5-year-old was brutally and repeatedly beaten before he was left dead in a dumpster, autopsy shows
Key takeaways
- 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.
- The wounds were in various states of healing, indicating that he had been repeatedly assaulted on different occasions, according to the report.
- Elyjah was found July 12 in the dumpster behind 8215 Van Nuys Blvd. by a person searching for recyclables, according to the report.
The body of Elyjah Hearn, 5, was found last summer in a dumpster in Panorama City. (Troy Hearn Sr.) By Clara Harter Staff Writer Follow April 29, 2026 4:48 PM PT 3 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
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.