The Los Angeles County medical examiner has concluded that a 5-year-old boy whose body was found in a Panorama City dumpster last July died from blunt-force injuries and that his death is a homicide. Family members and neighbors have identified the child as Elyjah Anthony Hearn and held vigils near the scene after police recovered his body. The ruling updates an investigation that began when the boy’s remains were discovered in a commercial parking lot during the summer.
The autopsy report, released Tuesday, details extensive trauma. Examiners documented contusions, fractures, and abrasions on the child’s head, torso, and arms, along with cuts to his forehead and lips and “bruises in various stages of healing,” amounting to “dozens of signs” of injury, according to NBC Los Angeles. The report lists blunt force trauma as the cause of death and notes that Elyjah was found naked and partially wrapped in a fleece throw blanket inside the dumpster. It is the most detailed official account of his injuries released so far.
Charges and court status
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged 20-year-old Brycson Malik Gaddis with murder and with assault on a child causing death, and set his bail at $2 million. Prosecutors allege that Elyjah was beaten to death inside an apartment on the 14500 block of Lanark Street, then his body was dumped in a nearby commercial parking-lot dumpster. The case is being handled by the Family Violence Division's Complex Child Abuse Section and remains under active investigation.
Investigation and background
Detectives say they reviewed surveillance video, interviewed witnesses, and examined physical evidence before arresting Gaddis in mid-July. Court records and local reporting indicate that Gaddis had previous encounters with law enforcement, including a July 2024 carjacking charge that was later dismissed and a January 2025 arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence, according to the Los Angeles Times. The paper also reported that a bench warrant was issued after his court-ordered monitoring device was disabled and he failed to appear in court.
The boy's grandfather, Troy Hearn Sr., told reporters that Elyjah was autistic and described him as loving and curious, according to the Los Angeles Times. Hearn said the family had to identify the boy’s body and called the experience “very heartbreaking” as he spoke about his 5-year-old grandson. Neighbors have said they are still looking for answers while prosecutors prepare the case for trial.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Gaddis faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile Division continues to investigate and has urged anyone with information to contact detectives. The charges are allegations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
