BURLINGTON, Vt. (Court TV) — A New Hampshire man has been found guilty of murdering his wife, who was killed while they were on vacation.
Joseph Ferlazzo fatally shot 22-year-old Emily Ferlazzo in Oct. 2021 while they were visiting Vermont for their one-year wedding anniversary. Emily’s family reported that she was missing when he returned from their trip alone, claiming that Emily had left after they had an argument.
FILE – (L) Emily Ferlazzo, (R) Joseph Ferlazzo (Vermont State Police)
Joseph ultimately confessed to shooting Emily twice after an argument and dismembering her body. Emily’s remains were found in the bathroom of the couple’s camper van. He testified at trial and claimed self-defense.
According to an affidavit obtained by NBC Boston, Emily’s mother told investigators there was a history of domestic violence in their marriage. In 2023, Joseph was reportedly ordered to pay Emily’s family $1.5 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Joseph faces a minimum of 35 years in prison and a maximum of life when he is sentenced. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 6 – 12/13/24
- The jury reached its verdict.
DAY 5 – 12/12/24
- A Chittenden County jury is now deciding the fate of Joseph Ferlazzo Jr., 44, who is accused of shooting and killing his 22-year-old wife, Emily Ferlazzo, and dismembering her body.
- Defense attorney Margaret Jansch told the jury during her closing arguments that her client shot his wife in self-defense and that he has a hard time remembering what happened on the night of the murder. Jansch attributed his loss of memory to being sleep-deprived.
- Jansch said that Ferlazzo had been physically and verbally abused immediately after the two married in October 2020.
- “The case is not easy…and the biggest decision you must decide if whether [Ferlazzo] is lying now,” Jansch told the jury.
- State Attorney Sarah George reiterated to the jury there was premeditation and forethought. Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. sat for five minutes after he and his wife argued. “He then picked up his Glock, jumped on top of his wife, held a throw pillow over her face, and fired two shots into the left side of Emily Ferlazzo’s head,” George said.
- Prosecutors say that Emily Ferlazzo was not a threat to her husband and that he never told investigators that he was being abused or shot his wife in self-defense until he testified at his murder trial.
- A panel of seven women and five men will decide if Ferlazzo is guilty of first-degree murder or guilty of the two lesser charges of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.
- Jurors began their deliberations just after 3 pm. They sent a note to the judge just before 5:30 pm asking to see Ferlazzo’s testimony of what occurred on the night of the murder after his sister and her boyfriend left the camper until the following morning.
- Deliberations resume at 9:00 a.m. ET.
DAY 4 – 12/11/24
- Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. testifies in his murder trial. He’s accused of shooting and dismembering his wife, Emily, in October 2021.
- Former Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Shapiro told jurors that Emily Ferlazzo had been shot twice in the head and had been stabbed 18 times post-mortem. Her cause of death was ruled a homicide.
- Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. told investigators that he and his wife had been drinking alcohol on the night of the murder. The toxicology report shows that Emily did not have alcohol in her system.
- Ferlazzo claims that he and Emily were in a polyamorous relationship and that their relationship led to lots of physical violence.
- The trip to Vermont was for a family reunion. For the first time, Emily meets Ferlazzo’s sister, Nikki Ferlazzo.
- Prosecutors conclude their presentation of evidence after calling 15 witnesses. The defense calls one witness, the defendant, before closing the evidence in the guilt phase.
DAY 3 – 12/10/24
- During Emily Ferlazzo’s autopsy, the medical examiner notified investigators that she had 16 stab wounds to her upper body. Investigators located a knife inside of a butcher’s block in the camper which had reddish-brown stains on the blade.
- A fired bullet found inside the camper had fabric embedded in the nose cavity of the bullet.
- The fabric is believed to be from the red throw pillow used during the murder.
- Following Emily Ferlazzo’s death, her husband sent numerous text messages and made several phone calls over the course of three days (beginning on Oct. 16, 2021) in an attempt to cover up his crime as if he were looking for her. Ferlazzo told police that Emily walked away from their camper and never returned.
- Cell phone records for Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. show his movements match those he reported during his interview with investigators.
- WATCH: Van-Life and Death Murder Trial | Day 3 Recap
DAY 2 – 12/9/24
- Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. told investigators that he was “disgusted [with myself]” following the murder of his 22-year-old wife, Emily.
- Detective Sgt. Aimee Nolan, Vermont State Police’s Crime Scene Search Team, told jurors that they found eight garbage bags inside the couple’s converted bus hidden in the shower. Each bag was examined through an X-ray to reveal the contents inside. Bags 1 and 2 contained the red throw pillow used during the shooting and bedding. Bags 3 through 8 contained the remains of Emily Ferlazzo.
- Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. claimed that his wife punched and kicked him before the shooting. Crime scene photos show there were no injuries or bruises on his body.
- Investigators found Emily Ferlazzo’s engagement ring in a cup holder inside the bus covered with a reddish-brown substance.
DAY 1 – 12/6/24
- State and Defense deliver opening statements.
- Prosecutors say this case is about “ego,” and Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. thought he could “outsmart” everyone.
- Joseph Ferlazzo Jr. confessed to jumping on top of his wife, placing a red pillow over her head, and shooting her twice in the head.
- Margaret “Peggy” Jansch, Ferlazzo Jr’s attorney, told the jury that her client shot his wife in self-defense. “That’s it, you’re dead,” was the last thing Ferlazzo heard when his wife allegedly pulled a gun to shoot him. He was afraid and shot her twice in the head.
- Spencer Lemons called 911 to report that his friend, Joseph Ferlazzo Jr., had confessed to murdering his wife.
- Adrienne Bass last communicated with her daughter, Emily, on October 15, 2020, at 7:45 p.m.
- The defendant’s sister testified she did not hear gunfire on the night of the shooting.
