Michael Ray Orndorff was born on May 1, 1959, in the United States. Specific details about his early life, including his upbringing, education, and employment history, are not publicly documented. Prior to his involvement in the 1981 crime, there is no known record of criminal activity or notable events in his background.​

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.​