Michael Gledhill, the son of James Handy’s girlfriend, now faces a murder charge following the fatal stabbing of the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor on Wednesday.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman conveyed the gravity of the situation in a press release on Friday, stating, “No one’s life should conclude this way, with a stabbing to the chest, left to die in a front yard.”
“James Handy, the victim, deserved to spend his later years relishing the fruits of his labor alongside those he cherished. Like all victims of murder, his life was significant, and the individual who violently ended it must be held responsible,” Hochman continued.
Gledhill is scheduled to appear in court today for arraignment at the Van Nuys Courthouse.
On the morning of June 3, Handy was discovered unconscious and bleeding profusely after being repeatedly stabbed in the chest by Gledhill at the home of Handy’s girlfriend in Tarzana, California, as per the police report.
He was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead there, police said.
According to 911 call audio, Gledhill can be heard telling dispatch after the attack, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
When authorities arrived, police claim Gledhill flagged down the cops and confessed to stabbing Handy.
Before he was taken into custody, Gledhill was seen walking through the neighborhood away from his home, where the incident took place.
While speaking with the California Post on Friday, Handy’s former girlfriend Wendy Gledhill said she “can’t believe” her son allegedly stabbed the “Jumanji” star.
“I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” 76-year-old Wendy saidoutside her home in the Los Angeles area city of Tarzana.
Wendy added that she “loved James and my son” and “can’t believe” Michael allegedly murdered Handy.
In an interview with TMZ on Friday, Wendy revealed that Michael was struggling with serious mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but had stopped taking his medication.
She claimed her son had become increasingly paranoid and was prescribed medication after his July 2025 schizophrenia diagnosis, but she learned he stopped taking his meds a week before Handy’s murder.
Wendy said Michael and Handy “didn’t always see eye to eye” but had a “generally cordial” relationship.
Michael is currently being held at the Van Nuys Jail with his bail set at $2 million. If convicted, Gledhill faces up to 26 years to life in state prison.