A heartbreaking situation unfolded when Jamel McGriff, a 42-year-old convicted sex offender, was linked to the tragic murders of an elderly couple in Queens. Officials reported that he had not registered his address as required, which is a violation of his parole.
McGriff had been out of prison for over a year, and even after the NYPD notified the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in 2024 about his failure to comply with registration requirements, he remained free. Instead of facing immediate consequences for this violation, he continued to live at home until his arrest for the shocking killings of Frank and Maureen Orton.
Currently, McGriff is also facing allegations of violations related to his sexual offender status, yet he was released ahead of trial because the felony charges do not qualify for bail under the current criminal justice reforms in the state.
Back in the summer, he was a suspect in two other incidents. However, the state prison agency only recently addressed the parole violations linked to one of those cases.
A notice regarding McGriff’s arrest was sent to the Department of Corrections in November 2024, relating to the registration violations that occurred in July.
Interestingly, it seems that despite the serious allegations, officials concluded that he wasn’t blatantly violating his parole conditions. According to statements from the department, McGriff was compliant with existing orders and had not changed his address without informing the parole office.
Though he pleaded not guilty to the felony charges of violating sex offender rules, his legal situation remains unresolved in the Bronx Criminal Court.
Law enforcement sources revealed that he was released due to the nature of the charges being ineligible for bail.
On the day of the murders, witnesses noted that McGriff was seen in the Orton neighborhood asking to charge his phone. He convinced Frank Orton, who was 77, to allow him into the backyard, which led to the incident captured on surveillance footage.
A fire at a residence, allegedly set by McGriff, was reported five hours later. Frank Orton was found with multiple stab wounds, bound to a pole in the basement, while Maureen Orton was discovered lifeless on the ground floor.
After the horrific crime, McGriff managed to evade capture for two days, even using the victims’ credit card for transactions, including a movie outing in Manhattan, before his eventual capture in the borough.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish emphasized in a press conference that McGriff should have faced stricter penalties for his failure to adhere to sex offender regulations after serving 16 years for robbery and sexual conduct offenses.
As of Wednesday, the Department of Corrections has reportedly gathered sufficient evidence from the NYPD to take action against McGriff regarding another recent case.
