U.S. News
Teen Suspect Freed Then Arrested in Double Death
Clear Facts
- A 17-year-old male was questioned and released after two teen girls were killed in a suspected hit-and-run, and arrested two days later.
- Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, died after being struck by a 2021 Jeep Compass on September 29 in New Jersey.
- The suspect faces two counts of first-degree murder and is currently in custody.
The 17-year-old suspect was first detained for questioning by law enforcement shortly after the tragic crash but released pending further investigation.
Officials later arrested the suspect on Wednesday morning, following approvals for first-degree murder charges.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the young man is now in custody.
Foulla Niotis, Maria’s mother, said, “They should have done a lot. They didn’t do anything. They didn’t do anything to help my baby.”
She added, “I want justice for Maria and Isabella. That’s what I want.”
The families claim the incident was planned for months, stating, “A coward of a man, who had been plotting this attack against Maria for months, carried out this horrific act, taking not only her life but also Isabella’s.”
They emphasized, “He is not insane, he is competent and meditated. It is now vital that the truth be shared: this was not an e-bike accident, and it was not a hit-and-run. This was murder in the first degree.”
During a press conference, Foulla Niotis called her loss “a silence that echoes louder than anything.”
She said, “I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life.”
A neighbor reported, “He’s been parked outside her house for three months now. He was never stopped.”
Family friend Tammy Carbajal said, “She made complaints and nothing was done. It’s just a tragedy. It’s just a tragedy.”
Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro addressed rumors about his relationship to the accused.
“While social media has made it known that the accused is related to me, he is not my son and not a member of my immediate family. I want to be clear, as loud and as firm as possible, that in NO WAY do my wife, children or I condone, defend or excuse the actions that caused this terrible and tragic loss of life,” Battiloro said.
He also stated, “As a result of this tragic incident, I lost a neighbor – a beautiful, charismatic young lady named Isabella Salas, who I have watched grow up since the day I moved to Cranford.”
This community tragedy leaves families demanding answers and stronger accountability from local authorities.
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