Heartbreaking Video Shows Dad Force 6-Year-Old Boy To Run on Treadmill for Being ‘Too Fat’
(Court TV)
In a heartrending case out of New Jersey, Christopher Gregor, a 31-year-old father, is facing life imprisonment if convicted of forcing his six-year-old son, Corey Micciolo, to run on a treadmill to the point of exhaustion, claiming the child was “too fat.” This abuse occurred just days before the boy’s tragic death in 2021, which has now been attributed to “chronic abuse.”
New footage displaying this harsh treatment was revealed during a court session on Tuesday, shedding light on the severity of the abuse. During the trial that took place this Tuesday, the court viewed surveillance footage from March 20, 2021, captured at the Atlantic Heights Clubhouse fitness center, as per reports by The Sun.
The video disturbingly shows young Corey struggling to keep pace on the treadmill, repeatedly falling off as his father, Christopher Gregor, persistently places him back on it. At one point, the footage shockingly captures Gregor apparently biting his son on the back of the head before forcing the child to continue running.
The emotional toll of the courtroom revelations was palpable when Corey’s mother, Breanna Micciolo, took the stand as the first witness. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears while the harrowing gym footage was played, illustrating the brutal reality her son faced.
Following the gym incident, Breanna, who shared custody of Corey with Gregor, noticed injuries on her son and promptly reported them to a caseworker from the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Concerned, she took Corey to a doctor on April 2, 2021. During the visit, Corey disclosed that his father had compelled him to run on the treadmill because he believed the child was overweight.
The situation escalated the following day when Gregor urgently took Corey to the hospital after the boy exhibited alarming symptoms like stumbling, slurring his words, and experiencing shortness of breath and nausea following a nap. Tragically, while undergoing a CT scan, Corey suffered a seizure. Despite immediate medical intervention, he passed away shortly thereafter.
An initial autopsy provided a grim insight into Corey’s final days, indicating that he died from blunt force injuries, which included cardiac and liver contusions accompanied by acute inflammation and sepsis. These findings painted a stark picture of the physical abuse the child endured.
In July 2021, Christopher Gregor was arrested on child neglect charges. The arrest warrant detailed the abusive actions, noting Gregor’s method of increasing the treadmill’s speed, causing Corey to fall repeatedly, and placing him back on the moving belt while also engaging in the disturbing act of biting his head.
The death of Corey Micciolo was officially ruled a homicide in September 2021 following further investigations. A forensic pathologist concluded that the young boy had suffered from chronic abuse, evidenced by blunt force injuries to his chest and abdomen, a lacerated heart, a left pulmonary contusion, and injuries to his liver. As the trial continues, the community and the nation watch closely, awaiting justice for Corey Micciolo, whose life was tragically and prematurely cut short.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
