Introduction to the Case
The family of a senior couple from Queens murdered in cold blood last month wept profusely in court on Tuesday as prosecutors detailed the horrific way their alleged killer took their loved ones’ lives.
Assistant District Attorney John Esposito unraveled a massive 50-count indictment to Judge Kenneth Holder on Oct. 14. Accused murderer Jamel McGriff, 42, stood in silence with his hands handcuffed behind his back after pleading not guilty alongside his attorney Michelle Benoit.
McGriff was cuffed for allegedly killing a married couple, 76-year-old Frank Olton and 77-year-old Maureen Olton, on Sept. 8 in a double murder police believe to have been motivated by greed — although prosecutors alleged that the victims could have been anyone who was ill-fated enough to cross the suspect’s path that day.
Background of the Murder
Although McGriff refuted charges that included 13 counts of murder, which could land him in prison for life without the possibility of parole, Esposito said he had already confessed to police last month on camera.
“I’ll admit it, I killed them. I don’t give a fuck. I killed them. I burnt those ni**as. Don’t matter to me,” McGriff allegedly told cops when he was arrested in Times Square on Sept. 10.
Queens Murder Suspect Acted with Murderous Greed: DA
According to court documents, McGriff was seen on surveillance video stalking the Bellerose neighborhood on Sept. 8 and first tried his luck at another residence, telling the homeowner that he was lost and needed a phone charger, but was ultimately turned away.
Then, at just before 10 a.m. that morning, McGriff came upon Frank Olton.
Accused murderer Jamel McGriff, 42, stood in silence with his hands handcuffed behind his back after pleading not guilty alongside his attorney Michelle Benoit.
“Sensing an opportunity, [he] stopped and engaged Mr. Olton in a conversation, apparently attempting the same ruse he had just tried around the corner,” Esposito explained. “Mr. Olton allows the defendant into his yard, where they have a conversation and where the defendant remains for several minutes. Mr. Olton appears to offer him assistance. Ultimately, when Mr. Olton tries to re-enter his home, the defendant follows and forcibly pushes his way inside of the residence, and Mr. Olton can be heard yelling back again, ‘Get the f*ck out.’”
McGriff was inside the home for about five hours, during which time prosecutors say that he split up the seniors.
“The level of violence and depravity that this defendant perpetrated against the Oltons during those five hours will shock your conscience,” ADA Esposito added.
McGriff allegedly tied Frank Olton to a pole in the basement before stabbing him over and over in the neck and chest. The killer then attempted to conceal the crime by burning the body, but the flames smoldered out.
He then made his way upstairs to the living room, where he had tied Maureen Olton to a chair and strangled her to death. He then set her ablaze, and the fire quickly spread.
Reaction from the District Attorney
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that, despite serving as the borough’s top prosecutor for over half a decade, this case is among the worst she has ever overseen.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that, despite serving as DA for over half a decade, this case is among the worst she has ever overseen.
“I’ve been doing this now six years — this is an extremely gruesome case, it’s one of the worst that we’ve had. I will say that every time there is a murder, there’s a family that suffers. But to have two people in the house like this and all the evidence that we have pointing to this defendant being the perpetrator, it was amazing,” Katz said.
Stole Their Cards, Used His Macy’s Points
Some of the evidence included audio recordings of phone calls that McGriff allegedly made to the Oltons’ bank during the five hours he spent in their home. Prosecutors allege that he called the banks while posing as Frank Olton in an effort to have their funds transferred to his Cash App account. The scheme ultimately failed because he was unable to answer the security questions.
Later, prosecutors noted, he traveled to Macy’s in Manhattan and was spotted on camera purchasing $500 in clothing with the Oltons’ credit cards. However, he left his real name to take advantage of Macy’s customer rewards program.
The next morning, Sept. 9, prosecutors said McGriff was allegedly photographed in the Bronx cashing in the victims’ cellphones for a cash payment at a recycling machine. His movements were later traced to Times Square, where he allegedly used the stolen credit cards to buy a movie ticket and snacks at a theater.
Finally, police picked McGriff up at 5:40 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the corner of West 44th Street and 7th Avenue. He was found in possession of two stolen credit cards from the Oltons and a signed baseball that had been removed from the basement of their home.
The victims’ family and friends, who arrived at court wearing photos of the Oltons pinned to their shirts, broke down in soft sobs as prosecutors broke down the murders; they were too emotional to speak on their reactions to the case.
“The fact that they are showing up for the court hearings shows an enormous interest in what happens here today, but I can only talk for most families that I know they’d be devastated by this news to hear in a courtroom, in the way that their parents died, to hear in a courtroom all of the things that happened that we can talk about would devastate any family,” DA Katz said.
Conclusion
McGriff, who hails from the Bronx, also has a lengthy criminal history, having been previously convicted of 11 crimes, four of which were felonies. In 2006, he was sentenced to 29 years behind bars for a robbery, assault, and criminal sex act. He was paroled in 2023 and still on parole when arrested for the murders.
McGriff’s charges include two counts of murder in the second degree, two counts of kidnapping in the first degree, two counts of kidnapping in the second degree, three counts of burglary in the first degree, two counts of arson in the second degree, three counts of robbery in the first degree, two counts of burglary in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree, three counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, identity theft in the second degree, three counts of identity theft in the third degree, three counts of unlawful possession of personal information in the third degree and six counts of attempted identity theft in the third degree.
Judge Kenneth Holder ordered McGriff held without bail. He is next expected to appear in court on Nov. 12.
FAQs
Q: Who are the victims of the murder?
A: The victims are 76-year-old Frank Olton and 77-year-old Maureen Olton, a married couple from Queens.
Q: What is the suspected motive behind the murder?
A: The suspected motive is greed, although prosecutors alleged that the victims could have been anyone who was ill-fated enough to cross the suspect’s path that day.
Q: What are the charges against Jamel McGriff?
A: McGriff is charged with 13 counts of murder, which could land him in prison for life without the possibility of parole, as well as other charges including kidnapping, burglary, arson, robbery, and identity theft.
Q: What is the next step in the case?
A: McGriff is next expected to appear in court on Nov. 12.
Q: What is the reaction of the District Attorney to the case?
A: Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that this case is among the worst she has ever overseen, describing it as an extremely gruesome case.
