Hundreds attend wake of teen killed in deliberate NJ hit-and-run



Roughly 500 people turned out Saturday morning for the wake of Isabella Salas, one of two New Jersey teens allegedly killed by a deranged stalker who slammed into the bike-riding girls with his SUV.

Some mourners waited two hours to get inside the Dooley Funeral Home in West Cranford to pay their respects to Salas — while the girl’s trembling, devastated parents sobbed and held one another.

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The teen’s Cranford High School classmates and teachers were spotted on line, sobbing and comforting each other.

Isabella Salas was active in local theater and drama clubs. Obtained by the NY Post

Not far from the closed casket were two dozen flower arrangements, including one from the Cranford High School Drama Club, of which Salas, who loved singing and acting, was a member.

A pink arrangement with roses and lilies formed a heart shape, and a purple arrangement was decorated with musical notes.

A giant framed photo of Isabella was positioned atop her casket. She was expected to be buried Monday at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ.

The killing of two teen girls has rocked Cranford, New Jersey. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
Hundreds turned out to pay their respects to Salas. Aristide Economopoulos

The girl was an animal lover who adored her dog, Tucker, said family friend Carolyn Pugliese.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Pugliese said. “She was very, very family oriented. They are all so close.”

“It’s too hard for everybody,” said Jose Febus, a friend of Isabell’s grandmother.

“Its double the pain for the community,” the 70-year-old added, estimating more than 500 people came to pay their respects.

“This is devastating,” said another man who came with his young daughter. “We know her from choir and from here — it’s a small community.”

The accused killer had allegedly been stalking Maria Niotis, her family and friends said. Obtained by the NY Post
Vincent Battiloro, seen in a live stream he did hours after the killings. VinnieBat118/YouTube

The other victim killed in Monday’s double-murder, Maria Niotis, was buried Friday following a funeral mass inside a packed St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union.

The two best friends were riding an e-bike when Vincent Battiloro, 17, allegedly rammed into them at 70 mph on a Cranford street.

Family, friends, and neighbors have claimed Battiloro stalked Maria for months, even sitting outside her family’s home in his Jeep, and refusing to leave when asked.

Tony Pugliese also knows Isabella’s family.

“We just want justice for her and Maria,” Pugliese told The Post. “It’s just so hard. Nothing was done about the stalking. They did nothing about it. It’s a shame.”

Battiloro was charged as a juvenile Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder but prosecutors are expected to file paperwork this week to have the case transferred to adult court.

Battiloro does not have a driver’s license, authorities said.


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