Vincent Battiloro, 18, appeared stone-faced in court Monday as grieving mothers stared him down in shirts bearing their dead daughters’ faces.
The New Jersey teen’s first adult court hearing drew raw emotion from the families of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, the Cranford High School seniors he is accused of killing. Prosecutors have charged Battiloro with two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly ran the girls down while they rode e-bikes on a quiet street in the wealthy Union County town last September.
Police said Battiloro’s Jeep was traveling 70 mph in a 25 mph zone at the time of the crash. He was also 17 then, but prosecutors have moved his case to adult court.
Battiloro was escorted into the Union County courtroom in Elizabeth wearing an olive jail jumpsuit over a grey t-shirt, with slippers on his feet and handcuffs at his front. He showed no emotion during the brief proceeding.
An entire row of the gallery was filled with family and supporters wearing shirts that read “Justice for Bella and Maria.” The girls’ mothers sobbed as they watched the teen enter.
Battiloro’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and indicated they were considering an insanity defense.
After the hearing, Maria Salas, Isabella’s mother, addressed reporters through tears.
“We will fight like hell until they get the justice they deserve,” she said.
Foula Niotis, Maria’s mother, also spoke to the press, her voice breaking.
“It’s harder and harder every day,” she said. “I just wish I could bring her back. But I know I can’t.”
She continued, “So I have to get justice for her and Bella. It’s the only way, because I believe that’s where their souls will rest as well.”
The September crash in Cranford, an affluent suburban community, killed two girls who had been close friends and classmates at Cranford High School. The case has gripped the town and drawn attention to the dangers of reckless driving, particularly in residential areas where speed limits are routinely ignored.
Battiloro had not appeared in court since prosecutors upgraded his charges to adult-level murder counts. Monday’s hearing marked the formal beginning of that process, with his defense team now exploring psychiatric options.
The case is expected to proceed through Union County’s criminal court system as both families continue their public push for accountability.