Teen Indicted on Double-Murder Charges After Allegedly Running Down Girl He Was Accused of Stalking and Her Friend

A New Jersey teenager is facing two first-degree murder charges after a grand jury accused him of deliberately striking two teenage girls with his Jeep while they were riding an electric bicycle. The case has drawn renewed attention to allegations that one of the victims had been stalked before the fatal collision, raising disturbing questions about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

Vincent Battiloro, now 18, was 17 when the incident occurred in Cranford, New Jersey, on September 29, 2025. The victims, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, were both 17 years old. According to prosecutors, the girls were riding an e-bike when they were hit from behind by a Jeep driven by Battiloro. Both teenagers died, leaving their families and friends devastated.

The case took a significant step forward on October 15, 2026, when a New Jersey grand jury indicted Battiloro on two counts of first-degree murder. The indictment alleges that he knowingly or purposely caused the deaths of both girls. Although the charges represent a major development, they are accusations, and Battiloro remains entitled to the presumption of innocence as the case proceeds through court.

The circumstances surrounding the collision have made the case particularly troubling. Witnesses reportedly said the Jeep accelerated to as much as 70 mph in a 25 mph zone before striking the girls. Investigators have also examined claims from the victims’ families and friends that the incident was not simply a traffic collision. According to those accounts, Niotis had previously sought a restraining order because she believed Battiloro was stalking her.

Friends and relatives have alleged that Battiloro had been watching Niotis for months before the crash, with some claiming he had repeatedly parked near her home. Salas’ family previously rejected the idea that the deaths were the result of an ordinary accident, arguing that the circumstances pointed to an intentional act. These claims have contributed to the families’ calls for a thorough examination of what happened, although allegations about motive and prior conduct must be assessed through evidence presented in court.

Battiloro was initially handled through the juvenile justice system because of his age at the time of the incident. His case was later transferred to adult court during the summer of 2026, allowing prosecutors to pursue the charges there. The latest indictment formally accuses him of first-degree murder in both deaths, but the charging document itself reportedly provides few additional details about the grand jury’s reasoning.

The case has also attracted attention because Battiloro is related to a New Jersey police chief. Following the crash, Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro clarified that, despite the shared surname and family connection, he is not the defendant’s father. The relationship became a point of public discussion as the investigation and court proceedings continued.

The victims’ families say they hope a public trial will bring greater clarity to the events that led to the girls’ deaths. In a joint statement reported by local media, their families expressed hope that justice would be achieved and that the proceedings would help reveal what happened. Battiloro is scheduled to return to court on October 27, 2026, for his arraignment. As the case moves forward, the central questions will be whether prosecutors can prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt and what evidence the court will hear about the fatal collision and the alleged stalking.

Source: Court TV