A Queens man facing serious charges is scheduled for arraignment today. According to ABC7 New York, 42-year-old Jamel McGriff is accused of breaking into the home of an elderly couple, Frank and Maureen Olton, ages 76 and 77, then committing acts of torture and ultimately killing them before setting their residence ablaze.
McGriff was apprehended in Times Square following the incident and faces multiple serious charges, including first-degree murder, robbery, burglary, grand larceny, kidnapping resulting in death, arson, and several others. While it was initially believed that Frank Olton had willingly let McGriff into his home, further investigation and surveillance footage revealed that McGriff was reportedly wandering the neighborhood seeking to charge his cell phone. After the homeowner told him to wait at the gate, McGriff allegedly forced his way into the house, says a Yahoo News report.
The surveillance footage also included an audio segment in which detectives believe Olton can be heard telling McGriff to leave. McGriff has a lengthy and serious criminal history spanning 30 years, including a 16-year prison sentence for armed robbery. He was released in 2023 and is a registered level 3 sex offender. He is also currently wanted in connection with two additional armed robberies that occurred over the summer.
If convicted of the charges related to the Oltons’ murder, McGriff could face multiple consecutive life sentences. He has a lengthy criminal record. The family of the deceased has released a photograph of the couple and is requesting privacy at this time.
