N.J. father on trial in son’s death after allegedly increasing speed on treadmill, causing falls

OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. (TCD) -- A 31-year-old father went on trial this week for allegedly abusing and killing his 6-year-old son in 2021. The child reportedly died of blunt force trauma.

According to a news release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, on April 2, 2021, Stafford Township Police responded to Southern Ocean Medical Center about the death of the 6-year-old victim, identified by the Asbury Park Press as Corey Micciolo. The Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the boy suffered blunt force trauma injuries.

The prosecutor’s office said investigators learned Christopher Gregor allegedly abused the child on March 20, 2021, while the boy was in his care. Micciolo’s mother reportedly noticed bruises on the child and tried to gain full custody because she was worried for his safety. However, according to the Asbury Park Press, her application for sole custody was denied, and Micciolo died the following day.

Jamie Schron, an assistant Ocean County prosecutor, reportedly told the jury that the child was healthy when his mother dropped him off at Gregor’s home on the morning of April 2, 2021. At around 4 p.m., the Asbury Park Press reports the boy went limp, and Gregor took him to the hospital. Micciolo reportedly died at 5 p.m.

The Asbury Park Press reports that investigators obtained surveillance footage from a gym showing the 6-year-old running on a treadmill while his father lifted weights. Gregor allegedly kept increasing the speed on the treadmill, causing the child to fall about six times.

Gregor was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child, booked into the Ocean County Jail, and later released.

According to the Asbury Park Press, prosecutors said that in addition to the blunt force trauma injuries, Micciolo had also suffered contusions and a lacerated heart and liver. Micciolo’s death was later ruled a homicide, and officials took Gregor into custody again on March 9, 2022, on an upgraded charge of murder.

According to the Asbury Park Press, Gregor’s attorney argued that his medical experts don’t agree that Micciolo died of blunt force trauma. Instead, they reportedly believe he died of sepsis from pneumonia.