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Emily Ferlazzo was reported missing in October 2021 after her husband, Joseph Ferlazzo, returned from their Vermont anniversary trip without her, claiming she had left following an argument. Suspicion grew quickly, especially from Emily’s family, due to Joseph's unusual behavior upon returning alone.
Subsequent investigations uncovered that Joseph had fatally shot Emily twice in the head inside their camper. Authorities found her dismembered remains concealed in garbage bags in the camper's bathroom, a gruesome crime that Joseph initially tried to cover up through misleading statements and fabricated texts.
Emily’s family had previously noticed signs of domestic abuse, raising alarm about their relationship before this tragic event. Joseph ultimately confessed to the murder, resulting in a conviction of first-degree murder in December 2024 and a sentence of 42.5 years to life in April 2025.
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This chilling case is explored in-depth in the upcoming episode Where’s Emily?, part of Jessica Biel's true crime series Fatal Destination. The episode is set to air on June 10, 2025, at 10:00 PM ET/PT.
Joseph Ferlazzo returned alone from their anniversary trip, claiming Emily Ferlazzo left after a fight, and her parents were instantly suspicious
Joseph Ferlazzo, 41, initially claimed he and his 22-year-old wife, Emily Ferlazzo, had argued with him during their Vermont anniversary trip, prompting her to leave on her own. Her parents immediately doubted his story.
According to a Fox News report dated June 7, 2025, Emily’s mother, Adrienne Bass, recalled feeling something was off when Joseph handed her daughter’s license back, stating:
"I interpreted his shivering and shaking as if he’d been cold because he was riding his motorcycle… But thinking back on it now, I think he was probably having anxiety lying to our faces."
Emily Ferlazzo’s relationship with Joseph was already troubling. Her family had noticed unexplained bruises, but Emily frequently dismissed these injuries. Adrienne Bass noted that Emily once cited consensual intimacy as the cause, though the family felt uneasy believing this explanation.
Joseph eventually confessed to investigators, admitting he had fatally shot Emily twice in the head during an argument inside their camper on October 16, 2021. He later dismembered her body and concealed the remains in garbage bags within the camper. Emily’s remains were discovered shortly afterwards by Vermont authorities, alongside the weapons Joseph used, as per a reporter by The Independent dated October 20, 2021.
Fatal Destination episode explores Emily Ferlazzo’s case
Investigation Discovery's Fatal Destination episode titled Where’s Emily? airing June 10, 2025, at 10 PM ET/PT, delves deep into Emily Ferlazzo’s tragic story. Executive-produced and narrated by Jessica Biel, the episode details how a seemingly romantic getaway spiralled into violence and tragedy.
It highlights how quickly the idyllic turned dangerous, unravelling shocking secrets about control and manipulation hidden within Emily and Joseph’s relationship. The case drew heightened attention due to its similarities with Gabby Petito’s widely publicized disappearance and murder, as Joseph also initially returned alone after traveling with Emily in a converted camper van.
As per a CourtTV.com report dated April 24, 2025, prosecutor Sarah George mentioned that Gabby Petito’s high-profile case significantly accelerated the investigative response to Emily's disappearance.
Conviction and sentencing of Joseph Ferlazzo
During the trial, Joseph argued self-defence, a claim the prosecution firmly contested. As reported by CourtTV.com dated April 24, 2025, Margaret Jansch, his defence attorney, said to the jury:
"The case is not easy…and the biggest decision you must decide if whether [Ferlazzo] is lying now,"
Joseph was convicted of first-degree murder after the jury reached its final verdict. In April 2025, he received a sentence ranging from 42.5 years to life imprisonment, firmly concluding one chapter of this devastating case. Emily Ferlazzo's family continues advocating for awareness about domestic violence, encouraging others to seek help before it becomes too late.
Stay tuned for more updates.
