According to the New York Post, 17-year-old Vincent Battiloro is the person who killed his peer, Maria Niotis, of Greek descent from Rhodes, as well as her friend Isabella Salas, in New Jersey.

The report states that Battiloro had previously been in a relationship with Maria Niotis, and friends and family allege that he had been stalking her for months.

Just one day before his arrest, Battiloro appeared unbothered in a YouTube video, where he offered “sincere condolences” to the two girls who lost their lives in what he called a “tragic accident.” In the same video, he complained that locals were threatening his family “over this whole story” and “all this drama,” and claimed he had been “bullied” in the past over “false accusations.”

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“This is a very serious incident that happened and I don’t even know if I should be sharing it right now… this is in the hands of Jesus, everything will be okay, I’ll sort it out… There’s more to the story, but again, I’m not allowed to comment,” he said in the provocative video.

Claims of Premeditated Murder

Family and friends of Maria Niotis claim the 17-year-old had been watching her for months, insisting the fatal crash was a “premeditated accident” by the “coward” Battiloro, who is set to turn 18 in early November.

“It is now vital that the truth be made known: this was not an e-bike accident, nor a simple hit-and-run. This was first-degree murder,” relatives of the girls told Fox 5.

“A cowardly man who planned this attack on Maria for months carried out his horrific act, taking not only her life, but also Isabella’s,” they added.

Maria Niotis (left) and her friend Isabella Salas (right) died in the incident.

Allegations of Stalking

A friend of the two girls told the New York Post that Battiloro would wait outside Maria’s house:

“How can you sit in front of someone’s house for three months? He was out there, in front of her house, in the same car, his car, for three months. I saw it! Tell me. How is it possible to do that?”

More Details Emerge

• Isabella’s father told NJ.com that his daughter did not know Battiloro, but Maria’s mother had informed him that her daughter was having issues with him.
• Another friend revealed that Battiloro had sent threatening messages to a boy Maria dated after their breakup. One message allegedly said, “Your school has already told you to stop harassing her.”

Police Chief Uncle Condemns His Nephew

The uncle of the 17-year-old suspect, Christopher Battiloro, who is the Chief of Police in Westfield, strongly condemned his nephew in a social media post:

“My wife, my children, and I are absolutely devastated by this senseless loss of life.
I strongly condemn the actions of the accused and, like all of you, demand that he be held fully accountable in court.
As a law enforcement officer, I have full faith in our criminal justice system to ensure that justice is served.
I am praying for these families. I demand full accountability and justice.”