New York City is reeling after a horrific double homicide, robbery, and arson that claimed the lives of a beloved Queens couple in their 70s on Monday. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the crime as “one of the most disturbing cases we’ve seen in recent memory,” underscoring both the brutality of the attack and the urgent manhunt now underway for the suspect.

The victims, identified as Frank Olton, 76, and Maureen Olton, 77, were longtime residents of the city’s Bellerose neighborhood. Their bodies were discovered after firefighters responded to a blaze at their home on Monday afternoon. Frank was found in the basement, tied to a pole and stabbed multiple times, while Maureen was discovered on the first floor, her body severely burned in the fire that tore through the house. A fire marshal has since ruled that the blaze was intentionally set.

The crime unfolded with chilling calculation. According to police, the suspect — identified as 42-year-old Jamel McGriff — was captured on surveillance video going door-to-door in the neighborhood, asking homeowners if he could come inside to charge his cellphone. At least one resident turned him away. Around 10:18 a.m., McGriff was seen speaking with Frank Olton outside the couple’s home. Moments later, he was allowed into the backyard and eventually entered the residence through a rear door alongside Frank.

Disturbingly, video shows McGriff remained inside the house for nearly five hours. At approximately 3:08 p.m., he was recorded leaving the scene carrying both a paper bag and a duffel bag. He was dressed in a black hat, black jacket, black sneakers, and dark blue jeans. About 20 minutes later, the couple’s son — a Fire Department EMT — received an alert from the home’s alarm monitoring service and dialed 911.

When firefighters extinguished the flames, they uncovered the devastating truth: the Oltons had been the victims of a violent home invasion, robbery, and arson. Their causes of death are still under investigation by the medical examiner, but police say the level of violence and destruction reflects a crime of shocking savagery.

Commissioner Tisch said there is no known connection between McGriff and the Oltons beyond this apparent chance encounter, making the crime even more unsettling for the community. “This was a random act of brutality carried out against two innocent people in their own home,” she said at a Tuesday news conference.

McGriff, described as “armed and dangerous,” has a long, violent criminal record dating back decades. He was previously convicted in a 2006 robbery and spent 16 years in prison before being released on parole. Police say he has also been linked to two recent robberies: one at a Harlem GameStop in July and another at a Verizon store in Manhattan, where the clerk fought him off after realizing he carried a fake gun. In addition, McGriff failed last year to register as a sex offender, a violation that should have triggered parole consequences.

On Tuesday morning, McGriff was spotted on video pawning two cellphones in the Bronx, leading police to believe he may still be in the New York City area. His parole officer identified him from surveillance images taken near the Oltons’ home, further solidifying him as the prime suspect.

The NYPD, working with a regional fugitive task force that includes local, state, and federal officers, has launched an all-out effort to track him down. “We are doing everything possible to bring this dangerous individual into custody,” Tisch said.

Police have issued a warning to the public, urging vigilance. “The suspect’s modus operandi is to go door-to-door asking for some kind of assistance until he can gain entrance,” Tisch said. “Do not allow someone you don’t know — or someone you’re not expecting — into your home.”

The Bellerose neighborhood, known for its quiet streets and tight-knit community, is now grappling with grief and fear in the aftermath of the crime. Friends and neighbors of the Oltons described them as kind, generous, and deeply rooted in the community they had called home for decades.

As the investigation intensifies, the couple’s tragic deaths serve as both a painful reminder of the randomness of violence and a rallying cry for justice. For now, the city waits anxiously for word that McGriff has been apprehended and that the Olton family can take the first steps toward healing.