Boy’s Homicide Confirmed After Body Discovered in Panorama City Dumpster
Investigation Reveals Murder of 5-Year-Old Found in Dumpster
In July 2025, the tragic discovery of a deceased 5-year-old boy in a dumpster in Panorama City has been officially ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. The autopsy report, released on Tuesday, confirmed that the boy, identified as Elyjah Anthony Hearn, suffered blunt force trauma resulting in his death.
The report detailed multiple injuries, including contusions, fractures, and abrasions across Elyjah’s head, torso, and arms, as well as cuts to his forehead and lips. Furthermore, investigators noted that Elyjah had bruises "in various stages of healing," suggesting a history of violence prior to his death. The autopsy documented a staggering number of traumatic injuries overall.
Elyjah’s body was found naked and partially wrapped in a fleece throw blanket, raising further concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Shortly after the discovery, police arrested 20-year-old Brycson Malik Gaddis in connection with the boy’s death. A second individual was taken into custody on unrelated charges. Troy Hearn Sr., Elyjah’s grandfather, identified Gaddis as the estranged boyfriend of Elyjah’s mother, clarifying that he was not the boy’s biological father.
"Elyjah was autistic, but that didn’t slow him down," Hearn Sr. stated. "He could pick your phone up and go through it, any tablet. His speech was slow, but he understood and he was loving."
Gaddis has a troubling criminal history, which includes a July 2024 arrest for a violent carjacking in Pomona. However, the district attorney’s office did not prosecute the case due to legal time limits, leading to its dismissal by a judge. In January 2025, Gaddis faced allegations of misdemeanor domestic violence, accompanied by a protective order against him. A warrant was issued for his arrest in May 2025 after he disabled his court-appointed GPS tracker and failed to appear in court.
The investigation continues as the community grapples with the devastating loss of Elyjah Hearn.
