Naman Shrestha
A romantic getaway to Vermont turned deadly for 22-year-old Emily Jean Schwarz, who had a lot to live for and look forward to. Her sudden and untimely demise in October 2021 left a gaping hole in the lives of her loved ones, especially her parents. The episode titled ‘Where’s Emily?’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Fatal Destination’ chronicles the case in a detailed manner, including the swift investigation that led the detectives straight to the crime scene and the perpetrator responsible for the horrific crime.
Emily Jean Schwarz Was a Talented Woman With a Bright Future Ahead of Her
On July 25, 1999, Emily Jean Schwarz Ferlazzo was born to Adrienne in the town of Plymouth in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Right from her childhood, she was unconditionally loved and cared for by her nurturing family. Her mother was her safety net, someone she could always trust, confide in, and share anything with, assured she would never be judged. While not much is known about her biological father, we know that Emily was quite close to her stepfather, David Bass, who loved her with all his heart. Together, David, Adrienne, Emily, and her brothers were one happy family who cherished each other deeply. Emily was kind and compassionate with a welcoming personality that could effortlessly put people at ease.
While growing up, she dreamt of becoming a singer. She was quite passionate about it and would often showcase her singing abilities for her loved ones, who believed she was the perfect fit for ‘American Idol.’ The free-spirited individual was known for her affable nature and often knew just the right thing to say to lift everyone’s mood. A lover of things that shine, just like her dazzling presence, Emily would always be ready to head to the mall to shop. She doted upon her cat, Oreo, and dog, Remi, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them. Aside from her family, Emily’s best friend Lauren was someone who held a special place in her heart. The two girls would often don their bikinis and hit the Hampton Beach in the summers.
Emily Jean Schwarz Was Found Dead Inside Her Converted Camper in Vermont
On the educational front, Emily Jean Schwarz obtained her schooling in Hopkinton and Orford and went on to graduate from Concord High School. As a student, she developed an interest in cross country and track and field. Emily’s educational journey led her to become a Licensed Nursing Assistant, a role in which she found a deep sense of satisfaction and calm. However, according to the loved ones of the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire volunteer, her true calling lay in cosmetology. She was a determined and hardworking individual who saw the best in everyone, raised her voice for what she truly believed in, and was always ready to extend a helping hand to those in need. In her downtime, she found great joy in discovering the gifts of nature with her family members.
Emily cherished all the memories they created while embarking on adventures such as hiking, rock climbing, camping, or simply witnessing the stunning landscapes of Acadia. She wanted to travel the world, explore the diverse cultures, and immerse herself in the breathtaking beauty each location has to offer. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the nurse married a tattoo artist named Joseph Anthony Ferlazzo. In order to celebrate their first marriage anniversary, the couple booked an Airbnb property in Bolton, Vermont, where they traveled to in their converted camper in October 2021. Unfortunately, the trip ended in a tragedy as she was found dead inside the camper, parked at a residence on Meadowbrook Lane in St. Albans Town, Vermont. Upon inspecting her remains, the cause of Emily Jean Schwarz’s death was determined to be gunshot wounds to the head.
Emily Jean Schwarz’s Killer Was Someone Close to Her
When Joseph Ferlazzo returned home from the Vermont camping trip without his wife, Emily Jean Schwarz, her family suspected him to be somehow involved in her disappearance. He told her parents that the two had gotten into a heated argument, after which she left the camp to return to New Hampshire. Way before they went on the trip, her loved ones suspected that Joseph was abusive towards her due to the visible bruising and injuries on her body. None of this proved Joseph’s guilt and involvement in Emily’s disappearance and murder until a friend of Joseph named Spencer Lemons called 911 on October 19, 2021. Spencer told the authorities that Joseph had confided in him and confessed to murdering Emily. Not only that, he had also informed him about the location of the remains.
Upon finding her remains at the camper, the police located the suspect inside a Maplefields store in St. Albans, Vermont. Once he was in police custody, the detectives interviewed him and he confessed to the murder. In his confession, Joseph claimed that on their trip, he and Emily got involved in an altercation, where she started hitting and kicking him. After she lay down, Joseph caught her by surprise and shot her twice in the head with his Glock 19 pistol. He further told them that he hid her remains in the camper bathroom before meeting with his sister and her boyfriend for breakfast. Upon returning, he moved the camper to a friend’s driveway in St. Albans and dismembered her remains, which he placed into garbage bags. Thus, Joseph Ferlazzo was arrested and charged with first-degree murder of his wife, Emily Jean Schwarz.
Joseph Ferlazzo is Serving His Sentence at a Vermont Prison Facility Today
Joseph Ferlazzo pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and decided to take the matter to court. In January 2023, the accused was ordered to pay Emily’s family $1.5 million in the civil wrongful death lawsuit. In December 2024, he stood trial for the murder of his wife. While on the stand, he told the jury that 22-year-old Emily threatened him and he had acted in self-defense. On the other hand, the prosecution argued that the defendant tried to cover up the crime and pointed out several inconsistencies in the defense’s claim of self-defense.
Thus, after an intense weeklong trial, the jury deliberated for about five hours in the span of two days before reaching a verdict. Finally, on December 13, 2024, the jury found Joseph Ferlazzo guilty of first-degree murder. After hearing the verdict, Emily’s mother, Adrienne Bass, was relieved. She stated, “The verdict couldn’t be any better…For me, it was really just relief and feeling like we got the justice that Emily deserves.” A few months later, on April 24, 2025, during his sentencing hearing, the convict addressed the court and Adrienne directly, saying, “Emily was my whole world and she convinced me that I was in jeopardy. I reacted too aggressively and has been the worst mistake in the history of my time. Wishing anything else would have played out is a part of every day since.”
He was ultimately sentenced to 42.5 years in prison without the possibility of parole. Following the sentencing, his attorney, Margaret Jansch, hinted that the defense would appeal the decision. She said, “We will be appealing. It’s an automatic appeal because it’s a life sentence case in any case, and I do think there are some things that happened during the trial that would be good basis for an appeal.” Currently, he is incarcerated at Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, Vermont, with his minimum release date scheduled for April 2064.
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