Christopher Gregor, a New Jersey man, was accused of killing his 6-year-old son Corey Micciolo by forcing him to endure a grueling treadmill workout. Harrowing video shown during Gregor’s trial depicted him carrying Corey’s limp and battered body into a hospital shortly before the boy died. Corey appeared to be barely breathing as Gregor approached the front desk at Southern Ocean Medical Center on April 2, 2021. Medical staff described Corey as being in a dire, almost end-of-life condition when he was brought into an examination room, sparking an all-hands-on-deck situation in an attempt to save his life. Sadly, despite their efforts, Corey was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m.
The injuries sustained by Corey were severe, with the boy even suffering a seizure during a CT scan. An autopsy revealed that Corey died as a result of blunt force injuries with additional injuries to his cardiac and liver, as well as acute inflammation and sepsis. Prior to his death, surveillance footage showed Gregor putting Corey through a disturbing workout at a fitness center because Gregor believed his son was overweight. The video footage showed Gregor placing Corey on a treadmill and rapidly increasing the speed and incline until the boy was thrown off multiple times. Corey struggled to keep up before ultimately succumbing to the intense workout imposed by his father.
During the trial at Ocean County Superior Court, Corey’s mother, Breanna Micciolo, who was in a custody dispute with Gregor, revealed that she noticed odd-shaped bruises on her son. Despite taking Corey to a pediatrician who found no immediate cause for concern, the boy had allegedly disclosed the abuse to the doctor. On the day of his death, Corey exhibited nausea, stumbling, and slurred speech before being brought to the hospital by Gregor. Following an investigation, Gregor was arrested three months later and initially charged with child neglect based on the video evidence. However, a forensic pathologist later concluded that Corey’s death was a result of chronic child abuse, including blunt force injuries to his chest and abdomen.
Subsequent to additional investigation, Gregor was arrested on murder charges related to Corey’s death in March 2022. Despite being offered a 30-year plea deal, Gregor declined and now faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted of murdering his son. The case has sparked outrage and raised questions about how such abuse could go unnoticed, as Corey’s injuries were severe and led to his heartbreaking death. The tragic circumstances surrounding Corey’s death shed light on the devastating impact of child abuse and neglect, highlighting the importance of early intervention and support for vulnerable children and families. If convicted, Gregor may face severe legal consequences for his actions and the horrific abuse inflicted on his young son.
