A teenager accused in the deaths of two 17-year-old girls in an alleged New Jersey hit-and-run last year has been named publicly after prosecutors said Friday that the case will proceed in adult court.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office said 18-year-old Vincent Battiloro, of Garwood, has been waived from juvenile jurisdiction and will be prosecuted as an adult in connection with the deaths of the two girls.
Battiloro now faces first-degree murder charges in the Criminal Part of Superior Court in Union County following the transfer of his case out of juvenile court, prosecutors said.
His name had not previously been released because he was under 18 at the time of the alleged offenses. Authorities said the move to adult court allowed them to make his identity public.
Vincent Battiloro, 18, was publicly identified after prosecutors announced he will be tried as an adult in connection with the deaths of two New Jersey teenagers. (VinnieBat118/YouTube)
According to prosecutors, Battiloro was 17 when he allegedly hit Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis as they rode an electric bike in Cranford at approximately 5:26 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2025.
Both victims, each 17 years old, were transported to nearby hospitals and were pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Prosecutors said Battiloro was taken into custody after a broad investigation and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, along with several traffic-related offenses.
Two teenagers, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, were killed in a hit-and-run incident in New Jersey. Police allege a 17-year-old boy is responsible. (FOX 5/Unknown)
News Agency previously reported on 911 call audio and police reports obtained through a public records request showing the suspect was released to his father after the alleged hit-and-run.
The records also show Battiloro’s father contacted law enforcement after the crash.
In a previous statement to News Agency, Union County Prosecutors Office Public Information Officer Lauren Farinas said Battiloro was detained for questioning after the incident and later released. He was arrested two days later, on Oct. 1.
Foulla Niotis speaks in an exclusive interview urging prosecutors to try the teen suspect as an adult after her daughter Maria and friend Isabella Salas were killed by a stalker in New Jersey. (Fox News)
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One caller told 911 dispatchers that a 2021 black Jeep Compass — which police said Battiloro was driving — “flew down the road and hit people,” adding that one of the victims was unresponsive.
The same caller also reported that there was “someone underneath a car.”
“This is really bad,” the caller said.
Police officers gather at the scene where two teenagers were killed. (Fox News)
“Nobody’s conscious,” another 911 caller said. “Everyone’s stunned, not moving.”
“There’s a girl on the road, and there’s a car! Oh my God, please hurry!” another caller said.
Maria Niotis’ mother, Foulla Niotis, previously told Fox News that she believes the suspect “planned” the attack and thought he was “untouchable” because he had relatives working in law enforcement.
A memorial was set up for Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas. (Fox News)
She also alleged local police failed to act after the family reported that Battiloro had been stalking her daughter before the crash.
“They should have done a lot. They didn’t do anything,” Niotis said. “They didn’t do anything to help my baby.”
“I want justice for Maria and Isabella,” she added. “That’s what I want.”
