Cause of Death Revealed for 5-Year-Old Boy Whose Body Was Found in Calif. Dumpster

Authorities in California are grappling with the tragic death of five-year-old Elyjah Hearn, whose body was discovered in a dumpster on 12 July 2025. Elyjah’s mother’s former boyfriend, Brycson Malik Gaddis, has been charged in connection with the boy’s death, which investigators have classified as a homicide following disturbing findings in an autopsy report.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has stated that Elyjah was found wrapped in a blanket inside the dumpster, presenting a scene that has left the community in shock. The autopsy revealed that the young boy suffered extensive injuries, including blunt force trauma to both his head and body, a broken jaw, a broken rib, and several head contusions. Internal injuries, notably liver lacerations leading to internal bleeding, further underscored the brutality of the circumstances surrounding his death.

In addition to the devastating injuries noted in the autopsy, investigators discovered signs of prior abuse. The medical examiner reported multiple healing injuries on Elyjah’s extremities, which indicated that the child had previously suffered abuse before the incident that led to his untimely death. To complicate matters further, trace amounts of methamphetamine were detected in his system, raising troubling questions about the environment in which Elyjah had been living.

On 11 July 2025, the day preceding the discovery of Elyjah’s body, Brycson Malik Gaddis allegedly assaulted the child in an apartment located on Lanark Street in Panorama City. Prosecutors have pieced together a timeline of events that led to Gaddis’ arrest, detailing a series of attacks believed to have resulted in the child’s death.

Chilling surveillance footage obtained by local news outlets appears to depict a person, reportedly Gaddis, carrying something wrapped in a blanket in the vicinity where Elyjah’s body would later be found. Eyewitnesses have provided accounts of seeing a man and a woman together in the area on the night of the tragedy, compounding the horror of the situation.

The boy’s mother has been interviewed by the authorities but has not faced any charges at this time and has since been released. The circumstances surrounding her involvement remain unclear, and the investigation continues as more information is sought.

District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman expressed condolences to Elyjah’s family, stating that this is “truly a heartbreaking and horrific case.” Hochman promised a relentless pursuit of justice in order to ensure Gaddis is held accountable for the alleged crime, articulating the community’s collective heartache at the loss of such a young life.

Brycson Malik Gaddis has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. As the legal proceedings unfold, he is being held on bail set at $2 million. Should he be convicted, Gaddis faces a potential maximum sentencing of 25 years to life imprisonment.

Community members and loved ones of Elyjah have been vocal about their grief, remembering him as a joyful and vibrant child. A GoFundMe page created in his memory notes that Elyjah was deeply cherished by those around him and that his life, despite its brevity, left an indelible mark on all who knew him. The page poignantly describes Elyjah as “a joyful, fun-loving child who brought light into every room he entered,” highlighting the profound loss felt within the community.

As investigations continue and Gaddis faces trial, the heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children and the urgent need for protective measures for those who are most at risk. Elyjah’s story, while marked by tragedy, will undoubtedly provoke conversations about child welfare and domestic violence prevention, aiming to ensure that no child suffers a fate similar to his.