Serial Robbery Suspect Charged with Murder of Elderly Couple

A 42-year-old Bronx resident, Jamel McGriff, has been charged with multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, and arson in connection with the September 8 killings of Frank Olton, 76, and Maureen Olton, 77, in their home in Queens, New York. Prosecutors allege that McGriff, a serial robbery suspect on parole, had been going door-to-door asking residents to charge his cellphone before forcing his way into the Oltons' home, where he remained for nearly five hours. During this time, McGriff allegedly killed the couple, set the house on fire, and attempted to drain their bank accounts and use their credit cards to go on a shopping spree.

Key Takeaways:

Jamel McGriff, a 42-year-old Bronx resident, has been charged with multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, and arson in connection with the September 8 killings of Frank Olton, 76, and Maureen Olton, 77.
Prosecutors allege that McGriff was going door-to-door asking residents to charge his cellphone before forcing his way into the Oltons' home, where he remained for nearly five hours.
McGriff allegedly killed the couple using a credit card to make nearly $800 in purchases at a Macy's store in midtown Manhattan, just hours after the killings.
McGriff was caught the following day after going to a movie in Times Square, prosecutors said.
The convicted felon, who was on parole after serving 16 years in prison, was ordered held until his next court date on November 12.
If convicted, McGriff faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Legal Aid Society, which is representing McGriff, has released a statement urging the public not to draw conclusions until all the facts are known.
McGriff was previously cut off from using credit cards due to his parole and was known to aggressively ask for help to charge his phone.

Statistics:

McGriff spent nearly $800 on clothes at a Macy's store in midtown Manhattan using the Oltons' credit card.
He attempted to transfer more than $10,000 from the couple's accounts to his own.
The couple was found dead on September 8, with Frank Olton's body discovered in the basement and Maureen Olton's body found in the living room.
McGriff was captured on September 9, the day after the killings.
McGriff was released from prison in 2019 after serving 16 years.

Sources:

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz's office
The Daily News