She woke up in a ravine with both arms gone. Decades later, her testimony would help change how the law treats violent offenders.
In September 1978, 15-year-old Mary Vincent was hitchhiking to her grandfather's home in California when she accepted a ride from a man in a blue van. What followed was one of the most brutal attacks to ever make national headlines — and one Mary survived.
The Attack
Mary had been hitchhiking for days after leaving home during her parents' divorce. The driver, later identified as 50-year-old Lawrence Singleton, offered to take her most of the way to her destination. After she fell asleep, she woke to find they were driving in the wrong direction; when Singleton pulled over, claiming he needed to relieve himself, Mary got out of the van, uneasy. As she bent to tie her shoe, Singleton struck her in the head with a sledgehammer and raped her repeatedly through the night.
The next morning, Singleton told Mary he would set her free — then used a hatchet to sever both of her arms at the elbow, and threw her down a 30-foot ravine, believing she would die.
Survival
Mary didn't die. She pushed her arm stumps into the mud to slow the bleeding, climbed out of the ravine, and walked nearly three miles along the highway before a passing driver stopped to help her. Doctors credited her quick thinking with saving her life.
Identifying Her Attacker
While still being treated for her injuries, Mary worked with detectives to create a composite sketch of her attacker, insisting on providing every detail she could recall before allowing herself to rest. The sketch was accurate enough that one of Singleton's neighbors recognized him and alerted police. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping, rape, sodomy, and attempted murder.
Trial and Sentencing
At his 1979 trial, Mary testified as the key witness. A jury convicted Singleton on all charges, and he received the maximum sentence available at the time: 14 years. Mary also won a $2.6 million civil judgment against him, though she was never able to collect it given his lack of assets.
Release, and a Second Victim
Singleton was paroled in 1987 after serving just over eight years, over strong public objection, including from the prosecutor who had argued he remained dangerous. Communities in California and later Florida, where he eventually settled, publicly resisted having him live nearby. In February 1997, Singleton fatally stabbed Roxanne Lea Hayes, a 31-year-old mother of three, at his home in Sulphur Springs, Florida. He claimed self-defense, a claim investigators quickly disproved given the nature of Hayes's injuries and his own lack of any.
Mary flew to Florida to testify against Singleton again at his murder trial. He was convicted and sentenced to death. He never faced execution — Singleton died of cancer in a Florida prison hospital in December 2001.
A Lasting Legal Legacy
In 1998, Mary testified before Congress in support of federal legislation aimed at tightening sentencing for violent repeat offenders, directly citing how Singleton's early release had allowed him to kill again nearly two decades after his attack on her. Public outrage over his case also contributed to California passing what became known as the "Singleton Law," making kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense punishable by life in prison.
Her Life Now
Mary, now known as Mary McGriff, lives in Washington state with her husband. She built a career as an artist working in chalk pastels, custom-modifying her own prosthetic arms using parts from old electronics along the way, and has spoken publicly at times as a victims' rights advocate and motivational speaker, while generally preferring a private life out of the spotlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mary Vincent still alive?
Yes, as of the most recent public reporting. She lives in Washington state.
Was Lawrence Singleton ever executed?
No. He was sentenced to death for a 1997 murder but died of cancer in prison in 2001 before the sentence could be carried out.
Did Mary Vincent's case change any laws?
Yes. It contributed to California's "Singleton Law," increasing sentences for kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offense, and she personally testified before Congress in 1998 in support of tougher sentencing for repeat violent offenders.