Inset: Elyjah Hearn (GoFundMe). Background: The California dumpster where 5-year-old Elyjah Hearn was found dead after his mother’s boyfriend allegedly killed him (KNBC/YouTube).
In a tragic and disturbing incident in California, a 5-year-old boy named Elyjah Hearn was discovered lifeless, wrapped in a “fleece throw blanket” and discarded in a dumpster, his small body bearing signs of severe abuse. Authorities report that the boy was killed by his mother’s boyfriend, Malik Brycson Gaddis, 21, and abandoned on Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City on July 12, 2025.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the brutal murder occurred a day prior, and the circumstances surrounding Elyjah’s death have sent shockwaves through the community. An autopsy report, now public courtesy of the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office, reveals the horrific details of the young boy’s demise due to blunt force trauma and extreme violence inflicted by Gaddis.
The report states Elyjah was found naked, wrapped in the blanket, a haunting image that underscores the brutality he faced. His family, speaking to local NBC affiliate KNBC, shared that Elyjah was autistic and lived with his mother, painting a picture of a vulnerable child caught in a tragic situation.
The autopsy further detailed the extent of Elyjah’s injuries, which were at varying stages of healing. These included a broken jaw, head contusions, facial cuts, a broken rib, and liver lacerations, as well as a missing tooth, suggesting prolonged abuse.
In the wake of this appalling crime, LA County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman expressed the deep sorrow felt by many, calling the case both “heartbreaking and horrific.” He assured the community of a steadfast pursuit of justice, promising that Gaddis would be held accountable for his heinous actions.
“This is truly a heartbreaking and horrific case,” said LA County DA Nathan J. Hochman in a statement last July, following the arrest of Gaddis. “We are committed to seeking justice and will ensure this defendant is held responsible for his actions.”
Describing Elyjah, his grandfather told KNBC, “He was autistic, but that didn’t slow him down. He could pick your phone up and go through it, any tablet. His speech was slow, but he understood and he was loving.”
Gaddis faces murder and assault on a child causing death charges. The DA’s office says he “beat the child to death in an apartment” about a half mile away from the commercial parking lot dumpster where Elyjah was found.
Court records show that Gaddis has a domestic violence arrest and a protective order filed against him. He faces 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. He remains in custody on $2 million bail and is due in court on May 13.
