Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 31, 2024, Christopher Gregor, 32, of Monroe Township, was found guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with the death of his six-year-old son, identified as C.M., following a nearly six week-long jury trial before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. In rendering its verdict, the jury concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Gregor recklessly caused the death of C.M on or about April 2, 2021, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life. 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. In so doing, the jury determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Gregor, having a legal duty for the care of C.M., knowingly harmed C.M. – thereby making him an abused or neglected child. Gregor is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ryan on August 2, 2024, at which time he faces up to 30 years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) in connection with the Aggravated Manslaughter offense, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act. Gregor likewise faces up to ten years NJSP as to the Endangering offense.
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. 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, 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, 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.
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 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.
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.
“Christopher Gregor must live the rest of his life with the knowledge that he, and he alone, was responsible for the death of his one and only son. It is right and just that he bears that cross. While nothing can bring this precious child back to his family, we hope that today’s jury verdict offers some semblance of peace and closure for those who knew and loved Corey. At long last, justice for Corey has been accomplished,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer applauds the outstanding efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron, who ably and skillfully tried the case on behalf of the State. The Prosecutor likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Economic Crimes Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Victim Witness Advocacy Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Barnegat Township Police Department, Stafford Township Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Englishtown Police Department, Manalapan Township Police Department, Monroe Township Police Department, Sea Bright Police Department, New Jersey State Police, and Alcoa (Tennessee) Police Department, for their collective and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation, leading to Gregor’s apprehension, today’s guilty verdicts, and soon his state prison sentence.