NJ Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Double E-Bike Deaths; Families Seek Justice

Two New Jersey mothers faced the teenager accused of deliberately killing their daughters as he pleaded not guilty to their murders in Union County court on Monday. Vincent Battiloro, 18, appeared in handcuffs as the families of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, watched him for the first time in person.

The mothers wore shirts bearing their daughters' photographs and the words 'Justice for Bella and Maria,' while sobbing as they stared at Battiloro. The incident occurred more than a year ago when the two best friends were killed while riding an electric bicycle together through Cranford.

Prosecutors allege Battiloro accelerated his Jeep Compass to 70 mph in a 25 mph residential zone before striking the girls on September 29, 2025. Battiloro, whose father is a retired police officer, appeared impassive during the hearing.

Battiloro faces two counts of first-degree murder. His attorney entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. Battiloro's legal team indicated plans to pursue an insanity or diminished-capacity defense. Prosecutors stated that no plea agreement is being offered.

Outside the courthouse, the mothers expressed their determination to continue fighting for justice. Isabella's mother, Maria Salas, stated, "We will fight like hell until they get the justice they deserve." Maria Niotis' mother, Foula, shared, "It's harder and harder every day. I just wish I could bring her back. But I know I can't. So I have to get justice for her and Bella. It's the only way, because I believe that's when their souls will rest as well."

Investigators reported that Battiloro had parked near one of the girls' homes before making a U-turn and accelerating toward them. The Jeep was found abandoned nearby with significant front-end damage and the girls' bicycle lodged in the vehicle. Battiloro initially claimed to investigators that an armed, masked carjacker had stolen his vehicle, but prosecutors say dashboard camera footage from the Jeep contradicts this account and shows Battiloro driving.

Relatives of the victims have alleged that Battiloro had spent months stalking and harassing Maria Niotis prior to the killings. Prosecutors noted that Battiloro had been reported to police and suspended from school for his alleged behavior toward Maria. Her family maintains that earlier warnings about his conduct were not adequately addressed.

The suspect's parents reportedly contacted police four times in the weeks leading up to the deaths, including over allegations that their son had sprayed his father with mace and stolen his vehicle. The victims' families are questioning whether Battiloro's family connections to law enforcement influenced the initial police response.

His father, Jeffrey Battiloro, is a retired Chatham Borough police officer, and his uncle is a police chief in Westfield. Family attorney Brent Bramnick raised concerns about why Battiloro was allegedly detained after the crash but released into his father's custody without immediate charges. The families are also seeking police body-camera footage from the initial investigation.

Both families have requested that New Jersey's attorney general investigate police interactions with Battiloro and his relatives and make the findings public. A joint statement from the families reads, "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."

Battiloro was initially charged as a juvenile, but a judge ruled in June that he would be prosecuted as an adult. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 14. A GoFundMe has been established to support the families of the victims.