Christopher Gregor, a father from New Jersey, was charged with killing his 6-year-old son after forcing him into a brutal treadmill workout. Prior to the child’s death, Gregor claimed that his estranged ex-wife had coached the boy into lying about the alleged abuse. The incident unfolded after Corey’s visit with his mother on April 2, 2021, where he mentioned that he was being told to lie about being hit. This information was relayed to a child abuse hotline worker just hours before the child was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Disturbing surveillance video showed Gregor forcing Corey onto a treadmill at a fitness center because he believed the boy was “too fat.” The footage revealed that the child fell several times while struggling to keep up with the treadmill, prompting Gregor to forcefully pick him up and return him to the track. Corey’s mom, Breanna Micciolo, had taken him to a pediatrician after noticing bruises on April 1 before returning him to Gregor’s care the following day. However, she took him back to Gregor after seeing him struggle with slurred speech, stumbling, and vomiting.
Gregor’s murder trial in Superior Court in Ocean County included testimony from a child protective services worker who detailed the call made by Gregor about his son’s accusations of being told to lie. The boy was pronounced dead a few hours later after being taken to a hospital. Initially charged with child neglect, Gregor’s charges were escalated to murder when an autopsy revealed that Corey had died from sepsis and severe internal injuries, indicating a homicide. The incident occurred during a contentious custody dispute between Gregor and Micciolo.
During opening statements at the trial, Gregor’s defense attorney argued that Corey’s death was consistent with pneumonia and stated that the boy was involved in physical activities like football, which could have caused the bruises. The attorney suggested that the injuries could have been a result of the treadmill incident, playing football, or simply the roughhousing of boys. However, prosecutors maintained that the fatal injuries stemmed from the brutal treadmill workout orchestrated by Gregor, leading to Corey’s tragic death. The trial highlights the tragic consequences of child abuse and the impact of custody disputes on children caught in the middle of a difficult family situation.
