A Teenager Survived the Unthinkable. The System Did Not
- Strange Case Files
- Jan 18
- 3 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
The Mary Vincent Case
The Beginning
She survived an attack that should have ended her life. She identified the man responsible. She warned the system he was still dangerous. Years later, another woman paid the price.
Mary Vincent Runs Away
In September 1978, Mary Vincent was fifteen years old and traveling through California after running away from home. Like many teenagers in similar situations, she relied on hitchhiking to get where she needed to go.
On September 29, she accepted a ride from 46-year-old Lawrence Singleton. At the time, there was nothing outwardly alarming about the encounter.
The Drive Into Isolation
Instead of taking Mary where she asked to go, Singleton drove her into a remote mountainous area of California. The location was isolated and far from help.
Once there, Singleton assaulted her. Afterward, he used a hatchet to sever both of her forearms. Believing she would bleed to death, he pushed her body down a ravine and drove away.
Mary Vincent was left alone, critically injured, and losing blood rapidly.
An Unthinkable Escape
Mary Vincent did not die.
Despite catastrophic injuries, she managed to climb out of the ravine using her face and upper arms. She eventually reached a roadway and flagged down a passing motorist, who immediately took her to a hospital.
Doctors were able to save her life, though her arms could not be reattached. Against overwhelming odds, Mary survived, identified her attacker, and provided the account that led to his arrest.
Identification and Arrest
Mary Vincent identified Lawrence Singleton as her attacker. Her account was detailed and consistent, and investigators were able to locate and arrest him.
Without her survival, there would have been no case.
Trial, Sentencing, and a Disturbing Courtroom Moment
Singleton was convicted in California of kidnapping and assault with intent to commit murder.
During the court proceedings, Singleton made a brief statement directed at Mary Vincent. He told her that he forgave her. The remark was widely reported and deeply unsettling, viewed by many as a complete lack of remorse or accountability.
At the time, California sentencing laws limited the punishment available for the crimes he was convicted of. Singleton received a fourteen year prison sentence and became eligible for parole after serving eight years.
When the details of the attack became public, the sentence sparked widespread outrage.
Release and Ignored Warnings
Singleton was released on parole in 1987.
Mary Vincent publicly opposed his release and warned authorities that he remained dangerous. She spoke out repeatedly, urging the system not to underestimate the risk he posed.
After his release, Singleton was arrested multiple times for parole violations, including weapons related offenses. Despite these violations, he was not returned to prison for a significant length of time.
He remained free.
A Second Victim
In 1997, nearly two decades after the attack on Mary Vincent, Lawrence Singleton murdered Roxanne Hayes, a thirty one year old mother of three, in Del Norte County, California.
Roxanne Hayes was stabbed multiple times in her home. Singleton was arrested shortly after the killing.
This time, the outcome was not in question.
Final Conviction
Singleton was convicted of first degree murder and initially sentenced to death. Due to procedural issues, that sentence was later overturned, and he was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He would never be released again.
Death in Prison
Lawrence Singleton died in prison in 2001 of natural causes. He was 68 years old.
Where Mary Vincent Is Today
Mary Vincent survived the attack and went on to rebuild her life. In the years that followed, she became an advocate for victims’ rights and spoke publicly about the long-term consequences of violent crime and sentencing failures. While she has largely lived outside the public spotlight, her case continues to be referenced in discussions about parole reform and survivor testimony.
Why This Case Still Matters: The Lawrence Singleton Case
The Lawrence Singleton case is frequently cited as an example of systemic failure in violent offender sentencing and parole oversight.
It is also remembered because Mary Vincent lived. She survived the attack, the trial, and decades of knowing her warnings had been ignored. She later became an advocate for victims’ rights, determined that what happened to her would not be dismissed or forgotten.
This case is not remembered for the man who committed the crimes.
It is remembered for the cost of ignoring survivors.
Comments