Teen Reported Stalker to Police - Months Later, She and Her Best Friend Were Killed | Uncovered

Two teenage girls were killed on a quiet residential street in Cranford, New Jersey and this tragedy may have been preventable. Before her death, 17-year-old Maria Niotis repeatedly told police she was being stalked and harassed by a former classmate. The behavior had been going on for months. There were police encounters. There were warnings. There were even two swatting incidents at her home - one of them while the alleged stalker was parked across the street. Because everyone involved was a juvenile, little action was taken. In September 2025, Maria and her best friend, Isabella Salas, left Maria’s house on an e-bike to get boba tea. Minutes later, they were struck and killed by a car allegedly driven by the same teen Maria had reported traveling nearly 70 miles per hour on a neighborhood street. The driver has now been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. In this episode of Uncovered, investigative journalist Kristin Thorne breaks down: • The repeated warnings to police • The red flags • The swatting incidents that raised serious concerns • Why juvenile confidentiality limits accountability • And the growing push in New Jersey to allow teens to obtain restraining orders This is not just a story about one horrific day - it’s about what happens when cries for help are dismissed. 🔔 Subscribe to Uncovered with Kristin Thorne for more true crime stories with depth, accountability, and impact.