18-year-old accused of killing two Cranford teenage girls set to appear in court
Vincent Battilloro of Garwood will be tried as an adult.
More Stories
An 18-year-old accused of killing two teenage girls nearly a year ago is set to make his first court appearance Tuesday at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.
Vincent Battiloro is scheduled to appear in court. His identity was previously withheld because he was 17 at the time.
The victims were identified as high school students Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas.
RELATED: Teen suspect in Cranford fatal hit-and-run case to be tried as adult
RELATED: 'It's been really hard, it's really bad,' Family of Isabella Salas speaks out for first time since fatal hit-and-run
Brent Bramnick, who represents the Niotis family, said prosecutors are expected to ask the court to keep Battiloro in custody while the case proceeds.
"I believe they will ask the court to detain this juvenile defendant until this case is resolved. Keep them in custody," Bramnick said. "Because of the nature of two murder charges, the most serious offense, obviously, that exists, that's going to be the next thing that happens."
According to a newly obtained affidavit, police obtained footage they say shows Battiloro getting into a black Jeep and driving on Burnside Avenue.
The affidavit says the girls were riding an e-bike in the opposite direction when Battiloro made a U-turn and followed them.
Police also obtained footage from a dash camera in the vehicle.
He accelerated toward the girls and struck them, police say.
Battiloro later stopped and ran away, according to surveillance footage and witness statements cited by police.
Officers later went to the home of the registered owner of the Jeep, where Battiloro lives, according to the affidavit.
Battiloro was taken to police headquarters with his father and told officers he had been carjacked by someone with a knife, according to the report.
