The autopsy report of 5-year-old Elijah Hearn – whose naked body was found wrapped in a woolen blanket inside a Panorama City dumpster – reveals that the boy had suffered repeated physical abuse before his death.
In total, 90 signs of trauma were recorded in nearly every area of his 3-foot, 8-inch body, according to a recently released report from the LA County Medical Examiner. This included dozens of scratches and bruises as well as a broken jaw, broken ribs and extensive internal bleeding.
According to the report, the wounds were in various stages of healing, indicating that he had been repeatedly attacked on different occasions. The cause of his death was reported to be blunt force trauma and the manner of murder.
Elijah was found July 12 in a dumpster behind 8215 Van Nuys Blvd. According to reports, by a man searching for recyclable items. His mother’s ex-boyfriend Brixon Gaddis was accused of beating her to death and was charged with murder later that month.
Gaddis, 21, has pleaded innocent and remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail while awaiting trial. If convicted as charged, he faces a sentence ranging from 25 years to life in prison.
Elijah’s grandfather, Troy Hearn, has said that Gaddis dated the boy’s mother for several years and accused him of stalking her.
In the 12 months before Eliza’s death, Gaddis was 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 among his family members and the local community.
“It’s very sad for him (Gaddis) to do this to my 5-year-old grandson,” Hearn said. “I’m overwhelmed and so angry I can’t even explain it.”
The autopsy report described extensive injuries to Eliza’s head, torso, arms, and legs. He had multiple lacerations to his liver, causing internal bleeding, with blood pooling in deep spaces inside and behind the abdomen.
A large bruise covered her entire buttocks, with several additional injuries in various stages of healing over the rest of her body. His lower jaw was broken, his lip was cut and there were extensive bruises around his eyes and head.
A small amount of methamphetamine was found in his system; However, investigators ruled that it was not a contributing factor in his death.
Gaddis is accused of beating Elijah to death in an apartment in the 14500 block of Lanark Street in Panorama City on July 11 and then throwing the body in a trash can, where it was found the next day, prosecutors said.
LA County Dist. Atty. A statement said his office is committed to ensuring that Gaddis is held accountable for his actions in this “heartbreaking and horrific case.”
Staff writers Summer Lynn and James Queally contributed to this report.
