CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — The son of a local mob figure has been arrested and charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Cranston.
Michael T. Marrapese, 40, son of the late Frank “Bobo” Marrapese, was arraigned at police headquarters Wednesday night on a charge of first-degree domestic murder in the death of Lauren Ise, 29. He’ll be held at the ACI overnight and a formal arraignment will be held Thursday at Third District Court.
Police said they found Ise dead Wednesday morning at the Bay View Avenue apartment previously shared by the estranged couple. They said they were acting on a tip from Providence police that Ise may have been killed.
After speaking to witnesses, police identified Marrapese as the suspect. A short time later, he was seen walking on Cranston Street in Providence and taken into custody, according to police.
Police were investigating throughout the day at the Bay View Avenue address. At one point, animal control officers were seen removing a small white dog from the building.
The Medical Examiner arrived on scene around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Cranston police said they’ve responded to the home on previous occasions for domestic disturbances involving Marrapese and Ise.
One neighbor said the home has seen a lot of police action recently.
“I moved here because it was quiet. But the past two months, that house, they’ve been over the house a lot,” Jim Pemberton recalled. “This is the fourth time that I know of, that I see.”
Michael Marrapese is no stranger to the law, with a lengthy criminal history that includes time spent at the ACI and an arrest on a disorderly conduct charge just last month.
Ise did not have a restraining order against Marrapese at the time of her death, according to police, but she recently reported feeling threatened by him after he moved out of the apartment.
Court documents obtained by Eyewitness News show Marrapese had filed a protective order against Ise earlier this month. In it, he accuses her of stalking or cyberstalking and claims she put him in fear of physical harm.
In the affidavit, he wrote, “I need this in place for the safety of both of us.”
“This homicide appears to be another instance of a volatile domestic relationship that escalated and resulted in the loss of human life,” Cranston Police Col. Michael Winquist said in a statement. “Individuals involved in abusive relationships often feel helpless or fearful of reporting these incidents to anyone and seeking a protection order.”
Winquist encouraged victims of domestic abuse to reach out for help, either by calling their local police department or the Elizabeth Buffum Chace hotline at 1-800-494-8100.
