New information has been released about the final moments of actor James Handy before he died in a stabbing attack.
Handy, best known for roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Jumanji, Arachnophobia and The West Wing, was 81 when he was fatally injured at a home in Tarzana, Los Angeles, on June 3, 2026.
Authorities later arrested Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s girlfriend, in relation to the case.
On June 4, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that detectives had launched a murder investigation.
“The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division, Valley Bureau Section is currently investigating a stabbing that resulted in the death of an 81-year-old man,” it said in a news release issued at the time.
“On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., West Valley area patrol officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. The 911 caller stated, ‘I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.'”
The department added that officers found Handy outside the home with a serious injury.
“Upon their arrival, officers discovered 81-year-old James Handy in the front yard of the residence, unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his chest. The victim was transported to local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, where he was pronounced deceased.”
Gledhill, 44, was arrested and booked on a murder charge. He remains in custody on $2 million bail and has not yet entered a plea.
His mother, Wendy Gledhill, has said her son lives with schizophrenia. Following a mental health assessment, a judge determined that he is mentally incompetent to stand trial.
An autopsy report from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner has now provided further detail. According to NBC News, Handy’s death was ruled a homicide caused by a stab wound to the torso along with neck compression.
The report also outlined what allegedly happened before the Logan actor died, stating that he and Gledhill were involved in a verbal confrontation.
Per Us Weekly, it stated: “The verbal altercation turned physical, and the subject dragged him to the side of the house.
“911 was called and paramedics responded to the scene, initiated life-saving efforts, and transported him to the hospital, where, despite these efforts, death was pronounced on the same date.”
The report further said that neck compression may have occurred before the stabbing and could have incapacitated Handy prior to the knife wound.
The same findings noted that Handy had a small amount of alcohol in his system, though no drugs were detected.
Examiners also found hepatic steatosis and mediastinal hematoma, but reported no fatal underlying illnesses.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].