On what would be his final morning, veteran character actor James Handy began his day in the familiar way he had for years: by stepping out of his Tarzana home to fetch the newspaper and brew coffee.
However, this routine tragically ended in violence. Allegedly, Handy, known for his role in “Top Gun: Maverick,” was fatally stabbed in his front yard. The shocking incident is believed to have been perpetrated by the son of his longtime girlfriend, leaving both family and neighbors in utter disbelief.
Wendy Gledhill, Handy’s partner of over 30 years, is now sharing her heartbreak and new insights into the devastating event.
“James got up around 9 a.m. to get the newspaper, but he didn’t make the coffee like he usually does,” Gledhill recounted to the Daily Mail from their three-bedroom home in the upscale area of Los Angeles.
“I only heard the door open when he went to get the paper,” she recalled.
Initially, Wendy thought nothing of it and remained in bed. However, as she reflects on that morning, she suspects her son, Michael Gledhill, aged 44, was already outside when Handy stepped onto the lawn.
“I can only assume my son was already out there and they started to argue, from my understanding, on the front yard,” she said.
About 30 minutes later, police arrived at the door.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” Wendy recalled. “The first time I heard something was happening was when the police showed up.”
Authorities said Gledhill called 911 around 9:30 a.m. and allegedly told a dispatcher: “I am the son of man. I just killed a man of sin.”
When officers arrived at the residence, they found Handy unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital but later died.
Chilling surveillance footage previously obtained by FOX 11 showed Gledhill casually walking away from the scene before returning and surrendering to police. Investigators said he flagged down officers and identified himself as the suspect they were seeking.
Wendy believes her son, who had been living with the couple for about two years, suffered a mental-health crisis after allegedly stopping medication prescribed for schizophrenia.
“So I don’t think he was taking it at the time [of the alleged attack], but I don’t know for sure,” she told the Daily Mail.
Several neighbors said they heard loud arguments coming from the home the night before the killing and said Gledhill had exhibited troubling behavior in the past.
“We knew there was something not right with him, so we just tried to stay away,” one neighbor said. “But the older couple was always very nice. It’s just very tragic what happened.”
Handy built a career spanning nearly 150 film and television credits, including roles in “The West Wing,” “Castle,” “Logan,” “Jumanji” and, most recently, “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he played bartender Jimmy.
“I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy,” his agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, said.
Gledhill has been charged with murder and a special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon. His bail was set at $2.02 million. If convicted, he faces up to 26 years to life in prison.
