Authorities say a man from Barnegat has been charged in connection to the death of a 6-year-old boy earlier this year.

29-year-old Christopher Gregor has been charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

Billhimer's office says on April 2nd, Stafford Township police officers responded to Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin in reference to the death of a six-year-old. During an investigation, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, "...came into possession of evidence revealing that Gregor committed acts of abuse against the child in Barnegat Township on March 20, 2021."

Last Friday, Gregor surrendered at the Barnegat Township Police Department. He is currently being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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JerseyShoreOnline.com reports the boy, identified as Corey, was a first-grader who was one month away from turning seven at the time of his death. The article identifies Gregor as the boy's father. The child's mother, Breanna Micciolo, says Corey's death was the result of abuse from the boy's father, a claim that Gregor has denied.

Billhimer stresses that the death of the child remains an ongoing investigation and reminds the public that charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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