CRANFORD, N.J. — The 18-year-old accused of killing Cranford best friends Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis pleaded not guilty Monday at his first in-person court appearance. His defense attorney said the legal team may pursue a diminished-capacity defense and seek to move the trial to another venue.
Vincent Battiloro was arraigned on an indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. Monday’s proceeding was his first time appearing in court in person; his earlier appearance was held virtually.
Battiloro did not address the court. His attorney entered the not-guilty plea for him.
Prosecutors allege that Battiloro deliberately drove a vehicle into Salas and Niotis as the 17-year-old girls rode an e-bike on Burnside Avenue in Cranford in September 2025. Battiloro was 17 when the incident occurred.
The case has sparked intense concern across Cranford, where relatives, friends and other residents continue to call for accountability in the deaths of the two teenagers.
Last month marked the first anniversary of their deaths. Community members gathered for a vigil honoring the girls, who were frequently remembered as inseparable friends.
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During Monday’s hearing, Isabella’s mother read a statement in court. Attorneys for both families also issued a joint statement urging a wider examination of the circumstances surrounding the case.
“The Niotis and Salas families thank the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the law enforcement officers who have worked to seek justice for Maria and Isabella,” the statement said. “But justice cannot be done in the dark. Maria and Isabella should be alive today. These families, and every parent in this community, deserve to know how this unspeakable catastrophe was allowed to happen.”
The families are asking the New Jersey attorney general to investigate “all law enforcement dealings and interactions with Vincent Battiloro and his family” and release the results publicly.
“Maria, Isabella and their families deserve the truth. Anything less is an injustice,” the statement said.
Battiloro’s attorneys also asked for additional discovery. They told the court they are weighing a change-of-venue request and considering an insanity defense, while indicating they may argue that Battiloro had diminished capacity.
The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14.
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