Families of N.J. Teens Killed in e-Bike Crash Slam Alleged Stalker Suspect, Who's Now Accused of Murder By Janelle Griffith

The families of two teenage girls who were struck and killed by a motorist in New Jersey this week say the 17-year-old accused of murder in connection with their deaths is a “coward of a man.”

Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis, both 17, were riding an e-bike on Monday, Sept. 29, in Cranford when an SUV struck them at approximately 5:26 p.m., authorities have said. They were taken to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.

In a statement to Fox 5 NY, the families called the suspect “a coward of a man, who had been plotting this attack against Maria for months.” They alleged that he “carried out this horrific act, taking not only her life but also Isabella’s. 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,” the statement said. “This was murder in the first degree.”

Neighbors of the victims had previously said the suspect has been stalking one of the victims.

Authorities announced Wednesday, Oct. 1, that a 17-year-old male from nearby Garwood had been taken into custody on two first-degree murder charges in connection with what they described as a fatal hit-and-run. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has not released the suspect’s name because of state juvenile laws.

The Cranford Police Department referred inquiries about the case to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, which declined to comment about the families’ statement or about whether the suspect had been stalking one of the victims, citing the ongoing investigation. The girls’ parents have not returned requests for comment.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.   

On Wednesday, the police chief in Westfield, N.J., acknowledged the suspect is one of his relatives.

Related Stories

Driver Who Fatally Ran Over Teen Girls Was Stalking 1 of the Victims, Neighbors Say

N.J. 17-Year-Old Charged with Murder in e-Bike Crash that Killed 2 Teens: Police

“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,” Christopher Battiloro wrote in the statement posted to the department’s Facebook page. He said he did not “condone, defend, or excuse the actions” that had caused the girls’ deaths and that he demands “full accountability and justice.”

Isabella and Maria were students at Cranford High School. According to Maria’s obituary, she was born in Rhodes, Greece, and spent her life in Cranford. She is survived by her parents and twin brother.

A GoFundMe has been launched for the families of both girls.