A 15-year-old girl survived having both arms severed by a rapist who threw her off a cliff to die, then watched her attacker walk free after serving just eight years in prison.
Story Overview
- Mary Vincent survived brutal attack that included rape, double amputation, and attempted murder in 1978
- She climbed back up a 30-foot cliff with severed arms and walked miles naked to find help
- Attacker Lawrence Singleton served only eight years before release due to prison overcrowding
- Singleton murdered another woman after his release, proving Vincent’s survival testimony was crucial
- Vincent became a powerful advocate for victims’ rights and lives with prosthetic arms today
The Attack That Should Have Been Fatal
Mary Vincent made a decision that nearly cost her life when she accepted a ride from Lawrence Singleton while hitchhiking in California in 1978. The 15-year-old was traveling to visit her grandfather when the seemingly helpful stranger became her worst nightmare. Singleton drove her to a remote location where he brutally raped her, then used a hatchet to sever both of her arms at the forearms.
Singleton believed he was eliminating a witness when he threw Vincent’s mutilated body off a 30-foot cliff into a ravine. Most people would have died from blood loss within minutes. Vincent’s survival instincts kicked in as she realized she was still alive at the bottom of the ravine, bleeding profusely from both severed limbs.
Miraculous Survival Against All Odds
Vincent’s next actions defy comprehension. She packed her gaping wounds with mud and dirt to slow the bleeding, a desperate measure that likely saved her life. Then she began the agonizing climb back up the 30-foot cliff face, using her remaining arm stumps to pull herself upward. The physical and mental strength required for this feat while in severe shock and pain is almost beyond imagination.
After reaching the top, Vincent walked naked for miles along a remote road, leaving a trail of blood behind her. A couple finally discovered her and rushed her to a hospital where doctors fought to save her life. Her detailed description of Singleton and his vehicle led police directly to him, resulting in his swift arrest and conviction.
Justice Denied and Deadly Consequences
The justice system failed Vincent spectacularly when Singleton received a lenient sentence and served only eight years due to prison overcrowding. His early release sparked outrage in communities wherever he attempted to settle. Vincent had warned that he would kill again, and her prediction proved tragically accurate when Singleton murdered Roxanne Hayes after his release from prison.
Vincent faced her attacker in court once again, this time testifying in Hayes’ murder trial. Her courage in confronting the man who destroyed her childhood helped secure Singleton’s conviction for first-degree murder. He received a death sentence for Hayes’ killing, finally receiving the punishment many believed he deserved for his attack on Vincent.
Rebuilding Life from Devastation
Vincent transformed her trauma into purpose, becoming a fierce advocate for victims’ rights and criminal justice reform. She learned to live with prosthetic arms, adapting to daily tasks that most people take for granted. Her advocacy work focuses on ensuring that violent criminals serve appropriate sentences and that victims receive proper support throughout the legal process.
Vincent’s story demonstrates both the depths of human evil and the heights of human resilience. Her survival required not just physical strength but mental fortitude that few possess. She turned her nightmare into a mission to protect others from similar fates, proving that even the most horrific experiences cannot destroy a determined spirit.
