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Battiloro defense seeks venue change in Cranford double-murder case
ABC7 New York • • nation
Key Points:
- Vincent Battiloro, accused of killing Cranford best friends Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis, pleaded not guilty during his first in-person court appearance and his defense plans to pursue a diminished-capacity argument and request a change of venue.
- Battiloro faces two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly driving into the girls while they were riding an e-bike in September 2025, when he was 17.
- The case has drawn significant community attention, with family members and supporters seeking justice and marking the one-year anniversary of the deaths with a vigil.
- Families of the victims have called for a public investigation by the New Jersey attorney general into all law enforcement interactions with Battiloro and his family, emphasizing the need for transparency.
- During the arraignment, Isabella's mother read a statement in court, and the families expressed gratitude to law enforcement while demanding accountability and truth surrounding the tragedy.
