NJ Teen Indicted For Double Murder Of 2 High School Girls

CRANFORD, NJ — Vincent Battiloro was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with a crash that killed two Cranford High School students last year, according to court documents.

A Union County grand jury indicted Battiloro, 18, of Garwood, on Wednesday.

According to the indictment, the grand jurors presented that Battiloro, on Sept. 29, 2025, in Cranford "did knowingly and/or purposely cause the death and/or serious bodily injury" resulting in the deaths of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas.

On Sept. 29, 2025, Cranford Police were called to Burnside Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m. after reports that two teenage girls riding an electric bicycle had been struck by a vehicle.

Both girls were Cranford High School students. They were taken to area hospitals after the crash, where they later died, according to officials.

Battiloro was 17 at the time of the crash. In June 2026, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said he would be tried as an adult.

Battiloro was identified as the suspect through court records along with reports he had been stalking at least one of the girls for months leading up to the crash. He is charged with two counts of murder and 15 other citations.

Battiloro is also connected to two swatting cases in September involving the family of one of the girls leading up to the crash.

In the months following the attack, Niotis' mother Foulla has also had death threats directed to her workplace, the family's lawyer, Brent Bramnick, said.

An arraignment date for Battiloro has not been set yet.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Detective Alex Lanza at 908-370-4318 or Cranford
Police Detective Lieutenant Spencer Durkin at 908-709-7346.

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