This story has been updated.

" data-image-caption="

Host Dex Rowe was fired from WDEV Radio after making "cruel and insensitive comments" about the killing of Emily Ferlazzo, according to the station's general manager, Steve Cormier. Photo via WDEV Radio

" data-medium-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-214x300.png" data-large-file="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-610x853.png" width="214" height="300" src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-214x300.png" data-src="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-214x300.png" alt="" data-srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-214x300.png 214w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-610x853.png 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-89x125.png 89w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe.png 634w" data-sizes="(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px" srcset="https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-214x300.png 214w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-610x853.png 610w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe-89x125.png 89w, https://vtdigger.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Dex-rowe.png 634w">
Host Dex Rowe was fired from WDEV Radio after making "cruel and insensitive comments" about the killing of Emily Ferlazzo, according to the station's general manager, Steve Cormier. Photo via WDEV Radio

A Vermont radio news host has been fired after making light of the murder of a 22-year-old woman.

WDEV General Manager Steve Cormier announced on Friday that the Waterbury-based radio station fired announcer Dex Rowe after Rowe made "several cruel and insensitive comments" Thursday morning about the recent murder of Emily Ferlazzo.

Police accuse her husband, Joseph Ferlazzo, 41, of shooting and killing the 22-year-old woman in a camper van last weekend and then dismembering her body. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a first-degree murder charge and is being held without bail.

Police have said the Ferlazzos were in Bolton to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary.

In a live on-air discussion with WCAX reporter Alexandra Montgomery, Rowe quipped, "Happy anniversary, goodbye!" while laughing, according to a recording of the radio show obtained by VTDigger.

In an interview Friday, Cormier told VTDigger he was listening to the radio while driving to work when he heard the conversation Thursday morning.

"I almost drove off the road," he said. "I could not believe what he said. I mean, I was really shocked."

In the radio segment, Rowe went on to say, "Sad story, but you can almost see it coming long-term because of the 19-year age difference. That doesn't always work out."

Montgomery responded, "Uh, I'm not sure age is a factor in this case, specifically" before referring listeners to domestic violence resources to help people experiencing intimate partner violence.

Cormier told VTDigger that WDEV began receiving complaints from listeners, as well as managers at WCAX, after the conversation aired. Cormier said the station originally planned to suspend Rowe and make him apologize on-air, but Rowe began resisting, referring to the situation as "bullshit."

Cormier said he knew then that if Rowe apologized on air, it wouldn't be heartfelt. Rowe was terminated from WDEV via email, Cormier said.

VTDigger reached out to Rowe several times for comment while reporting, but he did not respond until after publication. In an email late Friday, he disputed Cormier's account of the internal conversations that led to his firing.

"I never used an expletive, nor did I resist apologizing. In fact, I recorded an apology — after it had been edited by management — and provided it to them," Rowe wrote. "I was trying to use a quip to make a sad story a little lighter. It didn't work and I am so profoundly sorry. The way it was pictured is not the person I am."

Cormier issued an apology from the station on-air and online Friday morning, where he said firing Rowe "was the right thing to do."

"First to the family of Emily Ferlazzo. I am so sorry for any harm he may have caused by his callous comments," Cormier said. "I also want to apologize to our listeners, the staff of WDEV and WCAX and especially Alexandra Montgomery."

Disclosure: WDEV is a content partner with VTDigger.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from Dex Rowe that were received after initial publication.


Sarah Mearhoff

Send us your thoughts

VTDigger is now accepting letters to the editor. For information about our guidelines, and access to the letter form, please click here.

Recent Stories