A man suspected of torturing and killing an elderly couple in their Queens home earlier this week has been captured.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest of Jamel McGriff, 42, on Wednesday, saying “eagle-eyed cops” spotted him in Midtown Manhattan and took him into custody.
UPDATE: Jamel McGriff was taken into custody a short time ago by the NYPD.
He was spotted in Midtown Manhattan by eagle-eyed cops who didn’t hesitate before jumping into action.
Thank you to the best detectives and the best cops in the world for their work tracking and… https://t.co/dS7F8iBRIp
— Jessica S. Tisch (@NYPDPC) September 10, 2025
McGriff was wanted for the deaths of Mauteen Olton, 78, and Frank Thomas Olton, 76, who were found dead after a fire at their home on Monday, as CrimeOnline reported. Frank Olton was found tied to a pole in the home’s basement with a bungee cord and wire. He had multiple stab wounds.
His wife was found on the floor inside the home, badly burned.
Tisch said earlier that McGriff’s criminal history dates back 30 years. He was convicted on a robbery charge in 2006 and spent 16 years in prison and was also wanted for two more robberies in Manhattan and violating his parole conditions.
In November, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, he failed to register as a sex offender.
“He had been checking in regularly and his parole officer, actually, did a great job for us not on one, but two occasions because he also did the identification for us for the robbery that took place in the confines of the 13th Precinct, which was the Verizon store,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.
Witnesses said McGriff knocked on several doors on Monday asking if he could charge his phone.
Other security footage showed Frank Olton letting McGriff into his back yard, and then they were both seen entering the back door.
About five hours later, other footage showed McGriff walking down the street wearing a black hat, black jacket, jeans, and black shoes while carrying a backpack and a paper bag.
On Tuesday, he was seen on camera in the Bronx, pawning two cell phones.
Police said there was no known connection between the Oltons and McGriff, but sources told The New York Post that he used the Oltons’ credit cards at Macy’s and the Regal Cinema in Times Square on Wednesday.
Charges against the suspect are pending.
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[Featured image: Jamel McGriff/New York Police Department]
