Neighbors of James Handy have spoken out about the 'terrible shock' of his fatal stabbing earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Top Gun: Maverick actor, 81, suffered a fatal stab wound to his chest at his Los Angeles home, where he lived with his girlfriend, Wendy Gledhill. Wendy's son, Michael Gledhill, 44, called 911, with the LAPD stating that the caller said, 'I am the son of man. I just killed the man of sin.' Upon arrival, Gledhill allegedly told officers he was the culprit. He was later arrested in connection with Handy's death.
Neighbor's Harrowing Discovery
Jerry Merrill, a next-door neighbor, told People that he saw a pair of 'bloody pants' on the sidewalk outside the residence. He was unsure whether they belonged to Handy or Gledhill. Merrill, 56, moved to the street two and a half years ago but did not interact with Gledhill until six months ago, describing their meeting as a 'confrontation.' He noted that Gledhill would often avoid him and was seen walking alone. Merrill later watched footage of Gledhill walking around the neighborhood after Handy's death, saying, 'On this particular occasion, something horrible had happened, and he was just living in his own space.'
Neighbor's Fond Memories of Handy
Aaron Titelman, another neighbor, told the publication that Handy had lived with his partner for at least three years but was unaware that her son also resided there. Titelman, 57, described the couple as 'the nice neighbors around the corner that had the cat that likes to pay a visit,' calling Handy 'very humble and kind' and a 'really solid person.' He recalled Handy as 'down-to-earth' and enjoyed discussing 'baseball and cats.' Titelman expressed regret for not making the most of his interactions, adding, 'Life's too short.' On the shocking death, he said, 'You hear about these things in the news, and it never happens to someone that you know, but this one definitely landed at our back doorstep.'
Legal Proceedings and Mental Health Concerns
Gledhill faces 26 years to life in prison if convicted. On Friday, he was charged with one count of murder, plus a special allegation of personally using a deadly weapon (a knife), according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Superior Court Judge John H. Reid has ordered psych evaluations at a mental health court. Gledhill is held on $2.02 million bail at Van Nuys Jail and is due to appear in court on June 22.
Wendy Gledhill, fighting through tears, spoke to TMZ outside her property. The 76-year-old revealed that her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia last July but had stopped taking his medication. She discovered this about a week before Handy was killed. On her son's relationship with Handy, she said they were 'cordial.' She added, '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. I'm just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time.'
Detectives believe the killing is an 'isolated incident' and that there is 'no danger to the public at this time.' A possible motive has not yet been disclosed.
