Parents’ Concerns Before Tragedy
The parents of a New Jersey teenager, who is accused of running down and killing two of his classmates, reached out to law enforcement ahead of the incident to express their worries about their son, as revealed by audio obtained by NJ.com.
Jeffrey and Judith Battilolo contacted the Garwood Police Department multiple times in August regarding their 17-year-old son, Vincent. They made four calls in total, with the records acquired through a public records request. It’s worth noting that the couple is divorced.
On August 9, Battilolo reached out on a non-emergency line to request police assistance at their home. He mentioned wanting to discuss some troubling behaviors his son was displaying, seeking advice on the “youth issues” he faced.
Another troubling incident occurred on August 24, when Judith reported that Vincent sprayed her with mace and took her car. She recounted feeling threatened, emphasizing, “He sprayed mace in my face. He took my car.”
Judith also contacted the police on August 26, expressing frustration about being unable to reach Vincent since his cell service had been cut off by her ex-husband. She claimed that Vincent had been kicked out and arrived home “angry,” ultimately needing police escort to return.
By August 30, Judith informed the police again about a “juvenile issue,” noting that her son appeared to be “becoming unwell.” This was before the tragic hit-and-run that claimed the lives of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas.
Prior to this incident, Vincent had voiced concerns on a YouTube livestream, alleging that a female classmate was falsely accusing him of serious offenses, describing a desire for “revenge.” His account has since been deleted, but the comments raised alarms.
On September 29, Niotis and Salas, both 17, were reportedly struck by a black Jeep while riding their electric bikes. The driver did not remain at the scene. Following an investigation, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office charged Vincent with two counts of first-degree murder. Sadly, both girls later died from their injuries.
Family and neighbors of Maria Niotis claimed that Vincent had been stalking her for several months prior to the accident, with her mother having reported troubling behaviors to the police earlier.
