New Jersey Grand Jury Indicts 18-Year-Old Vincent Battiloro for 2 Teen Murders

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 18

Two first-degree murder counts were returned Wednesday against Vincent Battiloro, 18, in the Sept. 29, 2025 deaths of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, who were riding an e-bike in Cranford.
Dashcam footage from Battiloro’s 2021 Jeep Compass could be central to proving intent, the Niotis family’s lawyer said, after investigators said it shows him turning around and following the girls before the crash.
Court records say Battiloro drove up to 70 mph in a 25-mph residential zone, struck the girls from behind, then abandoned the SUV and fled on foot; he also faces traffic and hit-and-run-related charges.
The case escalated after police reviewed the video and arrested him in June as an adult; he remains in custody, and his arraignment is set for Oct. 27 in Elizabeth.
Family allegations add broader context: Niotis’ mother says Battiloro had stalked her daughter for months, and the family lawyer says he also swatted the home at least twice in September 2025.