He lived with his mother and her partner. Then he called 911 to say he killed 'the man of sin.'

An 81-year-old Los Angeles man is dead after his partner's 44-year-old son stabbed him in their front yard on Wednesday morning.

Home is supposed to be a safe place where families grow old together. But a quiet morning in a suburban neighborhood turned into a nightmare when a son turned on his mother's longtime partner.

WHAT HAPPENED

Police say 44-year-old Michael Gledhill lived in a Tarzana home with his mother and her partner, 81-year-old James Handy. On Wednesday morning around 9:30 a.m., a strange call came into the local 911 center.

The caller made a shocking claim. He told the dispatcher he was the "son of man" and had just killed the "man of sin."

When police arrived at the home on Erwin Street, they found Handy passed out in the front yard. He had a stab wound to his chest and died later at a hospital.

Gledhill flagged down the arriving officers. He told them he was the person they were looking for.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

The victim was 81-year-old James Handy.

• The suspect is 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, who lived at the home.
• The attack happened around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday on Erwin Street.
• Police set Gledhill's bail at $2 million.
• The victim suffered a fatal knife wound to his chest.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

This tragedy makes us think about the invisible struggles inside our homes. How does a household go from daily life to a fatal attack in seconds?

We often miss the warning signs of mental distress or family tension until it is too late. We must ask how we can better support families dealing with deep issues before they turn violent.

THE OTHER SIDE

Gledhill has not yet entered a formal plea in court, and he does not have a public statement from a lawyer yet. Since he stayed at the scene and flagged down police, his defense team may look closely at his mental health during the event.

Right now, there is no clear defense argument on the record, but his words to the 911 dispatcher suggest he may not have been in a sound state of mind. Based on his actions and words, a mental health review will likely be a major part of this case.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Gledhill is in jail with his bail set at $2 million. Neighbors in the quiet Tarzana area are left trying to make sense of a sudden act of violence on their street.

For the family, they now face a double pain. They must mourn an elderly loved one while another family member sits in a jail cell.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

What led up to the argument on Wednesday morning?

• Did Gledhill have a history of mental health struggles or police calls to the home?
• How long had Gledhill lived with his mother and her partner?