Christopher Gregor - the father of a six-year-old boy who died after being made to run on a treadmill - has been found guilty of manslaughter.
The ruling means Gregor has avoided a murder charge in the heartbreaking 2021 case, which saw six-year-old Corey Micciolo die days after his father repeatedly placed him back on a treadmill because he was "too fat".
The New Jersey native was also found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child.
Upon hearing the verdict, News.com.au reports that Gregor remained relatively still - only shaking his head a little.
Meanwhile, the boy's mother and Gregor's ex - Breanna Micciolo - burst into tears upon hearing the verdict.
Over the course of the four-week trial, there has been public outrage after surveillance footage showed Gregor repeatedly placing his son on a treadmill and increasing its speed - despite the young boy falling off.
Weeks after the harrowing video was recorded, mom Micciolo became "concerned" after seeing bruises on the boy's body.
The six-year-old was later rushed to the hospital by his dad, before he was intubated, coded twice, and tragically died.
Hospital staff testified that the father walked out of the building while his son took his final breaths. "We were the only ones with him."
The boy died from a seizure during a CT scan.
After an initial autopsy, it was concluded that Corey's death was caused by blunt force injuries, accompanied by cardiac and liver contusions, as well as acute inflammation and sepsis. Consequently, Gregor faced charges of child neglect.
However, these charges were later escalated following a forensic examination, which determined Corey's death to be a homicide.
The pathologist's findings revealed a pattern of chronic abuse inflicted upon the boy, including blunt impact injuries to his chest and abdomen. Additionally, Corey had sustained a laceration on his heart, a left pulmonary contusion, and lacerations and contusions on his liver.
Sgt. Raymond Coles of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office testified about the man's behavior in court, saying that Gregor dodged three phone calls from Corey's mother within minutes of their son's death.
Gregor was initially arrested on July 7, 2021, on child neglect charges following investigators reviewing the video. He was arrested once again in March 2022, this time in connection with his son’s death, per Court TV.
The state charged him with murder after a consulting doctor determined the "pattern, distribution, and character of the injuries was consistent with ongoing abuse, and found that the manner of death was homicide," per Too Fab.
Following the verdict, Asbury Park Press reports that an emotional Micciolo told reporters outside of the courthouse: "We’re happy with the verdict and we thank the prosecutor’s office."
Defense attorney Mario Gallucci said her client anticipated the guilty verdict, telling reporters: "He was not surprised. He knows it was just the first step in a long battle.”
Gregor - a teacher - will be sentenced on August 2.
He now faces 10 to 30 years in prison.
