James Handy, 81, died June 3 after Los Angeles police said he was allegedly stabbed by his girlfriend’s 44-year-old son, Michael Gledhill. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner confirmed a stab wound to the torso and neck compression. Gledhill was arrested and char
James Handy was pronounced dead shortly after Los Angeles police said officers found him unconscious in the front yard of his girlfriend’s home, where her 44-year-old son lived—next to a wound investigators say came from a stabbing.
Los Angeles police say they received a 911 call on the morning of June 3. In a department release, the caller reportedly confessed and said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Authorities arrived and found Handy “unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest” in the front yard. He was taken to an LA hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after.
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office later confirmed Handy died from a stab wound to the torso, as well as neck compression—described as an external force applied to the neck that led to a lack of oxygen.
Michael Gledhill, Handy’s girlfriend’s son
According to Los Angeles police, Gledhill—identified as the person officers were looking for—flagged down responding officers. He was arrested and charged with one count of murder. His bail was set at $2 million.
What Handy’s partner said
Wendy Gledhill. Handy’s partner and the mother of the alleged suspect. told a news outlet that her son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had stopped taking his medications the week before Handy’s death. She also shared a message to Handy’s family: “They know I loved him so much. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m still in shock. I still can’t comprehend it.”.
It was unclear whether Wendy was at the home at the time of the incident.
A career remembered across blockbuster and genre roles
Handy, 81, was known for roles including Jimmy, a bartender, in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick.” He also appeared as an exterminator in the original 1995 “Jumanji” and played county coroner Milt Briggs in the 1990 dark comedy-horror film “Arachnophobia.”
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department as authorities examine what led to the confrontation and the fatal injuries confirmed by the medical examiner.
James Handy Top Gun: Maverick LAPD Michael Gledhill stabbing death neck compression Los Angeles Medical Examiner murder charge $2 million bail Wendy Gledhill schizophrenia