Tragic incident and sentencing
A New Jersey man, Christopher Gregor, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for forcing his six-year-old son, Corey Micciolo, to run on a treadmill, resulting in the boy’s death. Known as the “treadmill dad,” Gregor became infamous after security footage showed him repeatedly placing his son on the running machine, reportedly because he believed Corey was “fat.”
Incident and trial
The tragic event occurred at the Atlantic Heights Clubhouse in March 2021. Corey fell ill, was hospitalized, and eventually died on April 2, 2021. On August 2, Ocean County Judge Guy P. Ryan sentenced Gregor to 20 years for aggravated manslaughter and an additional five years for endangering the welfare of a child. The sentences will run concurrently. The jury had earlier dismissed the murder charge but found Gregor guilty of manslaughter based on critical CCTV evidence from the clubhouse gym.
Emotional courtroom scene
Corey’s mother, Breanna Micciolo, expressed her anguish in her victim impact statement, calling Gregor, her former partner, a monster. “Corey was and still is my life, my world, and my everything. What this monster did was pathetic and disgusting, and I wish him nothing but the worst,” she tearfully told the court. Gregor, maintaining his innocence, stated, “I did nothing to cause Corey’s passing. I did not hurt my son.”
Case background
The case had been prolonged for three years, initially charging Gregor with child endangerment. The Ocean County Prosecutor‘s Office later upgraded the charge to murder in March 2022, before ultimately pursuing manslaughter. The viral footage played a pivotal role in the trial, showing Gregor increasing the treadmill’s speed even as Corey struggled and fell.
Gregor’s sentencing marks the conclusion of a lengthy and emotional legal battle, bringing a measure of justice for Corey and his grieving family.
