A young boy found beaten to death in a Los Angeles dumpster suffered severe injuries before he was killed, according to an autopsy report.
Elyjah Hearn, 5, was found wrapped in a blanket and tossed in a dumpster on July 12, 2025.
Brycson Malik Gaddis, 20, the estranged boyfriend of Kemia Hearn, the boy's mother, was arrested on July 16 and charged with murder.
Surveillance footage showed a man accompanied by a woman carrying a large object wrapped in a similar blanket a few blocks away from the dumpster the previous night, police say.
What appear to be feet and legs could be seen dangling from under the blanket as the man carried it along the street and out of view.
An autopsy report for the little boy released on Tuesday revealed the severity of Elyjah's injuries and that he had likely been beaten before his death, ABC 7 reported.
Elyjah was 'discovered naked and partially wrapped in a fleece throw blanket,' the report said. It found he had contusions, fractures, and abrasions on his head, torso, and arms, as well as cuts to his forehead and lips.
His cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma and his manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Elyjah Hearn, 5, was found beaten to death and tossed in a LA dumpster wrapped in a blanket
Surveillance footage showed a man, accompanied by a woman, carrying a large object wrapped in a similar blanket a few blocks away from the dumpster
The medical examiner also found that he Hearn, who was autistic, had bruises 'in various stages of healing' in the front and back parts of his body, indicating that he may have suffered previous abuse.
The search warrant affidavit for Gaddis' home described the footage and noted the similarities to the blanket Elyjah was found in.
'The victim was wrapped in a multi-colored blanket, in which he was later found deceased. Bryscon was accompanied by Kemia Hearn,' it read.
Police alleged there were signs of blood on the bathroom sink, drain, backsplash, and inside a tote bag on the bed during an initial look inside the apartment.
Hearn, 24, was questioned by police in the days after her son's death, but was released and has not been charged.
Gaddis has pleaded not guilty and is being held the Van Nuys Jail without bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 13.
He has a long criminal history, with carjacking, assault, and domestic violence charges in the year before Elyjah's murder.
The carjacking and assault charges were from July 2024, but the case against him and two others involved was dropped on December 16 of that year.
The medical examiner also found that he Hearn, who was autistic, had bruises 'in various stages of healing' in the front and back parts of his body
The medical examiner concluded that Hearn's body showed indications that he may have suffered previous abuse
In February 2025, he was charged with domestic violence and false imprisonment for allegedly attacking his then-girlfriend, a different woman from Hearn, and locking her in their apartment on two occasions.
Gaddis skipped a court date in April 2025 and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, but police didn't find him before Elyjiah was killed.
He was wearing an ankle monitor, but the battery was dead, and he didn't have it recharged as required.
The Daily Mail contacted Gaddis' attorneys for comment.
Hearn's family claimed Gaddis also abused her, and police were called multiple times about domestic violence incidents.
A GoFundMe for the boy's family described him as a bright light whose life was taken too soon.
'Elyjah was a joyful, fun-loving child who brought light into every room he entered. He adored his family and was deeply loved in return,' the fundraiser said.
'His laughter, energy, and innocent spirit touched everyone who knew him. His life was cut short far too soon, and our hearts are broken beyond words.'