NYC - Body found tied up in basement after elderly couple killed in fire - 9 Sept 2025

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965416593065681009

"A couple has been found dead after a suspicious fire ripped through their home.

An unidentified man, 77, was found tied to a pole in the basement of his home on Monday
while his wife, 78, was also discovered dead elsewhere in the house.

A manhunt has been launched for the male suspect,
who is believed to have entered the home on 87-86 254th Street in Bellerose, Queens, on Monday afternoon and set it on fire.

Police said the man is between 30 and 40 years old,
is of medium build,
and was last seen wearing a black hat, jacket, and sneakers, and blue jeans.

Authorities are investigating the fire as a homicide and the blaze has been ruled suspicious.

It is unclear if the man knew the couple or what his potential motive was."

 

[Clearsky]

Neighbors Say Elderly Couple Let a Mysterious Man Inside. Then They Were Found Dead in Burning Home, with One Tied Up

The couple's son reportedly found his parents dead inside their house after concerned neighbors called him to check on them

people.com

Police in New York City are searching for a man they say killed an elderly couple inside their home before lighting the building on fire Monday afternoon.

 

[peecee7896]

Paramedic son responds to Queens home where parents were set on fire: sources.

In Bellerose, Queens, a tragic house fire on Monday claimed the lives of a retired couple. The fire, which broke out at their home on 254th Street around 3:20 PM, revealed horrifying details: the 77-year-old father was found tied to a pole in the basement, while his 78-year-old wife, a former teacher, was burned beyond recognition. Sources indicated that the suspect had entered the home late in the morning and remained inside until shortly before firefighters arrived, likely terrorizing the couple for hours. Their son, a paramedic with the FDNY, discovered their bodies while on duty. Authorities are searching for a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s, last seen on camera walking past the home wearing a black hat, black jacket, blue jeans, and black sneakers. The NYPD continues to investigate and is urging anyone with information to come forward.

 

[the-professor]

Manhunt continues for man wanted for torturing and killing 2 people in Queens

The search for 42-year-old Jamel McGriff continues as police say he tortured an elderly Queens couple before setting their home on fire on Monday.

Police say he was last seen on video earlier in the day pawning two cellphones in the Bronx.

McGriff should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

Suspect:

 

[Eli9]

Absolutely horrific. This couple, they were in their late 70's, and agreed to help this guy by letting him charge his cellphone. I feel so terrible for their paramedic son who found his mom and dad in this manner.

I don't know if it would have made any difference but I wonder why the parole officer assigned to this career criminal didn't intervene when this loser didn't register as a level 3 smex offender as required.

 

[the-professor]

Absolutely horrific. This couple, they were in their late 70's, and agreed to help this guy by letting him charge his cellphone. I feel so terrible for their paramedic son who found his mom and dad in this manner.

I don't know if it would have made any difference but I wonder why the parole officer assigned to this career criminal didn't intervene when this loser didn't register as a level 3 smex offender as required.

It's a sad reminder to always keep your guard up. You never know when you'll encounter a career criminal. Like you, I feel terrible for the son who's going through this.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965811735488578003

"A manhunt has been launched for a man
who allegedly broke into an elderly couple's home,
killed them and set their house on fire,
according to police.

Jamel McGriff, 42,
knocked on the door of a Queen's home on Monday,
asking if he could come inside to charge his phone,
officials said.

When the homeowners rebuffed him,
McGriff moved on to the next house,
where the owners invited him in
before he unleashed five hours of hell on them
and set the house on fire,
per court documents.

McGriff, who has a lengthy criminal record dating back 30,
remained on the run as of Wednesday.

He had been out on parole after serving over 16 years for a 2006 first-degree robbery,
officials said."

 

[Inthedetails]

Suspect caught today:

The man allegedly responsible for brutally murdering a senior couple in Queens and setting them ablaze on Monday has been arrested, the city’s top cop said Wednesday evening.

NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, in announcing the arrest, said the suspect — identified as Jamel McGriff — had been apprehended in Midtown Manhattan after being spotted by officers in the area.

BREAKING: Prime suspect in heinous Queens murder of senior couple caught in Midtown, cops say | amNewYork

The man allegedly responsible for brutally murdering a senior couple in Queens and setting them ablaze on Monday has been arrested, the city's top cop said

www.amny.com

 

[Inthedetails]

Authorities said detectives were tracking McGriff’s credit card and were able to identify the new clothes he had purchased. That information was sent to officers’ mobile phones and police located him in the Times Square area, according to an NYPD official.

NYPD tracks suspect in Queens arson murder using credit card purchases

Police arrested Jamel McGriff in Midtown, days after an elderly couple was killed in a fire that investigators say was intentionally set.

gothamist.com

 

[Dotta]

Authorities said detectives were tracking McGriff’s credit card and were able to identify the new clothes he had purchased. That information was sent to officers’ mobile phones and police located him in the Times Square area, according to an NYPD official.

NYPD tracks suspect in Queens arson murder using credit card purchases

Police arrested Jamel McGriff in Midtown, days after an elderly couple was killed in a fire that investigators say was intentionally set.

gothamist.com

Honestly...
"out on parole"
and knocking at strangers' doors asking if he could charge his phone in their homes...



Really folks,
nothing, it seems, can surprise me any more.

SMH

JMO

 

[Warwick7]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965811735488578003

"A manhunt has been launched for a man
who allegedly broke into an elderly couple's home,
killed them and set their house on fire,
according to police.

Jamel McGriff, 42,
knocked on the door of a Queen's home on Monday,
asking if he could come inside to charge his phone,
officials said.

When the homeowners rebuffed him,
McGriff moved on to the next house,
where the owners invited him in
before he unleashed five hours of hell on them
and set the house on fire,
per court documents.

McGriff, who has a lengthy criminal record dating back 30,
remained on the run as of Wednesday.

He had been out on parole after serving over 16 years for a 2006 first-degree robbery,
officials said."



View attachment 613765

This makes me so angry

 

[the-professor]

Suspect:

 

[the-professor]

Suspect caught today:

The man allegedly responsible for brutally murdering a senior couple in Queens and setting them ablaze on Monday has been arrested, the city’s top cop said Wednesday evening.

NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, in announcing the arrest, said the suspect — identified as Jamel McGriff — had been apprehended in Midtown Manhattan after being spotted by officers in the area.

BREAKING: Prime suspect in heinous Queens murder of senior couple caught in Midtown, cops say | amNewYork

The man allegedly responsible for brutally murdering a senior couple in Queens and setting them ablaze on Monday has been arrested, the city's top cop said

www.amny.com

On Tuesday, Tisch noted that McGriff had been out on parole for a first-degree robbery conviction dating back to 2006.

“After serving more than 16 years on that conviction, he then failed to register as a sex offender in November of 2024, which should have violated his parole,” the commissioner added. “He is also wanted by the NYPD for two other recent robberies committed in Manhattan.”

Another career criminal commits a heinous act.

 

[squareandrabbet]

Honestly...
"out on parole"
and knocking at strangers' doors asking if he could charge his phone in their homes...



Really folks,
nothing, it seems, can surprise me any more.

SMH

JMO

Yeah, that was the couple's big mistake, ugh.

My new philosophy as a New Yorker; never do anything for anyone, lol!

 

[tara83]

Their poor son finding their bodies like that will never recover. I hope he has a lot of support.

 

[tlcya]

awe man my heart hurts for what these seniors suffered and for their family left behind to question - why? Why was their kindness repaid with torture and murder? Why was that man walking the streets in a position to do such a thing? Why their loved ones?

Just absolutely senseless. It seems to be the theme this week. Got a grudge against the world? Kill the first people you get an opportunity to. Don't agree with someone's opinion? Assasinate them. Got a grudge against a school or some students in it? Just go shoot em up.

Such a depressing state of affairs. Every day it's one disheartening story after the next. Seriously considering unplugging for while and taking a walk.

 

[Spectrix]

I just can't fathom the thinking process leading to a crime like this.

Hmmn, what should I do today? Perhaps I'll go down to the mall and buy myself a brand new outfit, then I'll see if I can find some Good Samaritans to torture and kill.
Probably best to choose a nice house with plenty of security cameras so I can be back in prison in time for my afternoon nap.

The poor son finding his parents this way

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966188225434726828

"Video from a neighbor's home
captured the moment Frank, 76,
let the stranger enter his backyard around 10.15am.

Several minutes later,
his wife, Maureen, 77, went to the backdoor to speak to her husband.
As she did so,
Frank tried to shut the door,
but McGriff swiftly snuck into the home.

A male voice believed to be Frank's was then heard yelling
'get the f*** out of here'
- but the alleged murderer ignored him and forced his way into their house anyway.

Once inside,
police said McGriff tied the pair up, stabbed them and then set them on fire."

 

[Tutter]

awe man my heart hurts for what these seniors suffered and for their family left behind to question - why? Why was their kindness repaid with torture and murder? Why was that man walking the streets in a position to do such a thing? Why their loved ones?

Just absolutely senseless. It seems to be the theme this week. Got a grudge against the world? Kill the first people you get an opportunity to. Don't agree with someone's opinion? Assasinate them. Got a grudge against a school or some students in it? Just go shoot em up.

Such a depressing state of affairs. Every day it's one disheartening story after the next. Seriously considering unplugging for while and taking a walk.

I know. I don’t want to be here anymore. It’s hopeless. Every day more evil but then I remember…

“And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

 

[Dotta]

I know. I don’t want to be here anymore. It’s hopeless. Every day more evil but then I remember…

“And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

IMO
It has always been like this.
Every generation idealizes times of their youth.
The most important thing is to be careful.
Be vigilant of one's surroundings.

There are crimes which hurt me the most:
- against children
- against old people
- against animals.

Meaning - against the vulnerable.

This murderer disgusts me.
Throw the book at him
&
Throw away the key!

He could lead a nice life, he seems young, fit and strong - what else is needed?
He could have found an honest job and earn money like other normal people.
Well, he chose to torture, murder and steal from the elderly.

I'm not sure a person can sink any lower.

JMO