The individual accused of fatally stabbing actor James Handy, known for his roles in “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jumanji,” has been deemed too mentally unstable for a standard court appearance, according to his public defender. This statement was made during a hearing in Los Angeles on Friday.
Michael Gledhill, aged 44, who is the son of Handy’s girlfriend, stands accused of the murder of the 81-year-old actor, which occurred in Tarzana on Wednesday.
During the court session, Gledhill remained in custody at the Van Nuys courthouse under the supervision of the Sheriff’s Department. Meanwhile, public defender Javier Trincado informed Judge John Reid that Gledhill was currently unable to assist in his legal defense.
Trincado requested the court to “declare a doubt,” a legal term indicating concerns over Gledhill’s mental competence to participate in a trial.
Gledhill, who previously earned accolades as a top volleyball player at Pepperdine University, faces a murder charge with an additional allegation of using a deadly weapon.
Judge Reid has postponed the proceedings to June 22, transferring the case to the Hollywood Mental Health Court. Gledhill’s bail has been set at $2,020,000.
Police say they received a chilling call around 9.30am saying ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.’
West Valley Patrol officers rushed to the 19200 block of Erwin Street, Tarzana and found Handy ‘in the front yard of the residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest.’
Police say they received a chilling call around 9.30am saying ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin’
Surveillance footage from the scene captured suspect Michael Gledhill casually walking past the suburban home before he was seen returning with police
Handy as the exterminator in the film, Jumanji, where he starred alongside Kirsten Dunst
James Handy’s distressed girlfriend Wendy Gledhill is seen on Friday, two days after the Top Gun: Maverick star was stabbed to death at his home in Tarzana, California. Her son Michael has been arrested over the crime
‘The victim was transported to local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased,’ a police statement said.
‘The suspect flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them he was the one they were looking for. The suspect resides at the location with his mother, who is the victim’s girlfriend.’
Gledhill was held on $2 million bail at Van Nuys Jail.
His mother, Wendy Gledhill, told TMZ on Friday that her son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia but had stopped taking his medication.
‘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,’ she told the Hollywood news site.
Wendy said her son had become increasingly paranoid since his diagnosis in July last year – and spiraled after he stopped taking his meds a week ago, TMZ reported.
Photographs that emerged Friday afternoon showed Michael Gledhill being handcuffed by Los Angeles Police Department officers after the crime.
Handy was fatally knifed at his home on Wednesday morning and was found bleeding to death in the front yard.
Bloody clothes laid on the pavement outside Handy’s house following his death
Handy’s neighbor was seen stopping by the home to pay his respects by dropping off flowers and lighting a candle following the news of the actor’s death
Handy in an episode of ABC’s hit show Castle, one of his many on-screen credits over his five-decade career
The actor most recently appeared alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick
The actor starred as Capt. Jim Haverill on NYPD Blue from 1993 to 1995
The veteran actor was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities claim Michael, who lived at the home with his mother and Handy, called 911 at around 9.30am to alert police to the horror.
Security footage from a house next door obtained by Fox 11 Los Angeles showed Gledhill ambling down the sidewalk, as bloody clothes lay nearby.
The suspect then returned to the house a short time later, at which point police say he had flagged down the responding officers – and told them he was the one they were looking for.
A motive for the attack remains unclear, but neighbors claimed Michael and Handy had been arguing overnight.
Handy appeared in the 2022 Top Gun sequel as a bartender, and had a role as the exterminator in 1995 classic Jumanji.
He was the doctor who treated Hugh Jackman’s character in 2017 movie Logan, played Milton Briggs in Arachnaphobia, and had roles in The Rocketeer, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Verdict and K-9.
He has appeared in dozens of TV shows too, according to his IMDB page.
