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Joseph Ferlazzo abruptly returned home from a Vermont camping trip that was supposed to celebrate his first wedding anniversary with wife Emily Schwarz Ferlazzo. The 41-year-old claimed to Emily’s parents that an argument had ensued during their trip, leading his spouse, 22, to return to their home in New Hampshire.
However, Adrienne Bass and her husband, David, were skeptical of Ferlazzo’s account.
“When he handed me her license, that was very strange,” Adrienne Bass recalled in an interview. “His shivering and shaking could have been attributed to the cold from riding his motorcycle for three hours in mid-October. Looking back, however, I suspect he was experiencing anxiety from lying to us. His demeanor was cold and threatening, leaving me with a distinct sense of fear that we should not question him.”
Investigative Insights from ‘Fatal Destination’
The chilling details of this case are featured on Investigation Discovery’s true crime series known as “Fatal Destination,” which examines vacations that transform into disturbing mysteries. The series, produced and narrated by Jessica Biel, includes interviews with family members, friends, and law enforcement officials.
In the episode titled “Where’s Emily?” Adrienne Bass described the overwhelming fear felt by the family regarding Ferlazzo. She expressed suspicions that he had been abusive towards her daughter when they were alone.
“Emily would come to us seeking help and then return to him, creating even more problems,” Bass explained. “The weekend before they left for the camping trip, I sensed a strong danger surrounding him. As a mother, I felt my daughter was not safe in that relationship.”
Unsettling Signs of Trouble
Reflecting on their last lunch together before the trip, Bass noted, “I can’t fully put into words how unsettling his behavior felt. I froze, overwhelmed by the feeling that my life, or perhaps Emily’s, was in danger.” She lamented her inability to find a way to express these concerns to her loyal daughter.
“I wasn’t right in thinking it was my life at risk – it was my daughter’s,” she stated. “Yet, I could sense an ominous danger radiating from him.”
Ferlazzo, a tattoo artist, entered into marriage with nurse Emily during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adrienne Bass felt baffled by their decision to marry, given their turbulent relationship. “They seemed to oscillate between together and apart, with Emily struggling to communicate openly about their future,” she reflected.
Patterns of Abuse and Silence
The couple had a contentious past, with instances of physical confrontations. “On New Year’s Eve, they had a significant fight. Emily called me for support while expressing confusion about how to convince him of her innocence against his accusations of infidelity,” Bass recalled.
After their marriage, the family reported witnessing numerous bruises and injuries on Emily. Astonishingly, Emily attributed her injuries to what she referred to as “rough sex.”
Emily’s stepfather David Bass added, “It created a challenging situation for us. If we raised concerns, Emily would just relay everything back to him. We had to talk to her in coded language to avoid worsening the situation.”
Reflecting on conversations about bruises and injuries, Adrienne remarked that Emily had previously submitted divorce paperwork, but it seemed Ferlazzo had done the same at the same time.
The Camp Trip: Initial Joy Turns to Sorrow
October 15, 2021, held promise as the couple traveled to Bolton, Vermont, in their converted bus, situated on the property owned by Emily’s family. They drove over two hours to a picturesque rural town nestled in the western foothills of the Green Mountains.
Emily shared scenic videos from their trip with her family, projecting happiness and adventure. However, three days later, Ferlazzo returned home without Emily.
He claimed to have restrained Emily during an altercation only to have her escape during their argument. He further insisted that he left to visit a store when she vanished.
Fearing the worst, Adrienne and David Bass promptly reported Emily missing and made authorities aware of the troubling history of domestic violence in her relationship.
Hope Turns to Despair
Initially, Adrienne held onto hope, believing her daughter might have escaped the tumultuous marriage without informing them. But this hope quickly dissipated as the grim possibilities began to weigh heavily on her mind.
“Once he left, I considered three potential scenarios,” she detailed. “One, she’d been abducted. Another possibility was amnesia. Lastly, I was faced with the horrifying reality that she might no longer be alive.”
When she finally confronted her feelings, the impact was profound. “I broke down, crying as reality hit me,” she shared.
Law Enforcement Action
Prosecutor Sarah George noted the urgent response from law enforcement was influenced by the recent investigation surrounding Gabby Petito, a case that had captured widespread attention. Like Emily’s, Petito’s case began as a missing person inquiry following her fiancé’s return alone from a trip in a converted van.
Emily’s story would take a tragic turn when Ferlazzo confessed to killing her during an altercation inside their camper. He reportedly shot her twice in the head and subsequently dismembered her remains, which were discovered by police.
Listening to these harrowing details in court proved devastating for Adrienne Bass, who described the experience as “excruciating and nauseating.”
Seeking Justice
A jury found Ferlazzo guilty of first-degree murder in December, leading to a sentence of 42.5 years to life in prison, as reported.
As Emily’s family grapples with their loss, they find solace in the memories captured through her recordings of music. David Bass remarked on her passion for singing, stating that Emily would want to be remembered for her voice.
Messages for Victims of Domestic Violence
Today, Adrienne Bass hopes sharing her daughter’s story will motivate victims to seek help before it’s too late. “Trust your instincts. If feeling unsafe, wait until you find a person to confide in. Anyone can be vulnerable to domestic violence,” she advised.
David Bass encouraged victims to reach out to crisis centers and plan for their safety, affirming that, “Help is available. You are not alone.”
