Michael Ray Gledhill, the man suspected of killing actor James Handy, will face a mental competency hearing before murder charges can move forward, a Los Angeles judge ruled Friday. The hearing is scheduled for June 22 in Hollywood after the Los Angeles County District Attorney filed a felony murder complaint against Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s girlfriend.
According to the filing, prosecutors allege that “on or about June 3, 2026,” Gledhill unlawfully and with malice aforethought murdered James Anthony Handy, 81, in Los Angeles County. If convicted, Gledhill faces 26 years to life in prison. He is being held on $2.02 million bail.
Handy was attacked Wednesday morning outside a home in Tarzana. Police said officers found him unconscious in the front yard with chest wounds. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital shortly after 9:30 a.m. and was pronounced dead on arrival.
The 911 call that alerted authorities included a disturbing statement reportedly made by Gledhill. He was heard saying, “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.” Prosecutors said the case reflects a violent and senseless death, with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman calling it unacceptable that Handy was “stabbed in the chest and left dying in the front yard of a home.”
Hochman said Handy, who was 81, deserved to live his later years in peace with loved ones. He said the person responsible must be held accountable.
Police said Gledhill identified himself to officers when they arrived and flagged them down, telling them he was the person they were looking for. LAPD also said he lived at the Tarzana residence with his mother, who was Handy’s girlfriend.
Handy was a veteran actor with about 100 screen credits. He appeared in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 and had roles in television series including Alias, The X-Files, Walker Texas Ranger, and Law & Order, as well as films such as Logan in 2017.
The case is now paused while the court evaluates Gledhill’s mental competency. The hearing will determine whether he is fit to stand trial before the murder case can proceed.
