It’s been nearly two weeks since the body of 5-year-old Elyjiah Hearn was found near a dumpster in a Panorama City parking lot. Since then, the community has come together to mourn the loss of the young child.
A vigil was held on the evening of July 18 at the site where Elyjiah was found, in the 8200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard near Titus Street. Around 150 people were gathered, including clergy and members of the boy’s family. Residents placed candles in the shape of a heart, which encircled flowers, stuffed animals and heartfelt messages.
A homeless man was reportedly the first person to find the boy’s body, which had been discarded next to a dumpster, and he had someone call 911 for help. The Los Angeles Fire Department attempted to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead.
The LA Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released an autopsy report; however, Elyjiah suffered “massive injuries” including a fractured jaw, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver, according to a law enforcement official.
Bryscon Malik Gaddis, 20, described as the ex-boyfriend of the mother, was arrested in connection with Elyjiah’s death and has been charged with one count of murder and assault on a child causing death. He is set to be arraigned in a Van Nuys courtroom on Aug. 18. He was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $2 million bail.
While the vigil was attended by many nearby residents. This news brought back very difficult days for Emily Carranza, the cousin of Gabriel Fernandez, the 8-year-old boy who was tortured and beaten to death at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend in 2013. Gabriel’s case received national attention and was to be the impetus for change at the LA County Department of Family and Children’s Services.
During the trial of Gabriel’s mother and boyfriend, who are both imprisoned for life, Carranza formed a group of women who call themselves “Warrior Sisters” – moms who have met and bonded under tragic and heartbreaking circumstances. She launched a Facebook page called Gabriel’s Justice to preserve his legacy, fight against child abuse and support other families. It’s through this page that Carranza has most recently shared any updates and news regarding Elyjiah’s case.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know all the key details of why the mom’s ex-boyfriend murdered him, or how he got in contact with them or if they were even still seeing each other,” Carranza said. “But to hear a child, at the hands of a mom’s ex-boyfriend, being abused and taken and then dying – it’s not right. He was still a child.
“What hurts and what’s hard to understand is how do you take the life of a child and then dispose of him like it’s nothing?” she continued. “I can’t wrap my head around that. I can’t make sense of it. … I’m at a loss for words because that’s really painful.”
Carranza said she hasn’t been able to bring herself to go to the parking lot where Elyjiah was found, but did share that Olivia Rubio, also a cousin of Gabriel, did leave something at the site in the boy’s memory.
Having been in a similar position to what Elyjiah’s family is currently in, Carranza said she can sympathize and feel their heartbreak over this tragedy. She’s also sure that the family has many questions over what happened and is trying to make sense of it while planning a funeral at the same time.
Carranza has yet to meet any of Elyjiah’s family members. Although she understands why the community made a makeshift shrine in the parking lot, she believes the family doesn’t want to remember that their loved one was found near a dumpster. She hopes that when the boy is laid to rest, the community will instead leave flowers at his grave, possibly even plant a tree in his memory.
She added that she and other members of the “Warrior Sisters” will always try to be there for families who are experiencing what they have already lived through. If Elyjiah’s family also needs that support, Carranza said they only need to reach out.
“We’re here to help, be supportive of them and go to court with them if that’s the case, just … for them to know they’re not alone,” Carranza said. “All we can do is offer our condolences and our prayers for the family.”