Vincent Battiloro, 18, Faces Adult Trial in 2 New Jersey Murder Counts

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 27

Union County prosecutors said Vincent Battiloro, 18, has been moved from juvenile court to adult court and publicly identified in the deaths of two 17-year-old girls.
Prosecutors allege Battiloro, then 17, struck Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis with a 2021 black Jeep Compass as they rode an electric bike in Cranford on Sept. 29, 2025.
Two first-degree murder counts and multiple traffic offenses were filed after what prosecutors described as an extensive investigation; the girls later died at local hospitals.
911 callers reported the Jeep "flew down the road and hit people," with one victim pinned under a car and both girls unconscious, according to audio released by officials.
The case has drawn added scrutiny because records show Battiloro was initially released to his father after questioning and arrested two days later, while Maria Niotis' mother has pressed for justice and alleged prior stalking warnings were ignored.