Authorities have arrested a man they say killed an elderly couple in Queens and set their home on fire, said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The manhunt for Jamel McGriff, 42, ended on Wednesday afternoon as he was taken into custody by police officers in Midtown Manhattan, Tisch said in a post on X. He is expected to be charged in connection with the double homicide.
McGriff, who has an extensive criminal history dating back 30 years, tricked his way into the victims’ home on Monday by claiming his cell phone had died and he needed to go inside to charge it, Tisch said.
The double murder comes as the Trump administration seeks to target major Democratic-led cities over what it describes as an increase in violent crime.
Police were able to track McGriff using their domain awareness system and followed his usage of the victims’ credit cards, two law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told CNN.
McGriff allegedly tried the ruse at a nearby house first but was turned away, Tisch said.
“Video shows the suspect interacting with the male victim, and it appears the suspect was allowed into the backyard,” Tisch said.
The man was next seen about five hours later leaving the house, Tisch said.
Firefighters and police raced to the scene after being called by the elderly couple’s son, an off-duty New York City Fire Department paramedic, Tisch said.
Once the fire was extinguished, investigators found the victims, Frank Olton, 76, and his wife, Maureen Olton, 77, according to Tisch. A previous NYPD news release misstated the victims’ ages.
“Mr. Olton was found in the basement, tied to a pole with multiple stab wounds. Mrs. Olton was found on the first floor, severely burned,” Tisch said, adding that there was no connection between the suspect and the victims.
