Wendy Gledhill, the girlfriend of late actor James Handy, has spoken publicly for the first time since his death — addressing the killing and the alleged involvement of her son.
Handy died after suffering a single stab wound to the chest outside his Los Angeles home on Wednesday June 3, police confirmed earlier this week.
Wendy’s son, Michael Gledhill, is the primary suspect. Authorities say he was taken into custody and booked on one count of murder after he ‘flagged down nearby responding officers, telling them he was the one they were looking for.’ He remains held at the Van Nuys jail, with bail set at $2 million.
Speaking with reporters outside the home she shared with Handy, Wendy said her son has schizophrenia and alleged he had stopped taking his medication roughly a week before the attack.
She told TMZ that her 44-year-old son was diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2025, had been taking prescribed medication, but stopped around a week before Handy — known for appearing in Jumanji — was fatally stabbed on June 3.
“I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” Wendy, 76, told the California Post. “I loved James and my son. I still can’t believe it… I can’t believe my son did it.”
According to the LAPD, Gledhill told a 911 dispatcher “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
When officers arrived, they found the 81-year-old Handy in the front yard, described as ‘unconscious with a stab wound to his chest’.
“He was taken to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced dead.”
Wendy also claimed that Handy and her son generally got along, though she acknowledged they didn’t always see things the same way.
Fighting back tears, she offered condolences to Handy’s relatives, saying: “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.”
In the days leading up to the incident, neighbours reportedly observed behaviour they considered unusual. Joheina Quibol told the California Post that he “looked really rugged… like he doesn’t really change his clothes.”
She also alleged his paranoia appeared to be escalating, describing how he approached her family’s home to ask her father about their security cameras.
Police have said this is an ‘isolated incident’ and that there is no immediate threat to the community.
Handy was widely known for roles in Jumanji and Arachnophobia. His final on-screen credit was in Top Gun: Maverick, where he appeared as a bartender.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Robbery-Homicide Division, Valley Section, Detective Simonyan or Detective Lopez, at (818) 374-9550. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.