New Jersey dad, Christopher Gregor, was charged with killing his 6-year-old son, Corey Micciolo, by forcing him into a brutal treadmill workout. Gregor claimed that his estranged ex-wife had coached the boy into lying about the abuse he endured. The child protective services worker was told by Gregor that Corey had returned from a visit with his mother and confessed she had instructed him to lie, just hours before the boy was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Gregor made a call to the New Jersey Division of Child Protective and Permanency later that morning, after Corey exhibited signs of illness.
A chilling surveillance video from the Atlantic Heights Clubhouse fitness center on March 20, 2021, showed Gregor forcing Corey onto a treadmill and causing him to fall multiple times due to not keeping up with the speed. The boy suffered severe bruises as a result of the incident. Corey’s mom, Breanna Micciolo, noticed bruises on her son after a visitation, prompting her to take him to a pediatrician on April 1. Gregor was charged with child neglect initially, but it was escalated to murder when an autopsy revealed that Corey died from sepsis and severe internal injuries.
Corey made statements upon his return from his mother’s house, expressing fear of being taken away from his father and revealing that his mom had instructed him to lie. Gregor claimed that the bruises on Corey were a result of football and roughhousing with friends, rather than the treadmill incident. Defense attorney Mario Gallucci argued during the trial that Corey’s death was consistent with pneumonia and that the injuries were not solely caused by the treadmill incident. However, prosecutors maintain that the fatal injuries were a direct result of the brutal workout that Corey was forced to endure.
The call to the child abuse hotline was made shortly after 10 a.m. on the day Corey was pronounced dead at 5 p.m. Gregor took his son to a medical center around 4 p.m. after Corey began showing signs of slurred speech, stumbling, and vomiting. Despite the efforts to save him, Corey was pronounced dead about an hour later. The bitter custody dispute between Gregor and Micciolo added a layer of complexity to the case, as both parties were fighting for custody of Corey at the time of his death.
During the trial, disturbing details from the surveillance video were revealed, showing the extent of the abuse Corey endured at the hands of his father. Gregor was seen forcing the boy onto the treadmill repeatedly, resulting in multiple falls and injuries. The heartbreaking nature of Corey’s death and the tragic circumstances surrounding the case shed light on the importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. As the trial continued, both the defense and the prosecution presented their arguments, highlighting the conflicting narratives surrounding Corey’s untimely death. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the impact of child abuse and the need for swift justice to be served in cases involving the mistreatment of innocent children.
