Man charged with murder of former girlfriend

By DANIEL KITTREDGE
Posted 3/19/19

By DANIEL KITTREDGE The son of a late mob figure has been charged with domestic first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Cranston woman. Michael T. Marrapese, 40, is accused of killing 29-year-old Lauren Ise, Cranston Police announced March

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Man charged with murder of former girlfriend

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The son of a late mob figure has been charged with domestic first-degree murder in connection with the death of a Cranston woman.

Michael T. Marrapese, 40, is accused of killing 29-year-old Lauren Ise, Cranston Police announced March 13. He was held overnight at the Adult Correctional Institutions and arraigned in Third Division District Court on the morning of March 14, where he entered no plea and was ordered held without bail.

According to a statement, Providence Police received information on the morning of March 13 that Ise had been killed by Marrapese, who is described as her estranged boyfriend. The Providence department contacted Cranston Police, who conducted a well-being check at the 245 Bay Ave. apartment in Cranston’s Edgewood section that Ise and Marrapese had shared. Officers found Ise dead at the scene, and Major Todd Patalano said there were “immediate signs of foul play.”

“Based on the information provided by the Providence Police Department and the observations of responding officers, a homicide investigation was initiated,” the statement reads.

Marrapese was further identified as a suspect through interviews with witnesses, the statement reads, and he was spotted shortly thereafter walking on Cranston Street in Providence. He was then taken into police custody.

“The investigation is continuing, including the execution of search warrants in the cities of Cranston and Providence, as well as the processing of evidence,” the statement reads.

Cranston Police say they were “familiar with the suspect and victim” due to prior calls for service to the Bay View Avenue address, including domestic disturbances involving Marrapese and Ise.

“The victim did not have a protective order in effect against Marrapese at the time of her death but recently reported feeling threatened by Mr. Marrapese after he moved out of the residence,” the statement reads.

Col. Michael Winquist, chief of the Cranston Police Department, said the case “appears to be another instance of a volatile domestic relationship that escalated and resulted in the loss of human life.”

“Individuals involved in abusive relationships often feel helpless or fearful of reporting these incidents to anyone and seeking a protection order,” the chief said. “I hope that these victims recognize help is available, to include temporary shelter and other resources. It is critical that victims contact law enforcement, a domestic violence advocate, family member or friend.”

He continued, “The Cranston Police Department, as well as all police departments across the state, are fortunate to have law enforcement-domestic advocates provided by the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center. They are assigned to review all domestic-related incidents and arrests and follow-up with the victims to inform them of the many resources available, as well as guide them the process.”

The chief urged victims of domestic violence to contact the Elizabeth Buffum Chace hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-494-8100.

Cranston Police arrest records show Michael Marrapese was arrested at the Bay View Avenue address on Feb. 16 on a charge of disorderly conduct. Online court records indicate he pleaded no contest to the charge on March 4 and received a six-month suspended sentence with six months of probation.

Michael Marrapese subsequently took out a restraining order against Ise, police said.

Also on Feb. 16, Michael Marrapese’s brother, 39-year-old Steven A. Marrapese, was arrested on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct at the Bay View Avenue address. Steven Marrapese is alleged to have held a knife to Ise’s throat during that incident. The case is still pending.

The Cranston department’s arrest logs show Steven Marrapese was again arrested March 13 on charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct following a disturbance at police headquarters. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment March 14 and was released on $1,000 bond with surety.

Past arrest logs and online court records indicate Michael Marrapese has faced other charges in Cranston and other municipalities on multiple occasions during the last several years.

Michael Marrapese is the son of the late Frank “Bobo” Marrapese Jr., who was a capo under New England crime boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca. “Bobo” Marrapese died in 2017 at age 74 while serving a sentence at the Adult Correctional Institutions for his role in an illegal gambling ring. The elder Marrapese was convicted of numerous crimes over the years, including murder.

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