5-year-old was brutally and repeatedly beaten before he was left dead in a dumpster, autopsy shows

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The autopsy report for 5-year-old Elyjah Hearn — whose naked body was found wrapped in a fleece blanket inside a Panorama City dumpster — reveals the staggering extent of repeated physical abuse the boy suffered before his death.In total, there were 90 signs of trauma documented across nearly every area of his 3-foot-8 body, according to a recently released report from the L.A.County medical examiner.

This included dozens of scrapes and bruises as well as a fractured jaw, broken rib and extensive internal bleeding.The wounds were in various states of healing, indicating that he had been repeatedly assaulted on different occasions, according to the report.

His cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma and the manner a homicide.Elyjah was found July 12 in the dumpster behind 8215 Van Nuys Blvd.by a person searching for recyclables, according to the report.

His mother’s ex-boyfriend Brycson Gaddis was accused of beating him to death and was charged with murder later that month.California Brycson Gaddis, 20, has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the killing of a 5-year-old boy whose body was found in a Panorama City dumpster on July 12.Gaddis, 21, has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody in lieu of $2-million bail while awaiting trial.

He faces 25 years to life in prison if sentenced as charged.Elyjah’s grandfather, Troy Hearn, has said that Gaddis dated the boy’s mother on and off for several years and accused him of stalking her.In the 12 months leading up to Elyjah’s death, Gaddis had been charged with carjacking, assault and domestic violence, according to court records.Last April, he failed to appear in court for his scheduled trial, and a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.The discovery of the boy’s brutally beaten body sparked outrage from his family members and the local community.

“It’s very heartbreaking for [Gaddis] to do that t...