Mother of teen killed in New Jersey hit-and-run speaks out: 'She was my best friend'

CRANFORD, N.J. -- The grief-stricken mother of one of two teenage girls who were fatally struck while riding an e-bike in New Jersey this week said her daughter was her "best friend" who "cared deeply for everyone around her" while speaking out publicly for the first time Thursday.

Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, were killed on Monday after authorities said a Jeep Compass struck them while they were riding the e-bike on a residential street in Cranford.

The alleged driver of the SUV, a 17-year-old boy, has since been charged with first-degree murder, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

"She was my best friend, my sunshine, the kind of girl who could walk into a room and light it up, just by being herself," Niotis' mother, Fiolla, said during remarks outside Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union, New Jersey, Thursday night, following the teenager's wake.

Both girls were seniors at Cranford High School. Niotis "had a passion for all things beautiful, music, makeup, hair, fashion," and dreamed of becoming a makeup artist, her mother said.

"When she talked about her dream of becoming a makeup artist, it wasn't just about glam. It was about helping people see the beauty in themselves that maybe they had forgotten," her mother said. "She would practice for hours watching tutorials, doing her friends' makeup for fun, and always leaving behind glitter, eyeshadow palettes and a whole lot of love."

The mother described the unbearable pain and silence since her daughter was killed.

"It's a silence that echoes louder than anything I've ever heard. It's waking up every morning wishing it was a nightmare, hoping to hear that sweet, 'I love you, Mom, Dad,'" she said.

The mother said she wanted to speak not only of grief but "Maria's light."

"She loved deeply, she gave generously, she dreamed boldly," she said. "To Maria, my sweet girl, I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life. I will picture your smile, hear your laugh in my heart and carry your dreams in my hands. You wanted to make the world more beautiful and my daughter, you did, just by being in it."

Salas' family did not speak during the press event. She was remembered in her obituary as a kind and generous teen who loved animals, was passionate about theater and had the "voice of an angel."

Niotis' family did not address the case during the remarks Thursday. The families of the girls had alleged in a statement following the arrest on Wednesday that the suspect plotted an attack against Niotis for months, killing her and also her friend in the "horrific act," though they did not go into additional detail.

Authorities have not said whether they believe this was a targeted attack.

The alleged driver, from neighboring Garwood, was arrested and formally charged on Wednesday following a "comprehensive and extensive investigation," the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Wednesday. He remains in custody, a spokesperson for the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

The suspect has been charged as a juvenile, limiting what information can be released, though the spokesperson said they are "exploring all legal options for prosecution."

No additional information is being released amid the ongoing investigation, the spokesperson said.

The name of the suspect has not been released by local police or the prosecutor's office. Though the police chief in Westfield, New Jersey -- Christopher Battiloro -- confirmed that he is related to the suspect.

Battiloro said he is "shocked, stunned, and so overwhelmingly distressed beyond belief by the horrific loss of two young ladies" -- who he said included his neighbor, Salas -- and that he condemns the alleged actions.

"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," he said in a lengthy statement released Wednesday following the filing of charges and arrest. "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."