Insets, from left: Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas (GoFundMe). Background: The location where Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas tragically lost their lives on Monday, Sept. 29, in New Jersey (WABC/YouTube).
Two teenage girls on e-bikes in New Jersey were reportedly hit and killed by a 17-year-old who had been pursuing one of them, according to family members and local residents who claim he had been “planning this attack” and “stationed outside her home for the past three months.”
The police report that the suspect, whose identity is not disclosed, ran the girls over in a Jeep Compass on Monday night in Cranford and then escaped the scene. He is said to be connected to a police chief in the nearby town of Westfield.
“This wasn’t an e-bike mishap, nor was it a simple hit-and-run. It was premeditated murder,” stated the families of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas in a release to local Fox station WNYW on Wednesday.
The families labeled the suspect as a “cowardly individual, who had been orchestrating this attack against Maria for months, executed this dreadful deed, resulting in the deaths of both her and Isabella.”
The family added, “He is not insane, he is competent and meditated.”
Cranford Police officials report that the suspect from Garwood is facing two charges of first-degree murder related to the fatalities following his arrest on Wednesday. He reportedly hit the two teenagers with such impact that they were propelled over 100 feet. One of their e-bikes allegedly got caught under the vehicle and was dragged nearly half a mile before coming loose.
The pair later died at the hospital from their injuries.
“It is now vital that the truth be shared,” the girls’ families told WNYW.
Neighbors and relatives allege that Maria was known to the suspect and had been dealing with problems with him, including allegations of stalking.
“He’s been parked outside her house for three months now,” a resident told WNYW. “He was never stopped.”
Police have not addressed the stalking allegations.
The Westfield police chief that is related to the suspect distanced himself from the boy in a Facebook statement on Wednesday night after social media users started falsely reporting that he was his father.
“Like many of you, I am shocked, stunned, and so overwhelmingly distressed beyond belief by the horrific loss of two young ladies,” Chief Christopher Battiloro said. “While social media has made it known that the accused is related to me, he is not my son and not a member of my immediate family. I want to be clear, as loud and as firm as possible, that in NO WAY do my wife, children or I condone, defend, or excuse the actions that caused this terrible and tragic loss of life. “
Battiloro added that while he cannot speak about what happened, due to the active investigation, he does “unequivocally condemn the actions of the accused, and like you, I demand that he face the consequences of his alleged actions in a court of law.”
