—Kerry Hill, B1Daily

More than a year after two teenage best friends were killed while riding an electric bicycle, a Union County grand jury has indicted 18-year-old Vincent Battiloro on two counts of first-degree murder, bringing the closely watched New Jersey case another step toward trial.

Battiloro, of Garwood, is accused of deliberately striking 17-year-old Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas with his Jeep on September 29, 2025. Prosecutors allege the vehicle approached the girls from behind on Burnside Avenue at approximately 70 mph in a 25-mph zone.

The indictment, returned October 14, 2026, follows a lengthy investigation into the deaths of the two Cranford High School students. Battiloro was 17 at the time of the incident and initially faced proceedings in juvenile court before his case was transferred to adult court on June 26, 2026.

Alleged Stalking and Dashcam Evidence Raise Serious Questions

The case has attracted national attention not only because of the victims’ ages but also because of allegations that one of the girls had previously been stalked and harassed by the accused.

Family members have alleged that Battiloro repeatedly harassed Maria Niotis before the fatal collision. They have also described previous efforts to obtain protection from his behavior.

According to court documents described in news reports, investigators recovered dashcam footage allegedly showing Battiloro driving toward the area where the girls were riding, turning his Jeep around, accelerating behind them, and striking their bicycle.

If authenticated and admitted at trial, that footage could become central to the prosecution’s effort to establish intent. The indictment alleges that Battiloro knowingly or purposely caused the deaths, rather than merely driving recklessly.

These allegations have not yet been proven at trial.

Police Family Connection Remains Under Scrutiny

As B1Daily previously reported, Battiloro is related to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, a connection that intensified public interest in the handling of the investigation.

The police chief previously acknowledged the family relationship while clarifying that he is not the defendant’s father. Vincent Battiloro is also reportedly the son of a former police officer.

Those relationships do not establish wrongdoing by any law enforcement official. Nevertheless, the case has prompted questions about accountability, transparency, and whether authorities responded adequately to the reported harassment before the girls were killed.

The families’ allegations deserve careful examination, particularly concerning what warnings were reported, which agencies received them, and what protective measures were available.

Families Continue Their Fight for Justice

The indictment represents a significant development for the families of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, who have spent more than a year demanding answers.

Attorneys Brent Bramnick and Cory Rothbort, representing the victims’ families, issued a joint statement expressing hope that the court proceedings would reveal the circumstances surrounding the girls’ deaths.

The two teenagers were remembered by their community during a candlelight vigil marking the first anniversary of the tragedy.

Their families now face another painful chapter as the criminal case advances through New Jersey’s Superior Court system.

What Happens Next?

Battiloro is scheduled to appear in court on October 27, 2026, for arraignment. The prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the charged offenses, and his defense will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence.

An indictment is a formal criminal accusation, not a conviction. Battiloro remains legally presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

For the families of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, however, the upcoming proceedings offer an opportunity for the evidence to be examined publicly and for long-standing questions about the events leading to September 29, 2025, to be addressed.

Two young lives were lost, and the case now moves closer to the courtroom where the allegations will be tested.

This article follows B1Daily’s October 7, 2025, reporting on the deaths of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas.

—Kerry Hill, B1Daily