Snapped is investigating the murderous crimes of Mary Lee Orsini, who was convicted of organizing the murder of Alice McArthur and was also accused of killing her husband, Ron Orsini, in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
On March 12, 1981, 38-year-old Ron Orsini was found dead in his bedroom. He had been shot in the head while sleeping with a .38 caliber weapon.
His wife, Mary Lee, reported finding his remains about midday after coming home from a shopping trip with her daughter. The cops noted that Ron had been dead for many hours and asked how Mary Lee had not realized earlier that her husband was dead. She claimed she’d slept in a neighboring room and had left early.
The cops labeled Mary Lee as the number one suspect. In the meantime, she hired the services of prominent Little Rock criminal defense lawyer Bill McArthur. McArthur was a colorful and well-known character who was also a partner in a local nightclub that allegedly became associated with organized crime.
Mary Lee began spending more time hanging out at the club and with McArthur. She would later claim she was having an affair with the lawyer, but investigators later admitted there was no evidence to suggest that was true.
In May 1982, a bomb exploded under the car of McArthur’s wife, Alice McArthur. She survived the attack, and many speculated that the murder attempt was due to McArthur’s alleged links to organized crime.
Mary Lee Orsini organized the murder of Alice McArthur
However, a couple of months later, on July 2, 1982, two hitmen men, Eugene “Yankee” Hall and Larry Darnell McClendon, posed as florist delivery men and knocked on the door of Alice McArthur’s home. The two men pulled out a firearm, causing Alice to run back into the house.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelHall and McClendon found Alice hiding in a bedroom closet, and they put a bullet in her head. Her remains were found later that afternoon by McArthur.
A neighbor of the McArthurs later identified Hall and McClendon as the two culprits. Hall agreed to cooperate with the police and blew the case wide open by claiming Mary Lee had paid them to kill Alice. The cops arrested Mary Lee and charged her with conspiracy to murder.
Mary Lee told the police that she had conspired with McArthur to murder his wife. The cops arrested the lawyer. He was ultimately released with no convictions, and he vehemently denied any involvement in his wife’s death, but his reputation suffered.
Mary Lee Orsini put on trial for the murders of Ron Orsini and Alice McArthur
Mary Lee Orsini was convicted of conspiracy to murder Alice McArthur and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
She was later tried and convicted for the murder of her husband, Ron Orsini; however, that conviction was subsequently overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court.
In 2003, Mary Lee passed away from an apparent heart attack. She was 55. Bill McArthur died the following year at the age of 71.
Snapped airs Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen.