Tragic Murder of Queens Couple
New images have emerged showing Frank and Maureen Olton, a couple from Queens, who were brutally attacked in their home. Police report that the 76- and 77-year-old victims were tied up, stabbed, and then set on fire after a suspect claimed he needed to charge his phone.
The couple was simply enjoying their Monday morning at home when the horrific event occurred, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Jamel McGriff, 42, a man with a lengthy criminal history, has been charged with 14 counts of murder along with numerous other charges such as robbery and arson, as detailed by the District Attorney’s office.
“During this act of violence, the defendant was in the Olton home, where he fatally stabbed one of the elderly residents and then set the home ablaze,” Katz mentioned in her statement.
The couple’s tragic deaths have sent shockwaves throughout the community. “This is a devastating double murder that has affected our whole city. Frank and Maureen Olton were at home, and their loss has deeply impacted the sense of safety in New York,” Katz continued.
Surveillance footage revealed that McGriff initially approached another home around 10 a.m. with a similar pretext but was turned away. He then made his way to the Oltons’ house, where initial interactions occurred, leading to a confrontation inside.
The situation escalated, resulting in the couple being tied up and severely harmed. Their son, an EMT with FDNY, received an alert about a fire at his parents’ home and quickly called for help. When firefighters arrived, they found Maureen with significant burns and Frank in the basement, bound and suffering from multiple stab wounds.
In an alleged attempt to cover his tracks, McGriff reportedly used Frank’s credit card afterward at a local store, racking up a charge of over $796. He was also said to have sold the couple’s phone while using his identification.
McGriff was apprehended by NYPD in Manhattan later that week. He is known to have a troubling history, including armed robbery incidents just weeks prior to this tragedy.
