A 15-year-old girl survived a harrowing ordeal in 1978 when she was brutally attacked by a serial killer in California. After being sexually assaulted and having both arms severed, Mary Vincent displayed remarkable resilience as she fought for her life. Singleton, who was 51 at the time, kidnapped Mary while she was hitchhiking, leaving her for dead in a ravine.
Mary was trying to reach her grandfather’s home when she encountered a blue van that stopped for her. The driver, Lawrence Singleton, quickly turned from a potential savior to a perpetrator. After rendering her unconscious, he assaulted her for hours, during which she desperately pleaded for her life. In a shocking act of violence, he severed both of her arms with a hatchet and discarded her into a canyon.
Despite the horrific injuries, Mary demonstrated extraordinary willpower. In an interview with Open Ceilings Magazine, she recalled the voice in her mind urging her not to succumb to sleep: “I can’t go to sleep.” She believed that Singleton would attack again and took desperate measures to survive.
To stem the bleeding from her wounds, she stuffed them with dirt and managed to climb out of the 30-foot ravine. She eventually flagged down a passing vehicle, leading to her rescue. According to a court document obtained by UPI, “The next morning, two individuals found Mary Vincent wandering nude.” She was holding up her arms to prevent her muscles and blood from falling out.
After being taken to a local hospital, forensic evidence helped identify Singleton, who was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including attempted murder and sexual assault. In court, Mary pointed to Singleton using her prosthetic arm and declared, “I was attacked. I was raped and my hands were cut off.”
Singleton received a sentence of 14 years but served only eight before being released in 1987. His early release sparked outrage among the public, with many Californians demonstrating against his freedom. He was placed in a trailer on the grounds of San Quentin prison due to safety concerns, as no community would accept him.
The fears of California residents proved justified. Two decades later, in 1997, Singleton murdered 31-year-old Roxanne Hayes in Tampa, Florida. He was sentenced to death but died of cancer while in custody in 2001. Mary expressed her devastation regarding the second tragedy, stating, “It had to happen again before anyone realized he shouldn’t have been released in the first place.”
In her ongoing journey, Mary has become a champion for criminal justice reform, sharing her story to support fellow victims. Her advocacy contributed to the passing of legislation in California that increased penalties for similar crimes, informally known as the “Singleton bill.”
Now living in Washington, Mary is a devoted mother of two and has found fulfillment in her art. She creates powerful images of women and also designs prosthetic devices for sports and recreational activities. Her work repurposes components from old radios and appliances, blending creativity with purpose.
Mary Vincent’s story serves as a profound reminder of resilience and the ongoing fight for justice.
