A New Jersey man charged with murdering two teenage girls allegedly joked about the attention he was receiving online during a YouTube livestream just one day after prosecutors say he intentionally struck and killed them with his vehicle.
According to Fox News, Vincent Battiloro, now 18, was charged as an adult on June 26 with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 17-year-olds Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas.
Prosecutors allege the girls were riding electric bikes in Cranford, New Jersey, on Sept. 29, 2025, when Battiloro deliberately drove into them with a Jeep Compass before fleeing the scene on foot.
During a YouTube gaming livestream the following day, Battiloro responded to viewers commenting about the deaths by saying the attention was benefiting his channel.
"The more you guys engage in the chat, the more you give me engagement and I get paid for YouTube. Just letting you all know. That's fine. That's fine. Y'all are just giving me engagement, that's fine," he said. "I'm not doing s--- until people stop messaging negativity."
As viewers continued raising questions about the incident, Battiloro briefly addressed the case.
"There has been a lot of misinformation going on over the internet. But I will say this. I wish my sincerest condolences to those two girls lost in that tragic accident. It is an absolute unfortunate situation. And there's more to the story that you're not getting," he said. "But when the time comes. I will explain it in greater detail. I'm not authorized to talk about the whole thing."
According to investigators, Battiloro's dash camera captured him getting into the Jeep and driving to Burnside Avenue near the home of one of the victims.
Detectives said the video showed the two girls riding in the opposite direction before Battiloro made a U-turn, followed them, accelerated, and struck both victims at a high rate of speed.
Authorities said Battiloro then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Because he was 17 at the time of the alleged crimes, Battiloro's identity had not previously been released.
His case was transferred to adult court on June 26, allowing prosecutors to identify him publicly.
Brent Bramnick, an attorney representing Niotis' family, welcomed the decision.
"The decision to try the defendant as an adult is a welcomed sliver of justice. We are grateful to the Prosecutor's Office for their efforts as well as the community at large for continuing to keep Maria and Isabella's memories alive," Bramnick said.
Bramnick also said Battiloro allegedly targeted the Niotis family's home with two swatting incidents earlier in September 2025.
He said the family is seeking answers about what actions, if any, were taken after those reports and has launched its own investigation into the matter.