A New Jersey man has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of his 6-year-old son in April 2021 following repeated abuse that included forcing the boy to run on a treadmill while the speed was gradually increased until he fell, authorities said.

Christopher J. Gregor, 30, of Monroe Township, was initially charged with child endangerment in the April 2, 2021 death of Corey Micciolo and released from jail. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office filed new charges 11 months later accusing Gregor of murder, saying the abuse inflicted on Corey led to the boy’s death.

Gregor, formerly of Barnegat Township, had custody of Corey at the time of his death.

“(Gregor) should have been looking out for his child, he should have been caring for him, he should have been helping him grow into a healthy young man,” said Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan during a March hearing. “And instead this defendant was abusing his son. This defendant was hurting him. He was hitting him, choking him and subjecting this victim — his own child — to ongoing abuse.”

Judge Decides to Detain Man Charged in Death of His 6-year-old Son

Video surveillance from a Barnegat apartment complex fitness center showed Corey running on a treadmill as Gregor sped up the machine until the 6-year-old couldn’t keep up and fell on March 20, 2021, according to prosecutors.

Gregor picked up his son and put him back on the treadmill, only for the child to fall again, authorities said. This continued a few more times and Gregor appeared to bite the child on the head at one point while putting him back on the treadmill, prosecutors have said.

The day before Corey died, his mother Breanna Micciolo took him to the pediatrician, who found multiple bruises on his chest, arm and hip, along with a forehead abrasion, authorities said. Corey told the doctor “that his dad had put the bruises on him,” the mother said last year, and that the injuries came from playing football and using the treadmill.

Corey was sent to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for blood work and X-rays, then his parents were told to take him to a child abuse expert the following day, which was April 2, according to Micciolo.

Gregor had custody of Corey that day, the mother said, and he contacted her around 3:30 p.m. to tell her Corey was lethargic, vomiting and not eating, and that he was taking him to a hospital, authorities said.

He took Corey to Southern Ocean County Medical Center, where he died that evening. At the time, police told Micciolo they didn’t know Gregor’s whereabouts, the mother said. It has since been reported by authorities that Gregor was out of state, spending time in both Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

Gregor surrendered to police months later on July 9.

Gregor’s attorney, Mario Gallucci, said his client maintains his innocence. “The narrative that continues to be portrayed to the press is nothing more than a fiction and we look forward to our day in court and true justice for Corey,” Gallucci said.

“We have complete confidence that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office will get justice for Corey. So many law enforcement agencies have worked so hard to get where we are today and we are so thankful for each and every person involved,” Corey’s grandmother, Rebecca Loudin-Micciolo, wrote on the Justice For Corey Facebook page.

Gregor remains at the Ocean County Jail awaiting trial. He is expected to make a court appearance in Ocean County on July 26.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.

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