A physician has confirmed that a six-year-old boy, who was reportedly abused to death by his father, succumbed to blunt force trauma and a laceration to his heart.
Christopher Gregor, 31, faces charges of killing his son, Corey Micciolo, in 2021, following findings that Corey’s death was a homicide resulting from repeated abuse.
Initially accused of endangering a child’s welfare, Gregor was later formally charged with child endangerment and murder.
During the fifth day of the trial, forensic pathologist Dr. Thomas Andrew testified about the injuries noted in Corey’s autopsy report.
The doctor attributed Corey’s death to blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen, as well as lacerations and contusions on his body, including a heart laceration.
Dr. Andrew also pointed to signs of stress cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, indicating ongoing physiological stress likely caused by mistreatment or abuse.
About a week before Corey’s death, he suffered severe bruising after being at a gym with his father.
Security footage from the gym showed Gregor allegedly forcing Corey to run on a treadmill at a speed the boy couldn’t handle, causing multiple falls.
Two weeks later, Gregor brought Corey to the hospital unconscious, where he later died.
An autopsy by Dr. Dante Ragusa initially cited blunt force injuries, but after further review, Dr. Andrew concluded the death was a homicide due to chronic abuse.
Corey’s mother, Breanna Micciolo, testified that Corey often returned from his father’s home with new injuries. She reported these concerns to child protection services before Corey’s tragic death.
