Mother’s Dark Intuition Fails to Save Daughter from Murder on Vermont Camping Trip
Sarah Johnson
June 7, 2025
Brief
A mother’s chilling intuition couldn’t save her daughter from a tragic murder during a Vermont camping trip. Joseph Ferlazzo convicted of killing wife Emily.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, a Vermont camping trip meant to celebrate a first wedding anniversary ended in tragedy. Joseph Ferlazzo, 41, returned alone from the trip, claiming an argument with his 22-year-old wife, Emily Schwarz Ferlazzo, led to her heading back to New Hampshire. But Emily’s family sensed something far darker.
Emily’s mother, Adrienne Bass, felt an unshakable dread weeks before the trip. "I froze. There was a very strong, overwhelming feeling that my life was in danger from him," she recalled, describing a chilling lunch with the couple. Though she couldn’t warn Emily directly due to her loyalty to Ferlazzo, Bass’s instincts tragically proved correct—not for her own life, but for her daughter’s.
The family’s suspicions of abuse had lingered for months. They noticed bruises on Emily, a nurse who married Ferlazzo, a tattoo artist, during the pandemic. Reports of physical altercations and controlling behavior painted a grim picture of their relationship. When Ferlazzo returned without Emily on October 18, 2021, spinning a shaky story of her disappearance after a fight, her parents didn’t hesitate to report her missing, citing a history of domestic violence.
The truth soon unraveled. Ferlazzo confessed to investigators that an argument in their camper escalated into violence. He admitted to shooting Emily twice in the head, later dismembering her body and hiding her remains in garbage bags. The horrifying details emerged in court, leaving her family shattered. In December, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 42.5 years to life in prison.
Emily’s story, now featured in Investigation Discovery’s true crime series "Fatal Destination," echoes other high-profile cases of domestic violence, like that of Gabby Petito. Her family hopes sharing her story will urge others in abusive situations to seek help. "Try to listen to your gut," Adrienne Bass advises. Her stepfather, David, adds, "Help is out there. You’re not alone."
As they grieve, Emily’s loved ones find solace in memories of her passion for singing, a reminder of the vibrant spirit taken too soon.
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Editor's Comments
This story cuts deep, not just for the loss of Emily, but for the silent screams of abuse so many endure. Ferlazzo’s chilling return without her was like a bad movie plot—except this horror was real. Here’s a grim joke: What’s a camper’s worst nightmare? A ‘happy anniversary’ trip that ends with a confession. Let’s hope Emily’s story becomes a wake-up call before more trips turn fatal.
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