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1h ago

NJ Teen Charged With Murder in E‑Bike Deaths as Families Allege Months of Stalking

The case proceeds in juvenile court with prosecutors withholding the suspect's name under state law.

Isabella Salas, 17, and Maria Niotis, 17, were struck and killed while riding an e-bike together in Cranford, New Jersey.
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Overview

  • A 17-year-old from Garwood is in custody and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Sept. 30 deaths of Cranford High School students Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas.
  • Families and neighbors allege the teen stalked one victim for months and say the crash was a planned attack, while prosecutors have not addressed motive during the ongoing investigation.
  • Witnesses reported a black Jeep struck the girls, fled with an e-bike trapped underneath, and became disabled a short distance away, where police made the arrest.
  • Authorities have not officially identified the suspect because he is a juvenile, though local reporting names him as Vincent Battiloro and cites at least 15 related traffic summonses tied to the incident.
  • Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, a relative of the accused, publicly condemned the killings; funeral services and vigils are set as investigators request video and tips.