About This Episode
Morbid, one of the world's most widely listened true crime podcasts, has re-released its episode on Mary Vincent — a survivor whose story has left a permanent mark on American criminal history. At just 15 years old, Mary endured an attack of almost unimaginable brutality, and her fight for justice exposed a legal system that failed her in the most profound way.
Who Was Lawrence Singleton?
Lawrence Singleton was an American merchant seaman who, in September 1978, offered teenage hitchhiker Mary Vincent a ride along Interstate 5 in California. What began as a seemingly innocent lift ended in extreme violence. Singleton raped Mary, severed both of her forearms with a hatchet, and threw her into Del Puerto Canyon near Tracy, California — leaving her for dead.
Mary survived by crawling up the canyon wall and flagging down a passing car on the highway — holding up the stumps of her arms to slow the bleeding. Her survival is still described, to this day, as nothing short of miraculous.
A Justice System That Failed Her
What followed Singleton's arrest sparked widespread public outrage. Despite the extreme violence inflicted on his victim, Singleton was sentenced to just eight years in prison — and was released after fewer than three years due to California's early parole rules. When he walked free in 1987, communities across the state protested, and authorities struggled to find anywhere willing to accept him as a resident.