Particle.news
Download on the App Store

James Handy Killed in Tarzana Home; Partner’s Son Arrested

Investigators say the suspect confessed on a 911 call and detectives are probing motive and evidence while treating the death as an isolated homicide.

Overview

  • West Valley officers responded to a 911 call and found James Handy unconscious in his front yard with a stab wound to the chest; paramedics took him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
  • Police identified and arrested 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy’s partner, after he reportedly told 911 he had killed “the man of sin” and then identified himself to officers at the scene.
  • Gledhill was booked on a murder charge at the Van Nuys jail and remains in custody with bail set at $2 million; booking is an early procedural step and does not imply guilt.
  • The Los Angeles Police Department says detectives are treating the case as a homicide and an isolated incident, that no public threat is apparent, and that investigators are continuing forensic work and witness interviews to establish a motive.
  • Handy’s representative confirmed his death and noted his near‑150 credits as a veteran character actor in films and TV such as Jumanji, Top Gun: Maverick, Logan and The X‑Files, and colleagues and neighbors have expressed shock as the investigation proceeds.