Wendy Gledhill, whose son is the suspect in her boyfriend’s murder, spoke to The California Post outside her California home after the tragic incident.Wendy Gledhill, whose son is the suspect in her boyfriend’s murder, spoke to The California Post outside her California home after the tragic incident.
James Handy’s girlfriend, Wendy Gledhill, said she’s in disbelief that her son, Michael Gledhill, allegedly fatally stabbed the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor.
“I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,” 76-year-old Wendy told The California Postoutside her home in the Los Angeles area city of Tarzana on Friday.
Wendy added that she “loved James and my son” and “can’t believe” Michael allegedly murdered Handy.
“I’m just trying to …,” she added before stepping inside.
One of Wendy and Michael’s neighbors told The California Post the 44-year-old sometimes acted bizarre and paranoid.
“He looked really rugged … he looks like he doesn’t really change his clothes,” neighbor Joheina Quibol said.
Quibol, who said she believes Michael struggled with mental health issues, claimed Michael once came to her home and asked her father about cameras they had inside the house.
She described Michael’s behavior as “paranoid” during the alleged incident.
Wendy told TMZ on Friday Michael was struggling with serious mental health issues and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but stopped taking his medication.
She claimed her son he became increasingly paranoid and was prescribed medication after his July 2025 schizophrenia diagnosis, but she learned he stopped taking his meds a week before Handy’s murder.
Wendy said Michael and Handy “didn’t always see eye to eye” but had a “generally cordial” relationship.
In a tearful message to Handy’s family, Wendy said: “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.”
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Handy was repeatedly stabbed in the chest by Michael at the Gledhill family home in Tarzana Wednesday morning
When cops arrived on the scene, they discovered Handy unconscious and bleeding out in the front yard of the home.
He was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead there, police said.
Michael has been named the suspect in the attack.
In a chilling 911 call, Michael told dispatch, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
Before his arrest, Michael could be seen on a neighbor’s doorbell camera walking away from the home where Handy was murdered.
Police said Michael allegedly flagged officers down when they arrived and told them he stabbed Handy.
Michael has been charged with one count of murder. He’s reportedly being held at Van Nuys Jail, with his bail set at $2 million.
Handy made his acting debut in 1997 and went on to appear in over 150 projects, including numerous TV shows like “NYPD Blue,” “Castle,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The West Wing,” “The Practice,”
His final role was 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” in which he played a bartender named Jimmy who serves Tom Cruise’s character, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
He also appeared in the films “Jumanji,” “Logan” and “Unbreakable.”
