Jamel McGriff, 42, has been arrested and charged in Queens following the brutal killing of an elderly couple, Frank and Maureen Olton. McGriff allegedly broke in under false pretenses, tortured the couple, murdered them, and then lit their home on fire.
Prosecutors say:
- Frank Olton, 76, was found in the basement, tied to a pole and stabbed multiple times, then set ablaze.
- Maureen Olton, 77 and wheelchair-bound, was immolated while still alive; she suffered severe burns and has compromised airway passages.
McGriff is accused of using the couple’s credit cards to make purchases and of trying to pawn their phones. He was located in Times Square after detectives tracked his movements and transactions.
He faces a slate of charges including murder, arson, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, and identity theft. He is being held without bail.