The families of two teenage girls fatally struck while riding e-bikes in their New Jersey neighborhood say the boy charged in their deaths had allegedly been planning the attack for months.
Vincent Battiloro, 17, is accused of deliberately driving a black 2021 Jeep Compass into Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis, both 17, before fleeing the scene. Reports indicate he was traveling at least 70 mph in a 25 mph zone on Monday night in Cranford, about 10 miles southwest of Newark.
Battiloro was initially detained and released on Monday night but was arrested the following morning. On Wednesday, authorities charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.
The grieving families told NBC New York that Battiloro had been stalking Niotis for months before the fatal incident. In a joint statement, they called him “a coward of a man, who had been plotting this attack against Maria for months [and] carried out this horrific act.”
Sources say all three teens knew each other, and the attack may have been related to a previous breakup. Relatives and friends confirmed that a restraining order had been filed against Battiloro before the crash.
In a 20-minute livestream on YouTube the day after the incident, Battiloro referenced the crash and claimed misinformation had circulated about him being bullied.
“I wish my sincerest condolences to those two girls lost in that tragic accident,” he said. “It is an absolute unfortunate situation… there’s more to the story that you’re not getting. But when the time comes, I will explain it in greater detail.”
“I’m a nice kid, I’m 17 years old with a good family by my side, and these allegations that have been ruining everything — it’s a shame.”
Battiloro remains in custody. In addition to the murder charges, authorities have issued at least 15 citations against him for speeding, reckless driving, and driving without a license.
Neighbors described the aftermath as devastating.
“Horrible. Nothing in the world is more horrible than what I saw yesterday. It’s devastating for the community, everybody’s affected,” said Barbara Bryson.
“Hearing that someone was hit by a car was bad enough, but then learning he left… it was so sickening,” added Cranford local Amanda Poda.
Family members mourned the loss of the teens. An uncle of Salas told NBC in Spanish:
“Seventeen years old, great girl. She was riding her bike with her best friend. Then this guy comes and kills them.”
Grief-Stricken Mother Speaks Out
The mother of Niotis spoke publicly for the first time on Thursday, describing her daughter as her “best friend” who “cared deeply for everyone around her.” Speaking outside Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union, New Jersey, following Niotis’ wake, Fiolla Niotis said:
“She was my best friend, my sunshine, the kind of girl who could walk into a room and light it up, just by being herself.”
Both girls were seniors at Cranford High School. Niotis “had a passion for all things beautiful, music, makeup, hair, fashion,” and dreamed of becoming a makeup artist, her mother said.
“When she talked about her dream of becoming a makeup artist, it wasn't just about glam. It was about helping people see the beauty in themselves that maybe they had forgotten. She would practice for hours watching tutorials, doing her friends' makeup for fun, and always leaving behind glitter, eyeshadow palettes and a whole lot of love.”
Her mother described the unbearable pain and silence since her daughter was killed:
“It's a silence that echoes louder than anything I've ever heard. It's waking up every morning wishing it was a nightmare, hoping to hear that sweet, 'I love you, Mom, Dad.'”
She added that she wanted to speak not only of grief but of “Maria’s light.”
“She loved deeply, she gave generously, she dreamed boldly. To Maria, my sweet girl, I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life. I will picture your smile, hear your laugh in my heart and carry your dreams in my hands. You wanted to make the world more beautiful and my daughter, you did, just by being in it.”
Salas’ family did not speak during the press event. She was remembered in her obituary as a kind and generous teen who loved animals, was passionate about theater, and had the “voice of an angel.”
Niotis' family did not address the case during the remarks on Thursday. The families of the girls had alleged in a statement following Battiloro’s arrest that the suspect plotted an attack against Niotis for months, killing her and her friend in a “horrific act.” However, they did not provide further details.
Funerals for Niotis and Salas were held on Friday and Saturday, respectively. A GoFundMe set up for their families has raised over $161,000 as of Sunday.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate and is seeking witnesses or video footage of the Jeep involved in the incident.
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