NJ teen accused of intentionally killing best friends riding e-bike pleads not guilty
Vincent Battiloro's defense is seeking a venue change in the double-murder case
CRANFORD, N.J. -- The teenager accused of killing best friends Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis in Cranford, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty Monday during his first in-person court appearance. His attorney also announced plans to pursue a diminished-capacity defense and request a change of venue.
Vincent Battiloro, now 18, appeared in court for his arraignment on an indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. It marked the first time he appeared in court in person after a previous virtual court appearance.
Prosecutors allege Battiloro intentionally drove a vehicle into Salas and Niotis while the 17-year-old best friends were riding an e-bike on Burnside Avenue in Cranford in September 2025. Battiloro was 17 at the time of the incident.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Cranford, where family members, friends and community supporters have continued to seek justice for the two girls.
Last month marked one year since their deaths, and community members gathered at a vigil to remember the teens, who were often described as inseparable best friends.
During Monday's proceedings, Isabella's mother read a statement in court. Separately, attorneys representing both families released a joint statement calling for a broader review of the events surrounding the case.
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"The Niotis and Salas families thank the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the law enforcement officers who have worked to seek justice for Maria and Isabella," the statement said. "But justice cannot be done in the dark. 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."
The families are calling on the New Jersey attorney general to investigate "all law enforcement dealings and interactions with Vincent Battiloro and his family" and make the findings public.
"Maria, Isabella and their families deserve the truth. Anything less is an injustice," the statement said.
Battiloro's attorneys requested additional discovery in the case, told the court they are considering seeking a change of venue and indicated they may pursue a diminished-capacity defense.
