A New Jersey father, Christopher Gregor, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the death of his son, Corey Micciolo, who was forced to run on a speeding treadmill as a form of discipline. The tragic incident occurred on March 20, 2021, when Gregor made the 6-year-old boy use the treadmill despite multiple falls. Corey passed away on April 2, sparking a legal battle that culminated in Gregor's sentencing.
During the court proceedings, Gregor maintained that he was unaware of his son's serious medical condition following the treadmill punishment and denied any direct involvement in Corey's death. However, prosecutors presented evidence that Gregor had increased the treadmill speed while the boy was on it, leading to multiple falls and ultimately causing fatal injuries.
Corey's mother, Breanna Micciolo, expressed her grief and anger towards Gregor, describing his actions as 'pathetic' and 'disgusting.' She emphasized that Corey was her 'life, world, and everything,' and accused Gregor of using her son as a 'punching bag' out of spite.
Surveillance footage revealed Gregor carrying Corey's lifeless body to a car on April 2, attempting to take him to a hospital in Hackensack. Tragically, Corey suffered a seizure during a CT scan and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Southern Ocean Medical Center.
An autopsy confirmed that Corey's cause of death was blunt force injuries to his chest and stomach, directly linked to the treadmill incident. As a result, Gregor was convicted of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, facing the 'No Early Release Act' that mandates serving at least 85% of his sentence before parole eligibility.
Despite Gregor's defense claiming Corey's death was due to an infection rather than treadmill injuries, the jury rejected this argument. Breanna Micciolo urged the judge to impose the maximum penalty on Gregor, emphasizing his lack of remorse and alleged ill intentions towards Corey.
The tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child abuse and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
