What to KnowAuthorities say a paroled intercourse offender and profession legal killed a Queens couple, then set their house on hearth and robbed themJamel McGriff faces a slew of fees together with homicide, theft, housebreaking, arson, and kidnapping, in response to policeNeighbors reported seeing the suspect across the neighborhood just lately, and police stated McGriff had approached not less than two houses, saying he was having cellphone points and wanted assist.The 42-year-old parolee allegedly tortured and killed 76-year-old Frank Olton and his 77-year-old spouse, Maureen, then torched their Bellerose house. Frank Olton was discovered tied to a pole within the basement, whereas his spouse was discovered with extreme burns on the primary ground
The person accused of robbing, torturing and killing a Queens couple inside their house earlier than setting it on hearth was caught after utilizing his personal Macy’s loyalty card quantity and his personal ID for purchases linked to gadgets stolen from the victims, prosecutors stated Friday.
Jamel McGriff faces a slew of fees, together with homicide, theft, housebreaking, arson, and kidnapping within the deaths of 76-year-old Frank Olton and his 77-year-old spouse Maureen, whom he allegedly conned into letting him into their house on Monday.
From there, prosecutors allege, he brutally killed each, set the home on hearth and stole bank cards and telephones. About two and a half hours after McGriff allegedly left the Olton house, prosecutors say he used two of Frank Olton’s bank cards to purchase clothes purchases totaling $796.10 on the flagship Macy’s in Herald Sq..
McGriff used his personal Macy’s loyalty card quantity for the transaction, prosecutors say. The following morning, in response to the criticism, McGriff dropped two of the Oltons’ cellphones right into a machine at a retailer within the Bronx the place one can get on the spot money in change. He allegedly used his personal ID for that transaction as properly.
McGriff was arrested Wednesday night time by the NYPD in Manhattan. He was remanded after his arraignment Thursday. McGriff was later remanded. If convicted, he faces as much as life in jail.
McGriff is represented by the Authorized Support Society, which usually would not touch upon energetic instances.
What occurred to Frank and Maureen Olton?
McGriff, a 42-year-old parolee, allegedly tortured and killed 76-year-old Frank Olton and his 77-year-old spouse, Maureen, then torched their Bellerose house on Monday after pretending he wanted assist charging his cellphone battery. Neighbors reported seeing the suspect across the neighborhood just lately.
Police stated McGriff had approached two houses, saying he was having cellphone points and wanted assist. The primary householders would not let him inside.
The Oltons apparently purchased his story and let him into their 254th Avenue yard. Video reveals McGriff going within the again door of the house, and shortly after, a person’s voice yells out “get the [expletive] out,” the criticism says.
Police stated McGriff was inside for about 5 hours, in response to detectives, earlier than a digicam captured him leaving with two baggage. Police imagine he set the hearth to attempt to cowl up the killings. One had been set within the basement, the place Frank Olton was discovered tied to a pole with deadly stab wounds to his neck and chest.
The opposite was set in the lounge, the place Maureen Olton was lifeless with a fractured larynx, soot in her lung and extreme burns to her physique, prosecutors say. The couple had lived within the house for many years.
Sources stated McGriff had been recognized to detectives, however is believed to have been a stranger to the couple.
“As alleged, in a brazen act of violence, the defendant forced himself into a Bellerose home, stabbed one of the elderly homeowners to death and then deliberately set the house on fire,” Queens District Legal professional Melinda Katz stated in a press release “This is a horrific double murder that has shocked our entire city. Frank and Maureen Olton were simply spending a Monday morning at home and their deaths have shattered the sense of safety and security in New York.”
Police stated McGriff was out on parole after spending 16 years behind bars for first-degree theft and has a prolonged legal historical past relationship again 30 years that features a number of robberies.
The NYPD added that he did not register as a intercourse offender in Nov. 2024 and was wished for 2 latest robberies in Manhattan. McGriff allegedly robbed a Recreation Cease retailer in July after which tried to rob a Verizon retailer close to Union Sq. on Aug. 31 till an worker realized McGiff had a faux gun and fought him off.
