Wake Held for Teens Killed in Cranford Hit-and-Run; Suspect Charged with Murder

Community Mourns Loss of Two Teenagers

• 💔 A wake is being held for one of two teenage girls, Isabella Sales and Maria Neotus, who were tragically killed in a hit-and-run incident in Cranford, New Jersey.
• 🕯️ Families are expected to issue a joint statement remembering their daughters and expressing that this tragedy should never have occurred.
• 📍 A growing streetside memorial for the victims has required police to add a barricade for safety.

Victims Remembered

• ✨ Maria Neotus, born in Greece, leaves behind a twin brother and her wake is being held at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union.
• 🎨 Isabella Sales, described as passionate about the arts and her friends, will have her wake on Saturday and funeral on Monday.
• 🐾 Isabella's family requests donations to Cranford Family Cares, where she volunteered, or the ASPCA, due to her love for animals.

Suspect and Charges

• 🚗 The 17-year-old suspect, also a teenager, is facing two counts of first-degree murder.
• ⚖️ In addition to murder charges, 15 motor vehicle violations were added, including driving without a license, careless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury.
• ⚠️ Family friends indicated that the suspect had reportedly been the subject of previous complaints by one of the teens.

School Community Impact

• 🎓 Both Sales and Neotus were seniors at Cranford High School.
• 🤝 Students and the community are sharing sympathy and supporting each other, focusing on keeping the victims in their hearts and helping those in need.