5-year-old found in dumpster wrapped in 'fleece throw blanket' after being beaten to death by mom's boyfriend: Officials

A 5-year-old lad from California was recovered wrapped successful a "fleece propulsion blanket" wrong a dumpster — with breached bones, contusions and cuts each implicit his assemblage — aft being killed by his mother's boyfriend, officials say.

Malik Brycson Gaddis, 21, discarded the assemblage of the victim, Elyjah Hearn, successful a dumpster successful the 8200 artifact of Van Nuys Boulevard successful Panorama City connected July 12, 2025, aft murdering him a time earlier, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The results of Elyjah's autopsy were released online this week by the LA County Medical Examiner's Office and showed the youngster died from blunt unit trauma and utmost unit astatine the hands of Gaddis, who was dating the boy's mother, according to constabulary and family.

Elyjah was recovered bare and wrapped successful a "fleece propulsion blanket," according to the autopsy report. Elyjah's household told section NBC affiliate KNBC that helium had autism and was surviving with his mother.

The autopsy showed that galore of Elyjah's injuries were successful the process of healing; they included a breached jaw, a bony that was knocked out, caput contusions and abrasions, cuts connected his face, a breached rib and liver lacerations.

"This is genuinely a heartbreaking and horrific case," said LA County DA Nathan J. Hochman successful a connection past July, pursuing the apprehension of Gaddis. "We are committed to seeking justness and volition guarantee this suspect is held liable for his actions."

Describing Elyjah, his gramps told KNBC, "He was autistic, but that didn't dilatory him down. He could prime your telephone up and spell done it, immoderate tablet. His code was slow, but helium understood and helium was loving."

Gaddis faces execution and battle connected a kid causing decease charges. The DA's bureau says helium "beat the kid to decease successful an apartment" astir a fractional mile distant from the commercialized parking batch dumpster wherever Elyjah was found.

Court records amusement that Gaddis has a home unit apprehension and a protective bid filed against him. He faces 25 years to beingness successful authorities situation if convicted. He remains successful custody connected $2 cardinal bail and is owed successful tribunal connected May 13.