Victim Frank Olton, Maureen Olton; Police: 76-year-old man stabbed, 77-year-old wife burned in NYC double homicide.
Victim Frank Olton, Maureen Olton – New York City police are actively searching for the man accused of brutally killing an elderly couple inside their Queens home before setting the residence on fire in what officials have described as a “horrific double homicide.”
Authorities identified the victims as 76-year-old Frank Olton and his wife, 77-year-old Maureen Olton. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Frank was discovered in the basement tied to a pole and suffering from numerous stab wounds, while Maureen was located on the first floor of the home with severe burns.
The suspect has been named as 42-year-old Jamel McGriff, a man with an extensive criminal background. Police said there is no known relationship between him and the victims.
Investigators believe the chain of events began on Monday morning, when McGriff was seen knocking on a neighbor’s door asking to charge his phone. The neighbor declined to let him in. Surveillance video later captured McGriff approaching the Oltons’ residence, where Frank reportedly allowed him inside.
Detectives suspect that McGriff remained inside the couple’s home for nearly five hours, possibly searching for valuables to steal. Before leaving, he allegedly set the house on fire. Footage shows him exiting the property around 3 p.m., shortly before the blaze was reported.
Tragically, it was the couple’s son—a New York City Fire Department paramedic—who first responded to the fire after being alerted by the home’s alarm system. He rushed to the house only to learn that his parents had been killed.
Commissioner Tisch condemned the incident, calling it an act of “robbery, arson, and a horrific double homicide.” She urged the public to remain vigilant and to assist in locating McGriff, who should be considered armed and dangerous.
McGriff’s criminal record paints a troubling picture. Tisch revealed that he has a violent history dating back three decades and is currently on parole for first-degree robbery. Additionally, he failed to register as a sex offender in November 2024, which should have triggered a parole violation. He is also wanted in connection with two robberies in Manhattan earlier this summer.
Tisch warned that McGriff uses a consistent method to gain access to homes. “This suspect’s MO is to go door-to-door asking for assistance—something as simple as charging a phone—until he finds someone who lets him in. Do not allow entry to strangers or individuals you are not expecting,” she stressed.
The NYPD is now deploying significant resources to track down McGriff, urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. Authorities are also working with parole officers and other agencies to determine how he remained free despite his violations.
For the Queens community, the brutal killings of Frank and Maureen Olton have left neighbors shaken and fearful. The couple, who lived quietly in their home, are remembered as kind and welcoming, making the senselessness of the attack even more devastating.
As the manhunt continues, officials remain focused on capturing McGriff and ensuring justice for the Oltons, whose deaths highlight the dangers posed by repeat violent offenders.
