BARNEGAT – It’s been six months since first-grader Corey Micciolo died under circumstances warranting investigation by both local authorities and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office.
Corey died on April 2, a little less than one month before his seventh birthday. Breanna Micciolo dropped Corey off at his father Christopher Gregor’s home in Barnegat on the morning of his death. It would be the last time Breanna would see her son alive.
Gregor brought Corey to Southern Ocean Medical Center on the afternoon of his passing, where he died a short time after entering the emergency room. Breanna continues to press for answers to understand the circumstances regarding her young son’s death.
An autopsy report provided to Breanna lists Corey’s cause of death as “blunt force injuries with cardiac and liver contusions with acute inflammation and sepsis.”
The same report lists the manner of the young boy’s death as “undetermined.” Breanna continues to hope the ongoing investigation will ultimately lead the medical examiner to a different conclusion.
“I cannot believe some of the other things the report talks about,” shared Breanna. “It told me there was evidence of other injuries I didn’t know about or see myself because they were hidden.”
According to the medical examiner, Corey’s 62-pound body bore evidence of multiple contusions with different stages of duration. In addition to the cardiac and liver contusions, the report also documents contusions and abrasions to the young boy’s back, legs and arms.
The day before his death, Breanna brought Corey to Jersey Shore Medical Center, where she says Corey told doctors his father was hurting him. Breanna says she also made several reports to DCPP (NJ Child Protective Services) soon after Gregor came into his son’s life.
Gregor met his son for the first time in 2019 when he was just five years old. When Corey came home with what appeared to be a “busted lip,” Breanna did not buy Gregor’s explanation that he accidentally kicked their son while kicking a soccer ball. She says the caseworker from DCPP accepted the explanation and closed the case.
Breanna has maintained copies of all correspondence she subsequently submitted to DCPP. As part of her dealings with DCPP, Breanna mentioned her suspicions that Gregor was using a treadmill as a means of punishing their son.
It was not until after Corey’s death that local authorities retrieved and reviewed a video from the gym in the Atlantic Heights complex in Barnegat. Police reported that the video shows Gregor speeding up the treadmill, causing Corey to fall. The father bites his son on the head during the incident.
Gregor faces child endangerment charges for the March 20 treadmill incident and is scheduled for arraignment at the end of the month. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s office continues to assert that no one has been charged with the child’s death.
Defense lawyer Mario Gallucci denies that the treadmill incident or any of Gregor’s other actions resulted in Corey’s death. He contends something happened before Breanna brought the child to his father.
Breanna set up a Facebook page entitled “Justice for Corey” that now has 16,000 followers from places as far away as Australia. She continues to bring attention to Corey’s case by setting up rallies and daily social media posts.
“I also hung up signs in a couple of towns saying I was looking for information about Corey’s death,” said Breanna. “They don’t mention Chris’ name at all. Yet, I have pictures of his mother and sister tearing them down in Monroe.”
In November, Breanna and her mother Rebecca face municipal court charges brought by David Gregor. The paternal grandfather claims that Corey’s mother and maternal grandmother began harassing him on or about April 3, the day after the little boy’s death.
A recent fundraiser allowed Breanna to retain a forensic pathologist to review the case on an independent basis. The young mother has also purchased a plot in the same cemetery that serves as Corey’s final resting place.
“I want him to know I am always there,” said Breanna. “I visit his grave at least two times a day.”
Corey is buried with Breanna’s maternal grandmother, who had a different last name than Corey. A Southern Ocean County businesswoman paid for a new tombstone that reflects both surnames.
