Overview
- The 17-year-old, identified in reports as Vincent Battiloro, is charged in juvenile court with two counts of first-degree murder and was issued 15 traffic citations tied to the Sept. 29 crash.
- The Niotis family’s attorney says police twice responded to false calls at their home in September and, during the second visit, officers spoke with Battiloro outside before allowing him to leave with his father.
- Relatives allege months of stalking and livestreamed harassment, including taunts and a prank pizza order to the family’s address, and say Maria Niotis repeatedly complained to authorities.
- The family is questioning whether the suspect’s law-enforcement ties influenced prior police actions, while the Union County Prosecutor’s Office has said it is exploring all legal options.
- Union County prosecutors are within a 60-day window to seek an adult-court transfer, and Maria Niotis’s mother is publicly urging that step.