A teenager has been publicly named as the suspect in a hit-and-run that resulted in the deaths of two 17-year-old girls in New Jersey last year. On Friday, prosecutors announced that 18-year-old Vincent Battilolo from Garwood will be tried as an adult.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Battilolo, previously waived from juvenile court, will face first-degree murder charges in the Criminal Division of Union County Superior Court.
His identity wasn’t disclosed until now due to his status as a minor during the incident. Following his transfer to adult court, prosecutors indicated that they could reveal his name.
It’s alleged that Battilolo, who was 17 at the time, struck Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis while they were riding electric bicycles in Cranford on September 29, 2025, around 5:26 p.m.
Both girls were transported to a local hospital but sadly were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Battilolo was arrested after a thorough investigation, facing two counts of first-degree murder alongside various traffic offenses.
Previous reports highlighted audio from a 911 call and details from a police report indicating that the suspect was initially released into his father’s custody following the incident.
Records show that Battilolo’s father reached out to authorities shortly after the crash occurred.
According to Lauren Farinas, a spokesperson for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Battilolo was taken in for questioning right after the incident but was released, only to be arrested two days later on October 1st.
A 911 caller recounted how officers witnessed Battilolo’s 2021 black Jeep Compass “fly off the road and hit people,” mentioning that one victim was unresponsive.
The same caller also noted someone was trapped underneath the vehicle.
“This is really bad,” the caller remarked.
Another caller reported, “No one was conscious. Everyone was stunned and didn’t move.” Yet another said, “There’s a girl on the road and a car is coming! Oh my god, hurry!”
Maria Niotis’s mother expressed her belief that Battilolo had “planned” the attack and felt he was “untouchable” due to connections in law enforcement.
She accused local police of not acting after her family reported stalker behavior by Battilolo prior to the unfortunate incident. “They should have done a lot. They did nothing,” she said regarding police inaction. “I want justice for Maria and Isabella,” she added.
