Best friends Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas ride their bikes in front of Maria’s home.
The speed limit is just 25, so the girls feel comfortable riding in the street, but with no warning, a black Jeep Compass barrels down Burnside Avenue at nearly three times the speed limit.
The driver never braked, running Maria and Isabella down, and then sped off without stopping to check on the two girls.
The hit-and-run driver doesn’t get far. Police find the suspect vehicle, a black 2021 Jeep.Compass, broken down from damage sustained in the crash just blocks away on Lincoln Avenue, with a bike still lodged in the front bumper.
The 17-year-old boy behind the wheel is briefly detained and ultimately released to his family with 15 traffic tickets while police continue to investigate the crash.
Meanwhile, at the crash site, witnesses call 911 and rush to the girls’ aid; one is declared dead on the scene, while the other passes away minutes later at a hospital.
The day after teens Maria and Isabella are killed in a hit-and-run, officers arrest the 17-year-old driver, now charged as a minor with 2 counts of first-degree murder.
Union County prosecutors keep the driver’s identity private; however, traffic summons records reveal his name: Vincent P. Battiloro.
Battiloro is familiar with law enforcement, his father being an officer with Chatham PD, and his uncle, Chief of Westfield PD. The teen was also under investigation for harassing and stalking his classmate and ex-girlfriend Maria Niotis.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
- Dr. Janie Lacy – Licensed Psychotherapist and CEO of Life Counseling Solutions, Author of “How To Heal From A Toxic Relationship: A Guide To Reclaiming Your Mental Health and Happiness;” Host of “The Resilient Professional” Podcast on YouTube; Instagram & Facebook: @JanieLacy
- John Pizzuro – Former New Jersey State Police Investigator for 25 years (worked in multiple departments, including Homicide, Organized Crime, Cartels), Former Commander of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for the New Jersey State Police, and Currently the CEO of RAVEN, an organization focused on eliminating Child Exploitation and Trafficking
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas/GoFundMe]
