James Handy’s girlfriend says accused killer had schizophrenia, stopped meds

Wendy Gledhill told TMZ that her son, Michael Gledhill, who has been accused of stabbing James Handy two days earlier, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2025 and prescribed medication. She said she learned he had stopped taking the medicine a week before the fatal stabbing outside Handy's Tarzana home.

Wendy described Michael and Handy as not always seeing "eye-to-eye" but otherwise being "cordial." She said she loved both men, that she is "still in shock" and "can't comprehend" the tragedy, and apologized to Handy's family, adding "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry this happened." Police say Handy, 81, was repeatedly stabbed and died from his injuries on Wednesday.

He was found in his front yard after a 911 caller said, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin." Michael turned himself in as officers surveilled the scene and was arrested; he is being held at Van Nuys Jail on $2 million bail. Handy had been acting since 1997 and was known for roles in Jumanji and numerous television projects.

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