NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Police arrested Jamel McGriff, the suspected killer behind the grisly murder of a couple in their 70s who were stabbed and set on fire in their Queens home on Monday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Wednesday.
McGriff, 42, is accused of killing of 76-year-old Frank Olton and 77-year-old woman Maureen Olton. The couple was loved by neighbors on their quiet street in Bellerose.
"He was spotted in Midtown Manhattan by eagle-eyed cops who didn’t hesitate before jumping into action," Tisch said while announced the arrest on social media. "Thank you to the best detectives and the best cops in the world for their work tracking and apprehending this violent criminal."
McGriff, of the Bronx, was described by police during a Tuesday press conference as having a lengthy criminal record. He was released on parole two years ago after serving 16 years for a 2006 robbery.
According to police, Frank was repeatedly stabbed and Maureen was set on fire during Monday's murder. His body was found tied to a basement pole, while his wife's body was found burned on the first floor.
According to police, McGriff exited the couple's corner home at 87-86 254th St. around 3:20 p.m.
Detectives are still investigating exactly what happened inside the home, but reports emerged of the grisly discoveries made during the investigation.
The medical examiner is working to determine their exact causes of death. The FDNY fire marshal meanwhile determined the cause of the fire to be an incendiary.
According to police, one neighbor recalled a man knocking on the door and asking to charge his cellphone. Minutes after that encounter, surveillance video captured the male victim and the suspect walking inside the home around 10:15 a.m. The suspect left about five hours later.
Frank and Maureen's son is an FDNY EMT, who was notified of the fire at his parents house through the AFT security system, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. He alerted fire officials and responded to the scene.
As the NYPD arson and explosion squad investigated, shocked neighbors watched in disbelief. The couple had lived at the home for decades.
“He was always the cool neighbor across the street, nice guy,” neighbor John Ruiz said. “He would wave to you whenever you’d be walking by. You know, he’d talk to you about the Yankees and how they’re doing.”
“I just saw them this past week,” Ruiz recalled. “Just coming home to this. On a normal Monday, I’d be parking right across the street from his house. He’d be parking and coming back from the grocery store. And we’d salute each other. ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ And it’d be Yankee talk.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
