Former Barnegat Man Charged With Murder In His 6-Year-Old Son's Death

BARNEGAT, NJ — A Middlesex County man has been charged with murder in the death of his 6-year-old son last April at his former home in Barnegat, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Wednesday.

Christopher Gregor, 29, who now lives in Monroe, was arrested Wednesday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River.

The murder charge was an upgrade from previous charges filed in July accusing Gregor of endangering the welfare of a child. Gregor was later freed pending trial under New Jersey Bail Reform, Billhimer said.

The Ocean County medical examiner in April 2021 ruled the boy, identified by his mother, Breanna Micciolo, as Corey Micciolo, died of injuries he sustained due to blunt force trauma. The investigation found Gregor had "committed acts of abuse against the child in Barnegat Township on March 20, 2021," Billhimer said.

Billhimer said the murder charge resulted from a March 3, 2022, report by an expert witness who said the boy died as a result of blunt force impact of the chest and abdomen, and "determined the manner of the child’s death to be homicide."

Corey Micciolo, who died April 2, 2021, was in Gregor's custody at the time he suffered the injuries, authorities said.

His mother said in a Change.org petition that she had spent two years “begging” the New Jersey Division of Children and Families to help get the boy away from his father.

“I’m thankful for the collective effort of all of the law enforcement officers that participated in this very thorough and comprehensive investigation over the past 11 months. Today is the first step in bringing the person we believe is responsible for this young boy’s death to justice,” Prosecutor Billhimer said in a release.

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