The case against an 18-year-old man accused of killing two teenage girls in New Jersey has taken a disturbing turn, with the suspect boasting about the "engagement" he was getting from people commenting on the killings in a livestream just one day after the alleged incident.
Prosecutors allege that Vincent Battiloro deliberately struck 17-year-old Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas with his vehicle while they were riding electric bikes in Cranford on September 29, 2025. He was charged with murder as an adult on June 26.
According to court documents, Battiloro got on a YouTube video game livestream and boasted about the "engagement" he was getting from people commenting on the killings. He stated that the more people engaged in the chat, the more he got paid for YouTube.
After people watching the stream continually commented about the deaths of Niotis and Salas, Battiloro eventually got fed up and addressed the situation. He issued a statement, saying that there had been a lot of misinformation going on over the internet and that he wished to extend his sincerest condolences to the families of the victims.
Police said that Battiloro's own dash camera showed him getting inside a Jeep Compass on the day of the incident and driving to the area of Burnside Avenue in Cranford, near the home of one of the victims. He then made a U-turn to follow the victims while he accelerated the Jeep, striking both girls at a high rate of speed before fleeing the scene by foot.
The case against Battiloro has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for justice for the victims and their families. The Niotis family, represented by attorney Brent Bramnick, has expressed gratitude that the case was moved to adult court and is now seeking answers about the incidents leading up to the alleged crime.
Bramnick stated that the family wants to know what investigation, if any, took place after the alleged swatting incidents at their home in September 2025. He said that the family is doing its own investigation to try to get to the bottom of the questions surrounding the case.
