N.J. father who increased speed on treadmill, causing son to fall, is sentenced for his death

OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. (TCN) -- A 32-year-old father who repeatedly increased the speed on a treadmill while his son was on it, causing him to fall multiple times, will spend more than two decades in prison in connection with the child’s death.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced that a judge sentenced Christopher Gregor on Aug. 2 to 20 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter and five years for endangering the welfare of a child. A jury found Gregor guilty of the charges in May. Gregor must serve at least 85% of his sentence before parole eligibility.

According to prosecutors, on April 2, 2021, Stafford Township Police responded to a report of a deceased 6-year-old boy, identified by the Asbury Park Press as Corey Micciolo. The medical examiner’s office performed an autopsy the following day and determined the child suffered blunt force trauma injuries. The boy’s father, Gregor, reportedly brought Micciolo to the hospital, and the victim went into cardiac arrest twice and died shortly after his arrival.

According to the Asbury Park Press, before her child’s death, Micciolo’s mother noticed bruises on her son, and she tried to gain full custody because she was worried for his well-being. Her application was denied, and Micciolo reportedly died the next day.

Further investigation revealed that "Gregor had committed acts of abuse against the child" while Micciolo was in his care. After the victim’s death, investigators obtained surveillance footage showing that on March 20, 2021, Gregor reportedly forced the child to run on a treadmill and kept increasing the speed, causing him to fall multiple times. According to the Asbury Park Press, Gregor was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Prosecutors didn’t charge Gregor with murder until the following year when an expert witness for the prosecution submitted a report concluding that the child died from blunt force impact to the chest and abdomen. Micciolo’s death was ruled a homicide, and investigators determined Gregor was responsible. Detectives took him into custody on March 9, 2022.

Prosecutors argued Gregor caused his son’s injuries as punishment because his mother brought him home 14 hours late, the Asbury Park Press reports.

In a statement, Billhimer said, "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."

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