Journalism of Courage
A New York City man accused of brutally killing an elderly couple before setting their home ablaze in a shocking Queens home invasion also tried to drain their bank accounts and later went on a shopping spree with their credit cards, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Jamel McGriff, 42, a Bronx resident and convicted robber on parole, pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, and arson, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, as per Associated Press. He is accused of killing Frank Olton, 76, and his wife, Maureen Olton, 77, on September 8.
Prosecutors said McGriff had been going door to door asking to charge his phone when Frank Olton offered to help. Once inside, McGriff allegedly forced his way in and remained in the couple’s home for nearly five hours.
Firefighters responding to the blaze found Frank Olton tied to a pole in the basement with multiple stab wounds to his neck and chest. Maureen Olton’s burned body was discovered in the living room; she appeared to have been tied to a chair and strangled, prosecutors said.
Investigators allege McGriff set the house on fire to destroy evidence. Before fleeing, he attempted to transfer over $10,000 from the couple’s accounts to his own and later used their credit cards to spend nearly $800 at a Macy’s in midtown Manhattan, according to court filings, the AP report added.
McGriff was arrested the following day after being spotted at a Times Square movie theatre. The convicted felon had recently been released after serving 16 years in prison for robbery and was on parole at the time of the killings.
He is being held without bail and faces life in prison without parole if convicted. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 12.
The Legal Aid Society, which is representing McGriff, said it is still investigating and urged the public “not to draw any conclusions until all the facts are known.”
