A teenage YouTuber accused of running down and killing two 17-year-old girls offered his “sincerest condolences” to the victims in a chilling live stream just hours after the alleged hit-and-run, saying there was “more to the story” that he would explain later. Vincent Bataloro, now 18, faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Maria Neotus and Isabella Salas, who were struck by a black Jeep Compass while riding an e-bike on a quiet street in Cranford, New Jersey, on September 29.
Prosecutors say Bataloro fled on foot after the crash and then went home to broadcast himself playing a baseball video game as if nothing had happened. During that stream, viewers flooded the chat with accusations. “Bro, you killed my best friend,” one wrote. Bataloro responded by timing out users and turning off comments. He then addressed the deadly incident, saying, “I wish my sincerest condolences to those two girls lost in that tragic accident.”
The teen’s demeanor on the stream has been described by legal analysts as “unhinged.” He told his followers he was the victim of bullying and false allegations, and he urged the state to address mental health crises. “I’m a nice kid,” he said. “I’m 17 years old with a good family by my side.” The video remained online for days after the crash, showing no apparent remorse for the lives lost.
Authorities allege the attack was not random. In streams recorded before the murders, Bataloro spoke of having a “vengeance” against Maria Neotus for accusing him of sending pornographic material. He threatened to send a pizza to her house as a prank, using a burner phone and a VPN to avoid detection. “She should not have accused me of sending 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒏,” he said. “And you should not have dragged me into creating a police report.”
In another stream from roughly two months before the crash, Bataloro boasted that if he saw Maria in real life, “she would be scared to even see my face.” He also referenced a confrontation with her brother that ended without a fight. Maria’s uncle later posted on social media, calling the suspect a “psychopath” and saying his niece had been followed and harassed for months, with multiple reports made to police.
When detectives interrogated Bataloro, he claimed he had been carjacked by an unknown individual wearing a red mask and wielding a knife. But investigators say his own dash camera disproved that alibi. The footage, obtained through a search warrant, shows Bataloro getting into the Jeep Compass, driving to Burnside Avenue, parking, and then making a U-turn toward the two girls on the e-bike before accelerating.
“Video doesn’t lie,” prosecutors said. The criminal complaint states that after allegedly striking the victims, Bataloro abandoned the vehicle and ran away on foot. The dash cam evidence directly contradicted his story of being forced out of the driver’s seat. “It’s not possible that Vincent Bataloro was carjacked because his own video proves he was behind the wheel,” the complaint reads.
Additional alarming details emerged from 911 calls made by Bataloro’s parents in the weeks before the murders. His father, a retired police officer, called for advice about “juvenile issues” with his son. In a separate call, the father reported that Vincent had sprayed him in the face with mace and stolen his car. “He took my car,” the father told dispatchers. Bataloro’s mother also called, expressing concern for her son’s safety because his father had disconnected his phone.
Those calls paint a picture of a teenager spiraling out of control. Neighbors and school officials had reportedly been alerted to his behavior, but no intervention prevented the tragedy. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has now officially moved the case to adult court, a decision that opens the door for more severe penalties if Bataloro is convicted.
Bataloro is expected to make his first court appearance as an adult in a North Jersey courtroom tomorrow. He remains held without bond. The families of Maria Neotus and Isabella Salas have called for justice, remembering the two best friends as vibrant young women who were simply heading home on a Friday evening. “They were inseparable,” a family friend said. “Their lives were stolen in a senseless act of violence.”
Legal experts note that the dash cam footage and the live stream statements could be critical evidence. “The defendant essentially put his own words and actions on the public record,” one analyst said. “His claim of a carjacking was a bold-faced lie, and his own video proved it.” The case has drawn national attention due to the brazenness of the alleged crime and the suspect’s apparent lack of remorse.
In the hours after the crash, Bataloro continued streaming as if nothing had happened. He thanked his followers and said he planned to “keep playing co-op” with his best friend. “If you don’t see me streaming for a little bit, you’ll understand why,” he said, adding that “everything will be in the hands of Jesus.” The stream ended with Bataloro returning to his video game, seemingly unfazed by the tragedy unfolding around him.
For the community of Cranford, the case has shattered a sense of safety. “This was not an accident,” a neighbor said. “This was a targeted attack by a boy who had been stalking Maria for weeks.” As the legal process moves forward, prosecutors are expected to lay out a detailed timeline of events, including Bataloro’s alleged stalking, the 911 calls from his parents, and the fatal crash itself.
The teen’s own words may become his most damning evidence. From his threats of vengeance to his hollow condolences, Vincent Bataloro has left a digital trail that authorities say proves he intended to harm. “When you hear what police say unfolded, and then see what he did and said during a live stream after allegedly murdering two young girls, you have to wonder what his defense could possibly be,” said Chris Stewart, host of Law and Crime’s “On the Case.”
As the nation watches the case unfold, the families of Maria Neotus and Isabella Salas wait for a measure of justice. “We hope the law now does its job,” Maria’s uncle wrote. “My beautiful young niece was killed by a psychopath. We will never forget her smile.” The teen suspect, once a minor with a small online following, now faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted as an adult.
