An accused New Jersey killer’s own dashcam could help prosecutors prove he deliberately killed two girls riding an e-bike, an attorney for one victim’s family said, after investigators say the recording shows him turning around to follow them.
On Wednesday, a Union County grand jury indicted Vincent Battiloro, 18, of Garwood, on two counts of first-degree murder in the teen girls’ deaths.
Brent Bramnick, who represents the family of victim Maria Niotis, said the dashcam recording from the 2021 Black Jeep Compass driven by Battilori could help prosecutors establish Battiloro’s intent when he allegedly struck and killed Maria, along with Isabella Salas, both 17, on Sept. 29, 2025.
According to court records, Battiloro had been driving up to 70 mph on a residential street in Cranford, with a speed limit of 25 mph, when he plowed into the girls on Burnside Avenue. The best friends were riding together on an electric bicycle when Battiloro allegedly struck them from behind.
Cranford police issued citations for offenses including, in part, speeding, reckless driving, improper passing and an unsafe lane change. While the citations described dangerous driving, the murder charges will require the prosecution to prove that Battiloro purposely caused the deaths, Bramnick said.
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“So I think even more important than the allegations in the tickets, even though obviously everything’s important, is the fact that this was evidently recorded as it’s happening,” Bramnick told Fox News Digital.
“And that requires a lot of work and that requires making sure you have all the evidence to show, piece by piece, what this defendant was thinking, and that it was not an accident.”
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Bramnick said that he is confident, however, that the evidence will prove murder.
“We certainly believe based upon all the evidence presented so far that the intention was to commit those murders,” he said.
Authorities said that following the crash, Battiloro abandoned the SUV and fled the scene on foot. Police cited him for leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury and failing to report an accident.
He’s also accused of having improper or unclear license plates, no proof of registration and insurance, and no proof of a driver’s license.
The day after the incident, Battiloro appeared in a gaming livestream on YouTube and complained that people were ridiculing him over what he called “false allegations.”
Niotis’ mother, Foulla Niotis, said that Battiloro, who previously attended Lincoln School in Cranford with her daughter, had stalked the girl for months before the collision, and although she had reported it to police, nothing came from it.
“Nobody said to me if there was anything I could do, restraining orders or anything against him,” Niotis previously told Fox News Digital. “They just kept saying, ‘Oh, he’s a juvenile.’ “
The defendant is also accused of swatting the Niotis residence on at least two occasions in Sept. 2025, according to Bramnick.
Cranford police questioned Battiloro on Sept. 29, 2025, but subsequently released him to his father after Battiloro claimed someone carjacked him at knife-point.
In June, after reviewing the dashcam footage, police arrested Battiloro and charged him as an adult.
Bramnick said Battiloro remains in custody after his defense agreed to detention without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of challenging the status later.
Battiloro’s defense attorney, Brian Biglin, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Battiloro’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 27, at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.
“There’ll be an opportunity to have this play out, where people can see what’s going on, and that is hugely important for the public,” Bramnick added.
“Certainly, enormously important for the family, and I think, the Niotis family certainly is happy we’re here, and, you know, want justice.”
