PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The son of late mob figure Frank “Bobo” Marrapese was remanded to the ACI following a court appearance Wednesday morning.
Michael Marrapese, 40, pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree domestic murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend Lauren Ise, 29. He was ordered held without bail.
Acting on a tip from Providence police, Cranston police said they found Ise strangled to death inside her apartment on Bay View Avenue back in March.
Ise did not have a restraining order against Marrapese at the time of her death, according to police, but she reported feeling threatened by him after he moved out of the apartment. Cranston police said they had responded to the home on previous occasions for domestic disturbances involving the couple.
Ise’s mother, Cheryl Palazzo, said her daughter had been trying to leave Marrapese when she was killed. Palazzo traveled from her home in Pennsylvania to attend the arraignment.
“It’s the first step in a long process in getting justice for Lauren and keeping him off the streets forever,” she said.
Palazzo said it was difficult seeing Marrapese again.
“It just brought everything back,” she said. “But I was here for Lauren and I’m glad we came.”
Frank Marrapese, Michael’s older brother, told Eyewitness News outside court that all of this was preventable.
“He tried to get help,” Frank said. “He tried to get a restraining order. This girl was not a saint.”
Frank said he and his brother have been living in the shadow of their father, who died in prison in Dec. 2017.
“Nobody cared,” he said. “Because our last name is Marrapese, we are less than human. This did not have to happen. Two lives could have been saved.”
“The prejudice we faced due to our name and due to who our father was off the charts,” he added.
Michael Marrapese has a lengthy criminal history and has been held without bail since his arrest. If convicted, he could face additional prison time for being a habitual offender.
He’s due back in court Sept. 4 for a status conference.
