Overview

• Police identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jamel McGriff and announced counts including first-degree murder, arson, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, identity theft and related offenses.
• Officers arrested McGriff on Wednesday evening near West 44th Street and Seventh Avenue in Times Square after a multi-day search.
• Authorities say he used a door-to-door ruse about charging a phone to approach the Oltons’ home, stayed inside for about five hours, and left shortly before a fire the FDNY determined was intentionally set.
• Frank Olton, 76, was found bound and stabbed in the basement and Maureen Olton, 77, was discovered severely burned on the first floor, with surveillance audio suggesting the suspect forced his way in.
• Officials describe McGriff as a career offender on parole with a decades-long record and prior sex-offender registration issues, and he remains in custody awaiting arraignment as investigative and medical reviews continue.