Michael Ray Orndorff was born on May 1, 1959, in the United States. Publicly available records provide limited insight into his early life, upbringing, or personal background prior to his involvement in serious criminal activity. Like many incarcerated individuals from his era, details such as his education, family life, or employment history remain mostly undocumented in official or journalistic sources.

By the late 1980s, Orndorff had become involved in violent criminal behavior, including armed robbery. He was ultimately implicated in a capital murder case, which resulted in a death sentence. The crime reportedly involved the aggravated robbery of two victims, as well as the murder of another individual during the course of a robbery, though the full public narrative surrounding the case remains limited.

Despite the lack of widespread media attention compared to other capital cases, Orndorff's death sentence placed him among a class of inmates whose punishments would later be reconsidered.

On the evening of January 8, 1981, Michael Ray Orndorff, along with accomplices James William Holmes, Hoyt Franklin Clines, and Darryl V. Richley, conducted a home invasion in Rogers, Arkansas. The group, wearing ski masks, forcibly entered the residence of Donald Lehman, a local contractor. During the intrusion, Lehman was shot multiple times and severely beaten with a motorcycle drive chain, resulting in his death. Lehman's wife, Virginia, and their daughter, Vicki, were present during the attack; Vicki was held at gunpoint while Virginia witnessed the assault on her husband. The assailants stole over $1,000 and several firearms before fleeing the scene.​

Orndorff was apprehended on January 10, 1981. He was tried jointly with his co-defendants and convicted of capital murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. All four men received death sentences; however, Orndorff's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole upon appeal. As of the latest available information, he remains incarcerated at the East Arkansas Regional Unit.​