James Handy‘s girlfriend is speaking out after her son has been charged with the actor’s murder!
As we previously reported, the Top Gun: Maverick star was fatally stabbed at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. Dispatch audio revealed someone, believed to be the suspect Michael Gledhill, who is the son of James’ girlfriend, called 911 to report “unknown trouble” and said:
“I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
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Creepy! When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they found the 81-year-old unconscious in his front yard with a stab wound to the chest. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. How sad. Gledhill was arrested and charged with one count of murder with a special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon, a knife. He faces up to 26 years to life in state prison if convicted. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a press release following the arrest:
“This is not how anyone’s life should end, stabbed in the chest and left dying in the front yard of a home. The victim deserved to live out his later years enjoying what he had worked so hard for and enjoying it with those he loved and cared about.”
Now the mother of Michael, who was dating James at the time of his death, is speaking out. Wendy Gledhill told TMZ on Friday that her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2025. He allegedly became increasingly paranoid and was prescribed medication for his condition after the diagnosis. However, the mom claimed she recently found out Gledhill stopped taking his meds about a week before James’ murder. Whoa.
Police have not confirmed whether Michael suffered from any mental health issues at this time. But one of Wendy’s neighbors, Joheina Quibol, backed the claims to The California Post, saying Michael sometimes acted bizarre and “paranoid.” She thought he may have struggled with mental health issues, adding:
“He looked really rugged … he looks like he doesn’t really change his clothes.”
Joheina also recalled an odd interaction her dad once had with Michael, in which he came over and asked her father about the cameras inside the house. Strange…
Wendy went on to say Michael and James “didn’t always see eye to eye, but their relationship was generally cordial.” And getting emotional, she then had a message for her boyfriend’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.”
Wendy added in a statement to The California Post:
“I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time. I loved James and my son. I still can’t believe it… I can’t believe my son did it. I’m just trying to …”
When asked by TMZ if Michael should spend the rest of his life in prison, her response? The mom suggested he shouldn’t be anywhere where he could hurt someone else. Whether her son will head to prison, we’ll see. He is currently being held on $2 million bail.
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For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.
[Image via Burglar/Warner Bros. Pictures]