A video clip spread that sparks anger and sadness of an American father forcing his son, who was no more than six years old, to exercise intensely until he lost his life.
In the details of the painful case, according to what was reported by the American media, the father, Christopher Gregor (31 years old), separated from his wife, Brenna Micolo, and the two were in a legal dispute over the custody of their child, Corey Micolo (6 years old).
Christopher Gregor is on trial for murder in the 2021 death of his toddler after an exercise caught on video left the child severely battered and bruised — and fatally injured.
During the father’s trial on charges of killing his son, Gregor said that he brought his son to the hospital after the boy woke up from a nap stumbling, slurring his words, and suffering from nausea and shortness of breath. Corey was taken for a CT scan where he had an epileptic seizure and then died immediately.
He claimed it was pneumonia that killed him, not an abusive gym session.
“When you watch this video, you’re going to be terrified. You’re going to be afraid,” the Asbury Park Press reported that Gregor’s attorney, Mario Gallucci, told jurors during opening arguments in the trial.
Surveillance video shows Gregor performing a disgusting workout on his son at Atlantic Heights Clubhouse Fitness Center on March 20, 2021 — allegedly because he thinks his son is too fat.
He put Corey on the treadmill and increased the speed and incline until the boy was flying. Gregor is seen picking him up and putting him back on the harness, but the boy falls again and continues to struggle to keep going until his father finally slows down and gives the boy a break.
At trial in Ocean County Superior Court, Corey’s mother said she later noticed bruises on her son.
Prosecutors disagree, saying it was his father’s chronic abuse that left the child with internal injuries that ultimately cost him his life after two weeks of traumatic exercise.
An autopsy showed that the cause of death was severe injuries with bruising of the heart and liver, severe inflammation and sepsis. However, he did not rule on the manner of death, but rather considered it “undetermined.”
Consultant forensic pathologist Dr Thomas Andrew reviewed the case in September 2021 and said Corey suffered a severe heart injury four to 12 hours before his death.
He found what he described as evidence of chronic abuse, including blunt injuries to the chest and abdomen with a lacerated heart, a contused left lung, and a laceration and contusion of the liver.
Gregor was initially arrested on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child on July 7 in connection with the treadmill incident. Authorities said he was later released after paying bail. He was then arrested for Corey’s murder on March 9, 2022.
Gregor, who declined the offer to plead guilty in exchange for 30 years in prison, is currently being held without bail in the Ocean County Jail. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
The first trial session was held on April 30, 2024, and the second session was yesterday, Wednesday.
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