Who is Joseph Ferlazzo? Man who admitted to killing and dismembering wife asked to pay her family $1.5M
BURLINGTON, VERMONT: A man accused of murdering his wife and then returning to dismember her body with a hand saw while living at an Airbnb has been sentenced to pay $1.5 million to the woman's family. Joseph Ferlazzo Jr., 42, is being jailed without bail after allegedly murdering his wife, Emily Schwarz Ferlazzo, 22, while on their anniversary vacation.
Joseph is charged with first-degree murder along with a civil wrongful death claim. On Monday, January 16, a judge awarded over $ 1.5 million in damages to Emily's mother, Adrienne Bass, as reported by The U.S. Sun.
READ MORE
How did Joseph Ferlazzo kill his wife?
The couple was on vacation in Vermont when the tragedy happened in October 2021. Police said they were visiting an Airbnb home with their converted camper. According to later police findings, the murder was allegedly committed in the camper the couple was vacationing in. According to an affidavit acquired by InDepthNH.org, Joseph told police that during their argument, his wife had been kicking and striking him in the crotch.
The man informed authorities that he waited five to ten minutes after his wife went to sleep before taking his weapon and ambushing her. According to Joseph, she was shot twice in the head. He then wrapped a waste bag around her head and carried her body into the camper's bathroom.
Then, according to Joseph's account to the police, he went to breakfast with his sister and her boyfriend. He claimed to have returned to the camper after breakfast to relocate it. Then, according to what he told investigators, he used a hand saw to dismember his wife, separating her body parts and placing them into separate garbage bags.
Emily's parents reported her missing when Joseph returned to New Hampshire alone. According to court records, Joseph later confessed to the murder but pleaded not guilty in court. He was judged civilly liable for Emily's death in December. However, Joseph's criminal case is still unresolved in Chittenden County Court, and in the spring, he is due to appear again in court.
Following the judge's ruling, Adrienne's attorney, Robert Scharf, issued the following statement.
“While this judgment can in no way ever make up for Emily Jean’s death, it acknowledges the family’s terrible loss, and will ensure that Joseph Ferlazzo never benefits from Emily Jean’s murder.”