NJ Dad Sentenced In Treadmill Abuse Death Of Young Son

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Barnegat father found guilty of aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of his six-year-old son in 2021 was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Christopher Gregor, 32, was convicted this May following a six-week trial during which a jury determined Gregor "recklessly" caused the death of his son, Corey Micciolo. He was also found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said.

Gregor was sentenced to 20 years subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning 85 percent of the sentence must be served before parole eligibility, for the aggravated manslaughter charge. He was sentenced to five years for the child endangerment charge. These sentences are to be served consecutively. Many advocates and the Micciolo family had asked Gregor to be served the full sentence of 40 years, but the judge said it would not stand in an appeals court due to Gregor's lack of a criminal history.

At his sentencing, there were many people in support of the young boy, wearing t-shirts with his face and buttons reading "Justice for Corey," and wiping their eyes with tissues.

Micciolo family members spoke at the sentencing, including Corey's mother, Breanna.

"Corey was and still is my life, my world and my everything," Breanna said through tears, as Gregor hung his head.

Breanna described how despite everything, Corey still loved and looked up to his father.

"Instead of being a good role model for Corey, he decided to beat him to death," she said.

An emotional Gregor spoke of his memories with his son, and told the mother of his child "I'm sorry you believe I could have done this to our son."

He also apologized to her and her family for his actions on the day of the treadmill incident, calling it "inexcusable."

Gregor forced Micciolo to run on a treadmill on March 20, 2021 - which prosecutors say caused the blunt force trauma that killed him. Patch previously reported that tape of the incident shows Gregor putting his son on the treadmill and adjusting the speed, according to an affidavit. When the boy falls off the treadmill, Gregor picks him up by the shirt and forces him to keep running multiple times.

Tape of this incident was shown to the jury, and it was a major factor in Gregor's sentencing. Judge Guy Ryan described the video showing the two of them leaving the gym as Corey following Gregor "like a stray dog." Following this, Corey was reportedly covered in bruises.

The boy also had lacerations to his heart and liver, according to Dr. Thomas Andrew, a forensic pathologist who was chief medical examiner for the state of New Hampshire for 20 years. Andrew also noted that an acute traumatic injury to the heart happened four to 12 hours before the boy's death, and that there was evidence of chronic abuse.

"I want to assure you that on April 2 I did nothing to cause Corey's passing," Gregor said of the day the boy was taken to the hospital and then died. "I didn't hurt my son. I love him and I still do."

There was a history of abuse allegations between Gregor and the boy's mom, Breanna Micciolo, preceding his death, Patch previously reported. She has repeatedly accused the state of failing to protect her son. A lawsuit filed against the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency by Breanna says that she had reported her son's abuse by his father multiple times, but they failed to properly protect him.

"Christopher Gregor will spend the rest of his days here on earth knowing that he caused the death of his son Corey. While nothing can bring this precious child back to his family, I hope that today’s sentence brings some sense of closure for those who knew and loved Corey. At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished," Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Further Reading

Ongoing Abuse Preceded NJ 6-Year-Old's Death: Affidavit

Father Of Slain NJ Boy, 6, Fled State After His Death: Affidavit

Barnegat Dad Guilty Of Killing 6-Year-Old Son, Jury Rules