Story by Ethan
On October 14th, 2025, the arrest of Jamel McGriff, age 42, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Jamel McGriff was charged with 13 counts of first-degree Murder, two counts of first-degree Kidnapping, three counts of first-degree Burglary, two counts of second-degree Murder, two counts of second-degree Arson, two counts of second-degree Burglary, second-degree Identity Theft, three counts of third-degree Identity Theft, three counts of third-degree Unlawful Possession of Personal Information, six counts of third-degree Attempted Identity Theft, third-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of fourth-degree Grand Larceny, two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, and three counts of fifth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. The arrest and charges against Jamel McGriff were a result of an investigation handled by the New York Police Department.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 10 a.m. on September 8th, 2025, Jamel McGriff allegedly broke his way into the victim’s home on 254th Street. Allegedly he was seen leaving the house carrying a duffel bag at approximately 3:08 p.m., shortly after the victims’ son was notified of a fire at the 254th Street residence. Responding firefighters located both victims, identified as Maureen Olton (77) and Frank Olton (76), deceased in the residence. Frank Olton was found in the residence’s basement where he was tied to a pole and repeatedly stabbed in the neck and chest. Maureen Olton was located in the living room having suffered from burns, soot in her trachea and one of her lungs, and a fractured larynx.
Later that day at approximately 6 p.m. allegedly Jamel McGriff used Frank Olton’s credit card to make two purchases totaling $796.10 at the Macy’s location in Herald Square. On September 9th at approximately 7:45 a.m., allegedly Jamel McGriff had used a machine that gives back cash for mobile devices in order to dispose of Maureen Olton’s and Frank Olton’s cell phones. Jamel McGriff had used his own personal information during this transaction. The defendant was stopped in downtown Manhattan at approximately 5:30 p.m. on September 10th, shortly being taken into custody by the New York Police Department.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Jamel McGriff are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
