Medical Examiner Confirms Cause of Death for 'Top Gun: Maverick' Actor

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has confirmed the cause of death for actor James Handy, 81, who was fatally stabbed on June 3. The official report states that Handy died from a stab wound to the torso and neck compression, which involved pressure on his spinal cord or nerve roots. The incident occurred outside a home in Tarzana, Los Angeles, where Handy was found unconscious in his front yard after a 911 call was placed. The caller reportedly said, 'I am the son of man. I just killed the man of sin,' according to police. Michael Gledhill, 44, the son of Handy’s longtime girlfriend Wendy Gledhill, has been charged with one count of murder with a special allegation that a deadly weapon—a knife—was used. Gledhill was arrested after allegedly walking away from the scene, where he was captured on Ring camera footage. He did not appear at his arraignment on June 5, and his lawyer stated that he was 'unable to assist' in his defense. Wendy Gledhill has since spoken to media outlets, stating that her son suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia and had stopped taking his medication approximately a week before the incident. Handy, known for his roles in 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 'Jumanji,' and 'Logan,' as well as TV series like 'NCIS: Los Angeles' and 'NYPD Blue,' had been dating Wendy Gledhill for 31 years. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office has emphasized that the stabbing appeared to be an isolated incident with no ongoing public threat.