Ocean County, N.J. — A New Jersey father has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after a court found him responsible for the death of his 6-year-old son, who was forced to run on a treadmill in a disturbing case of child abuse that shocked the nation.
The Tragic Incident
In March 2021, surveillance cameras at a fitness center captured Christopher Gregor making his young son, Corey Micciolo, run on a treadmill at dangerously high speeds. The footage showed Corey stumbling and repeatedly falling off, while Gregor picked him up and forced him back onto the machine.
Shortly after the incident, Corey developed slurred speech, nausea, and breathing difficulties. He later suffered a seizure during a hospital CT scan and died. A medical examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen, consistent with abuse.
The Trial
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Gregor’s actions were part of a pattern of cruelty, citing the treadmill video as central evidence of deliberate endangerment. They alleged Gregor’s abuse directly led to Corey’s fatal injuries.
The defense tried to raise doubts, suggesting the boy’s health issues could have stemmed from other causes, such as pneumonia or infection.
After weeks of testimony, the jury found Gregor guilty of aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment, though he was acquitted of first-degree murder.
Sentencing and Judge’s Ruling
On August 2, 2024, Judge Guy P. Ryan imposed a 20-year sentence for aggravated manslaughter and an additional 5 years for child endangerment, to be served consecutively. Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Gregor must serve at least 85% of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Family’s Heartbreak
In a powerful victim impact statement, Corey’s mother, Breanna Micciolo, described Gregor as a “monster” who robbed her son of a safe childhood. “Corey deserved love, not torture,” she said tearfully in court.
The sentencing brought some closure to the grieving family, but Corey’s death remains a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked abuse.
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