Veteran character actor James Useful’s closing morning started with a easy routine he had adopted for years: stepping exterior his Tarzana house to seize the newspaper and make espresso.
As a substitute, the 81-year-old “High Gun: Maverick” actor was allegedly stabbed to dying in his entrance yard by the son of his longtime girlfriend in a stunning assault that has left household and neighbors reeling.
Now, Useful’s devastated accomplice of greater than three many years is revealing new particulars concerning the tragedy.
“James had gotten as much as get the newspaper at about 9 o’clock, however he didn’t make the espresso like he normally does,” Wendy Gledhill instructed the Every day Mail from the couple’s three-bedroom house within the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood.
“I simply heard the door open as a result of he was getting the paper.”
Wendy mentioned she remained in mattress and initially thought nothing was fallacious. Wanting again, she believes her son, Michael Gledhill, 44, was already exterior when Useful stepped onto the entrance garden.
“I can solely assume my son was already on the market they usually began to argue, from my understanding, on the entrance yard,” she mentioned.
About half-hour later, police arrived on the door.
“I didn’t know what was occurring,” Wendy recalled. “The primary time I heard one thing was occurring was when the police confirmed up.”
Authorities mentioned Gledhill referred to as 911 round 9:30 a.m. and allegedly instructed a dispatcher: “I’m the son of man. I simply killed a person of sin.”
When officers arrived on the residence, they discovered Useful unconscious within the entrance yard with a stab wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital however later died.
Chilling surveillance footage beforehand obtained by FOX 11 confirmed Gledhill casually strolling away from the scene earlier than returning and surrendering to police. Investigators mentioned he flagged down officers and recognized himself because the suspect they have been in search of.
Wendy believes her son, who had been dwelling with the couple for about two years, suffered a mental-health disaster after allegedly stopping medicine prescribed for schizophrenia.
“So I don’t suppose he was taking it on the time [of the alleged attack], however I don’t know for certain,” she instructed the Every day Mail.
A number of neighbors mentioned they heard loud arguments coming from the house the night time earlier than the killing and mentioned Gledhill had exhibited troubling habits up to now.
“We knew there was one thing not proper with him, so we simply tried to remain away,” one neighbor mentioned. “However the older couple was at all times very good. It’s simply very tragic what occurred.”
Useful constructed a profession spanning almost 150 movie and tv credit, together with roles in “The West Wing,” “Citadel,” “Logan,” “Jumanji” and, most lately, “High Gun: Maverick,” the place he performed bartender Jimmy.
“I couldn’t have requested for a extra gifted, humble or gracious consumer and pal than James Useful,” his agent, Pam Ellis-Evenas, mentioned.
Gledhill has been charged with homicide and a particular allegation that he personally used a lethal weapon. His bail was set at $2.02 million. If convicted, he faces as much as 26 years to life in jail.
