Actor's Accused Killer Incompetent
Judge finds man accused of actor James Handy's killing mentally incompetent for trial
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A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Michael Gledhill, 44, is not mentally fit to stand trial for the murder of actor James Handy, 81, according to Associated Press. Judge Maria Cavalluzzi made the ruling on June 22 and ordered Gledhill to receive involuntary psychiatric medication for up to one year.
Handy — a character actor known for roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Jumanji, and NYPD Blue — was found stabbed in the chest outside his girlfriend's Tarzana home on June 3, CBS News reported. He was pronounced dead at a hospital later that morning. Gledhill flagged down arriving officers and told them he was the person they were looking for.
A Cryptic 911 Call and a Scene in Tarzana
At around 9:30 AM on June 3, a male caller told a 911 dispatcher, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin," according to LA Times. Officers responded to the 19200 block of Erwin Street in Tarzana. They found Handy unconscious in the front yard with a stab wound to the chest.
Handy had been dating Gledhill's mother, Wendy Gledhill, for more than ten years, Associated Press reported. A longtime friend and fellow actor, Brian Delate, said Handy spent a lot of time at the Tarzana home to help care for Wendy and her son. Gledhill lived in a converted garage on the property.
Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Stopped Medication
Gledhill was diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2025, TMZ reported. He was prescribed psychiatric medication but stopped taking it in late May 2026 — just days before the killing. His mother told TMZ that he had grown "increasingly paranoid" after going off his meds.
The religious language in the 911 call points to an acute psychotic episode, experts say. The cryptic phrase "son of man... man of sin" is consistent with religious delusions seen in untreated schizophrenia, The Independent noted. D.A. Nathan Hochman filed one murder count against Gledhill on June 5, with a deadly weapon allegation that could bring 26 years to life in prison.
What Mental Incompetency Means Under California Law
Judge Cavalluzzi found that Gledhill cannot understand the charges against him and cannot help his lawyer build a defense. Under California Penal Code 1368, a judge must pause a criminal case when there is doubt about a defendant's mental fitness. Defense attorney Javier Trincado argued that his client was unable to assist in his own defense, The Guardian reported.
A finding of incompetency is not an acquittal. It is a pause. The court ordered Gledhill to receive involuntary medication for one year with the goal of restoring his competency. If he improves, the murder trial will resume. If competency cannot be restored within roughly three years, California law allows the court to pursue civil commitment instead, according to Associated Press.
A Prolific Career Cut Short, a Family Torn Apart
James Handy worked for more than 50 years as a character actor. He played Jimmy in Top Gun: Maverick, the Exterminator in Jumanji, and Captain Haverhill in NYPD Blue. Pam Ellis-Evenas of the Ellis Talent Group called him a "talented, humble, and gracious friend," Associated Press reported.
D.A. Hochman said, "This is not how anyone's life should end — stabbed in the chest and left dying in the front yard of a home." Wendy Gledhill, who lost both her partner and effectively her son to this tragedy, described it as a "two-fold tragedy," according to TMZ. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for July 14 to determine where Gledhill will receive long-term mental health treatment.
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