceptive texts and made multiple phone calls from his phone to Emily's, pretending to search for her and aiming to deflect suspicion from himself.
According to the October 2021 Rolling Stone article, eventually, a friend alerted the police after Joseph admitted to killing and leaving Emily in the camper. The friend, disturbed by this revelation, kicked Joseph out of his car and immediately called the authorities.
2) Past domestic abuse allegations against Joseph painted a disturbing picture
Emily Ferlazzo's murder wasn't an isolated incident of physical violence displayed by Joseph. Her family had previously noticed signs of physical abuse, including bruises and scratches.
As per the June 2025 Fox News article, Emily initially attributed her injuries to "rough s*x," but her family remained deeply concerned. Adrienne Bass expressed her helplessness to Fox News Digital in an interview.
"Emily would come to us asking for help, and then she'd go back to him, and it would backfire and cause more problems," she said.
This ongoing domestic violence significantly heightened Emily's family's suspicions when she went missing.
3) Joseph's confession revealed chilling details
Joseph eventually admitted to the police that he had fatally shot Emily Ferlazzo twice in the head inside their camper after a heated argument. After killing Emily, Joseph dismembered her body using a handsaw approximately 12 to 15 hours later, as per the June 2025 Fox News article.
As per an October 20, 2021, article by The Independent, investigators later found Emily's remains concealed in garbage bags within the camper's bathroom. A forensic psychologist testified during the trial that Joseph exhibited signs of substance abuse and "elements of a personality disorder," as per a Court TV report dated April 24, 2025.
4) Joseph was convicted of Emily Ferlazzo's murder
Joseph Ferlazzo's trial in December 2024 concluded with a jury convicting him of first-degree murder of Emily Ferlazzo. According to Court TV, although he claimed self-defense, prosecutors highlighted the premeditation and brutality involved in the killing, noting the use of a red throw pillow to muffle the gunshots.
As per the June 2025 Fox News article, Joseph received a sentence of 42.5 years to life following the court’s decision in April 2025. Additionally, a wrongful death lawsuit in 2023 resulted in Joseph being ordered to pay Emily's family $1.5 million, according to a December 15, 2024, article by WPTV5.
5) The aftermath of the crime resulted in the family's plea for awareness
Following Emily Ferlazzo's death, her family became advocates for domestic violence awareness. Her mother, Adrienne Bass, emphasised the importance of trusting instincts and seeking help, urging anyone facing abuse to speak to trusted individuals or professional organizations, as per the June 2025 Fox News report.
The outlet reported that David Bass, Emily's stepfather, echoed this sentiment, urging victims to make a safety plan and reach out to experts. Their message highlights the broader societal implications of Emily's case, aiming to prevent future tragedies.
Emily Ferlazzo's story is further explored in the Fatal Destination episode titled Where's Emily? airing on June 10, 2025, at 10 pm ET on Investigation Discovery.
