NJ Teen Indicted for Murder in Double E-Bike Deaths

A New Jersey teenager has been indicted on murder charges in connection with the deaths of two high school seniors who were struck and killed while riding e-bikes more than a year ago. Vincent Battiloro, now 18, was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday for the first-degree murders of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, in September 2025.

Battiloro, of Garwood, was allegedly stalking Niotis and accelerated his Jeep to approximately 70 mph in a 25 mph zone when he struck the cyclists from behind in Cranford, a township about 25 miles west of New York City. He was initially arrested and charged as a juvenile but faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted as an adult.

Attorneys for the victims' families expressed hope for justice. "The families are hopeful that justice will be achieved and that a trial in open court will bring what happened to light," lawyers Brent Bramnick and Cory Rothbort stated, according to NJ101.5. Bramnick, representing the Niotis family, added that the year-long investigation and legal process have been difficult but emphasized the importance of a public trial for the families and the community.

According to court documents, Niotis and her family had reported Battiloro for stalking her, leading to a school-imposed suspension. Battiloro allegedly became enraged by this suspension.

Initially, Battiloro claimed he had been carjacked by an armed individual. However, dashcam footage reportedly showed him driving his Jeep towards the home of one of the victims before making a U-turn, accelerating, and striking the e-bikes. He was questioned after the incident but released before being arrested two days later. During the interim, he allegedly posted a livestream video suggesting there was "more to the story."