Cranston Killer Sentenced To Life In Prison For Ex-Girlfriend's Murder

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Michael Marrapese, 46, had pleaded guilty to domestic first-degree murder in April in connection with the slaying of his former girlfriend, 29-year-old Lauren Ise, in 2019.

Marrapese strangled Ise to death in her home, according to a media release from the attorney general's office that said prosecutors were prepared to prove the case had it gone to trial.

Cranston police went to Marrapese's Bay View Avenue home after a friend of Marrapese told them he had confessed to killing Ise there, according to the release.

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"Upon arrival, police found Ms. Ise dead in her apartment," the release said.

"Investigators soon learned that on February 15, 2019, (Marrapese) and Ms. Ise broke up and Ms. Ise decided to move out," the release said. "When (Marrapese) refused to allow Ms. Ise to collect her belongings, she called the police."

Marrapese "became irate, and police arrested him for disorderly conduct," according to the release.

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He was "released but then arrested again the following day for an altercation with his landlord, and subsequently held as a bail violator until March 5, 2019," the release said

In the early morning hours of March 12, 2019, Marrapese went to Ise’s apartment and knocked on her windows, but she did not answer, according to the release, and about 6 a.m. that day he confronted a neighbor and asked if Ise was dating anyone.

The next day, Marrapese "returned to Ms. Ise’s apartment, murdered her, and drove to his friend’s house where he confessed to the murder," the release said, and Marrapese was arrested later that morning.

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"In Ms. Ise’s autopsy, the medical examiner recorded ligature marks around her neck," the release said. "He also noted multiple abrasions, contusions, and lacerations to her face, several dislocated teeth, and defensive wounds to both hands."

Ise's cause of death was ruled a homicide by strangulation, according to the release.

"The Rhode Island Department of Health obtained a DNA profile from fingernail clippings obtained from Ms. Ise’s body which matched" Marrapese, the release said.

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"Prior to his arraignment, the (Marrapese) confessed to the sheriffs escorting him to the courtroom," the release said. "In the days following his arraignment, (he) made several phone calls and conducted in-person conversations with a friend, during which he confessed to killing Ms. Ise and shared details about her death that were not made public."

In the release, Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael Winquist said his department "works tirelessly to hold accountable those who perpetrate senseless acts of violence, such as this one.”

“I am thankful for the hard work of our detectives, as well as the Attorney General’s Office, throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case," Winquist said.

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