Christopher Gregor, a 32-year-old father from New Jersey, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment in the tragic death of his 6-year-old son, Corey Micciolo. The case, which received widespread national attention due to its heartbreaking nature, concluded with an Ocean County jury delivering the verdict on Friday, May 31, 2024, after a six-week trial that revealed disturbing details about the events leading to Corey’s death in March 2021.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Gregor forced his young son to run on a treadmill at high speeds, causing Corey to fall face-first multiple times. Surveillance footage from the gym in their apartment complex showed Gregor repeatedly increasing the treadmill’s speed, ignoring the boy’s struggles and falls. The injuries sustained from these falls, including blunt force trauma to Corey’s chest and abdomen, ultimately led to his death. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer emphasized the gravity of the father’s actions, stating that Gregor must live the rest of his life knowing he alone was responsible for his son’s death. Billhimer hoped the verdict would bring relief and closure to those who loved Corey, stating, “At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished.”
Gregor’s defense attorney, Mario Gallucci, argued that the child’s death was caused by sepsis due to pneumonia unrelated to the treadmill incident. Gallucci acknowledged the harrowing nature of the surveillance video but maintained that it did not directly lead to Corey’s death, which occurred approximately two weeks after the treadmill incident. The defense also claimed that the bruises on Corey’s body were from playing football and the treadmill itself, not from deliberate abuse. However, the prosecution presented compelling evidence that the boy had contusions all over his body, with lacerations to his heart and liver. These injuries, along with expert testimony, supported the conclusion that Corey died from blunt force trauma inflicted during the treadmill incident.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and highlighted issues within child protective services. Corey’s mother, Breanna Micciolo, reported suspected abuse over 100 times in 18 months, but no action was taken before her son’s death.
Former homicide prosecutor Matt Murphy commented that the jury’s decision was correct and that justice was finally served for a boy who had long been abused. Gregor is scheduled to be sentenced in August 2024 and faces up to 30 years in state prison.
While no verdict can undo the loss, it offers a measure of closure for his family and underscores the critical need for effective intervention in cases of child abuse.
