James Handy stabbing newest: Actor’s girlfriend says her son stopped taking schizophrenia meds earlier than killing
Wendy Gledhill, the girlfriend of Hollywood actor James Handy, has spoken out for the first time since her son was accused of killing the 81-year-old.
After Handy was fatally stabbed in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, police arrested his girlfriend’s son, Michael Gledhill, on suspicion of murder. His mother told TMZ he suffered from mental health issues, including schizophrenia, but had stopped taking his medication last week.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m still in shock. I still can’t comprehend it,” Wendy Gledhill said.
Officers responded Wednesday morning to a home in the Tarzana neighborhood after a 911 caller said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. There, they found Handy unconscious in the front yard, suffering from a stab wound to his chest. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Michael Gledhill, 44, flagged down the responding officers and told them “he was the one they were looking for,” police said. He was arrested on one count of murder, and his bail is set at $2 million.
After launching his Hollywood career in 1981, Handy appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows, including Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, according to his IMDB page.
What we know so far about James Handy’s death
Hollywood actor James Handy died this week after he was stabbed in Los Angeles, police said. Now, his girlfriend’s son has been accused of killing him.
- Officers found Handy Wednesday morning after an individual called 911 and said, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” the Los Angeles Police Department said.
- They discovered Handy unconscious in the front yard of a home in Los Angeles’ Tarzana neighborhood. He was suffering from a stab wound to his chest, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
- His girlfriend’s son, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He lived at the Tarzana home with his mother, according to police.
- After officers discovered Handy, Gledhill flagged them down and said “he was the one they were looking for,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
- Wendy Gledhill, the mother of the suspect and Handy’s girlfriend, told TMZ her son struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, but stopped taking his medication last week.
Neighbor describes James Handy murder suspect as ‘paranoid’
A neighbor who lived near Michael Gledhill, the 44-year-old man accused of killing actor James Handy, described him as “paranoid,” according to The California Post.
“He looked really rugged … he looks like he doesn’t really change his clothes,” she explained.
Police found Handy suffering from a stab wound in the front yard of a Los Angeles home Wednesday morning. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Gledhill lived at the home with his mother, Wendy, who was also Handy’s girlfriend, according to police.
James Handy’s girlfriend says she ‘still can’t believe it’
Wendy Gledhill, the girlfriend of actor James Handy and mother of the man accused of killing him, said she’s still in shock over the fatal stabbing.
“I loved James and my son. I still can’t believe it….I can’t believe my son did it,” the 76-year-old told The California Post.
“I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” she said.
James Handy’s girlfriend says son accused of murder stopped taking his medication
Wendy Gledhill, the 76-year-old girlfriend of slain actor James Handy, has spoken out for the first time since her son was accused of killing the 81-year-old.
Gledhill told TMZ her son struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, and recently stopped taking his medication.
“They know I loved him so much,” she said of Handy’s family. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m still in shock. I still can’t comprehend it.”
Her son, 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, was arrested after police found Handy suffering from a stab wound in the front yard of a Los Angeles home on Wednesday. He was booked into the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of murder.
Actor Robert Davi ‘shocked’ at James Handy stabbing
Actor Robert Davi, who starred as FBI Agent Bailey Malone on the crime drama Profiler, paid tribute to James Handy on social media.
The pair worked together on the show, which aired from 1996 to 2000. Handy’s character, Lou Handleman, appeared in seven episodes.
“Shocked and saddened to hear of the murder of James Handy we worked on Profiler together – RIP,” Davi wrote on X.
James Handy was an Army veteran
Before getting his start in Hollywood, James Handy was drafted at age 21 to serve in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
The actor, who police said was fatally stabbed Wednesday, fought alongside the 196th Lightning Brigade in Tây Ninh between August 1966 and July 1967.
“We wound up getting into heavy combat for 27 days we were in the field,” Handy said in a 2013 interview. “It was pretty horrific.
Read more about the 81-year-old’s career below:
Writer pays tribute to James Handy’s ‘unforgettable’ role in ‘The Verdict
Writer Jay Bobbin paid tribute to James Handy this morning, recalling his “unforgettable” role in The Verdict (1982).
“Heartbroken to learn about the passing of superb character actor #JamesHandy, unforgettable as a dissatisfied client who confronts his lawyer (Paul Newman) in “The Verdict.” Also memorable opposite Tom Cruise, briefly, at the end of “Top Gun: Maverick.” May he rest in peace,” Bobbin wrote on X.
Neighbor reacts to news of James Handy’s death
A man living near the Los Angeles home where James Handy was killed told Fox 11 he was “very upset” to hear about the news.
“Can you imagine? You make it to your old age, you settle down with a partner, and this horrible thing happens,” Jerry Merrill said.
Police discovered Handy suffering from a stab wound outside a home in the Tarzana neighborhood Wednesday morning. Officers arrested 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the son of his girlfriend, at the scene.
Gledhill lived at the home with his mother, police said.
Watch: Footage shows James Handy murder suspect moments after actor stabbing to death
New footage shows the man suspected of killing James Handy outside a Los Angeles home just moments after the actor was stabbed.
Michael Gledhill was arrested at the scene and booked into a local jail on suspicion of murder.
Unclear whether James Handy and girlfriend’s son had prior disputes, police say
Los Angeles police told Newsweek there’s no indication as to whether actor James Handy and Michael Gledhill, the 44-year-old accused of killing him, had any disputes prior to Wednesday’s fatal stabbing.
Gledhill has been booked into the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of murder, according to police. His next court date remains unclear.
Source: independent.co.uk
