By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on August 2, Christopher Gregor, 32, of Monroe Township, was sentenced to twenty years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. in connection with the death of his six-year-old son, identified as C.M., on or about April 2, 2021.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated this sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Gregor will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
Officials said Gregor was found guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter on May 31, 2024, following a nearly six-week jury trial before Judge Ryan.
The jury also found Gregor guilty of Endangering the Welfare of a Child in connection with events that occurred on March 20, 2021, in Barnegat Township, officials say, and Judge Ryan sentenced Gregor to five years NJSP, as to the Endangering the Welfare of a Child charge. The sentences are to run consecutively.
According to officials, on April 2, 2021, officers from the Stafford Township Police Department responded to Southern Ocean Medical Center in reference to the death of a six-year-old male, identified as C.M.
Officials stated that on April 3, 2021, a post-mortem examination was performed by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, and it was determined that C.M. sustained injuries due to blunt force trauma.
In the course of investigating the child’s death, officials said, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, and Barnegat Township Police Department discovered evidence that revealed that Gregor had committed acts of abuse against the child in Barnegat Township on March 20, 2021.
Accordingly, authorities say, Gregor was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child on July 7, 2021.
Though initially lodged in the Ocean County Jail, Gregor was subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, officials say.
Officials said that on March 3, 2022, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received a report from the State’s expert witness that indicated that C.M. died as a result of blunt force impact to the chest and abdomen and determined the manner of the child’s death to be a homicide.
An extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that C.M. was in the custody of Gregor at the time he sustained his life-ending injuries and that Gregor was the individual responsible for the child’s death, officials stated.
Authorities say on March 9, 2022, Gregor was taken into custody by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Sea Bright Police Department, and Barnegat Township Police Department.
Gregor has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since the date of his apprehension, officials said.
“Christopher Gregor will spend the rest of his days here on earth knowing that he caused the death of his son Corey. While nothing can bring this precious child back to his family, I hope that today’s sentence brings some sense of closure for those who knew and loved Corey. At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.