James Handy’s official cause of death has been revealed.
The circumstances surrounding the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor’s murder came into sharper focus after new findings revealed the veteran performer died from a stab wound and neck compression, Fox News Digital can confirm.
The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office listed Handy’s manner of death as homicide.
Michael Gledhill, 44, was charged with one count of murder with a special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon, a knife, on June 5. Police claimed officers found the 81-year-old actor stabbed in the chest and lying unconscious outside a home in Los Angeles days before. Handy was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
Gledhill did not appear at his arraignment on June 5, where Superior Court Judge John H. Reid ordered that Gledhill be sent to mental health court and undergo psychological evaluations. Another judge will decide whether he is competent for trial.
Gledhill remained behind bars after the court hearing with bail set at $2 million. He faces up to 26 years in prison if convicted.
Gledhill is the son of Handy’s girlfriend of 30 years, Wendy Gledhill. Actor Brian Delate, who knew Handy for over four decades, told The Associated Press that a few times over the past couple of years, Handy mentioned in passing that his girlfriend’s son had mental health problems.
“I didn’t think much of it, because he just kind of mentioned it casually,” he said.
Handy’s girlfriend had fixed up the garage so her son could live there, Delate said. Handy had his own home.
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Gledhill’s arrest came after he confessed to the alleged crime. According to police, a 911 caller stated: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
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According to investigators, Gledhill flagged down officers as they arrived and told them he was the person they were looking for.
Born in New York, Handy appeared in films and TV shows for decades.
He was known for his role as an exterminator in the 1995 film “Jumanji” and more recently as the bartender Jimmy in the 2022 film “Top Gun: Maverick,” according to IMDB. He’s also appeared in some of the top TV crime dramas, including “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “The Closer” and “Cold Case.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
