5-year-old boy found dead in dumpster, CA officials say. Mom’s boyfriend charged
A man is facing charges in the death of his girlfriend’s young son in California, officials said.
Brycson Malik Gaddis, 20, from Panorama City, is accused of fatally beating the 5-year-old boy in an apartment on July 11, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a July 18 news release.
The boy was found in a dumpster a day later, prosecutors said.
Now, Gaddis faces one count of murder and a count of assault on a child causing death, according to prosecutors.
Arraignment is scheduled for August, prosecutors said.
Attorney information for Gaddis wasn’t immediately available July 18.
Police identified the 5-year-old as Elyjiah Hearn and said Gaddis is not his biological father.
“This is truly a heartbreaking and horrific case, and our deepest sympathies go out to the young victim’s family,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in the news release. “We are committed to seeking justice and will ensure this defendant is held responsible for his actions.”
Panorama City is about a 20-mile drive northwest from downtown Los Angeles.
This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM.
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