Ep. 067 | Live or Die Time: Mary Vincent McGriff

In 1978, 15-year-old Mary Vincent was hitchhiking in California when she was attacked by a man named Lawrence Singleton, who assaulted her and left her with life-threatening injuries in a remote area. Despite the severity of her wounds, Mary managed to find help and survive. Her powerful testimony led to Singleton’s conviction, though he served only part of his sentence due to limitations in California’s sentencing laws at the time. After his release, Singleton committed another violent crime, which reignited public outrage. Mary went on to become an artist and advocate for victims, and her case played a role in inspiring changes to laws regarding sentencing for violent offenders.

SOURCES:

• All That's Interesting. (2019, October 4). Mary Vincent: The survivor who helped take down Lawrence Singleton — twice. https://allthatsinteresting.com/mary-vincent

• Associated Press. (2001, December 29). Lawrence Singleton, 74, attacker of teen, dies. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/29/us/lawrence-singleton-74-attacker-of-teen-dies.html

• Blurred Bylines. (n.d.). Mary Vincent: Lawrence Singleton attack & survival. https://blurredbylines.com/articles/mary-vincent-lawrence-singleton-attack-survival/

• Bowden, M. (1998, July). The girl who lived. Reader’s Digest. https://www.rd.com/article/the-girl-who-lived/

• Chilling Crimes. (n.d.). Mary Vincent. https://www.chillingcrimes.com/blogs/news/mary-vincent

• CNN. (1998, April 14). Lawrence Singleton sentenced to death. https://www.cnn.com/US/9804/14/singleton.death/

• Criminally Intrigued. (2019, May 25). https://www.criminallyintrigued.com/blog/2019/5/25/4saplz025u1n01gduvyyll0zhf2svx

• Davis, F. (2021, May 9). Mary Vincent: A life of survival. Open Ceilings Magazine. https://www.openceilingsmagazine.com/features/mary‑vincent‑a‑life‑of‑survival

• Dillon, S. (1987, July 29). State struggling to place released rapist. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-29-mn-6317-story.html

• Fagan, K. (2003, December 14). Mary Vincent’s legacy: Artist’s survival inspires others. San Francisco Chronicle. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Mary-Vincent-s-legacy-Artist-s-survival-2549119.php

• Feminist Majority Foundation. (n.d.). Rape victim testifies in assailant’s murder trial. https://feminist.org/news/rape-victim-testifies-in-assailants-murder-trial/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• Friedman, D. (1997, February 21). Man infamous for mutilating teen charged in Florida murder. Associated Press via The Spokesman-Review. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/feb/21/man-infamous-for-mutilating-teen-charged-in/

• Hansen, M. (1998, February 21). Teenage victim of Singleton testifies in penalty phase. Tampa Bay Times. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/02/21/teenage-victim-of-singleton-testifies-in-penalty-phase/

• Key Peninsula News. (2023, July 1). The heart of a survivor: Blood, courage, triumph. https://keypennews.org/stories/the-heart-of-a-survivor-blood-courage-triumph,6663

• Krakauer, S. (2023, March 10). The unforgettable survivor: How Mary Vincent endured and thrived. Medium. https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-unforgettable-survivor-how-mary-vincent-endured-and-thrived-7f1989bc4da3

• Lamb, Y. R. (1988, April 24). A question of justice: The Lawrence Singleton case. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/04/24/a-question-of-justice-the-lawrence-singleton-case/72e1b58b-5a3d-44b2-89cf-cc50c9d76b87/

• People Magazine Staff. (1997, March 10). A crime remembered. People. https://people.com/archive/a-crime-remembered-vol-47-no-9/

• RedHanded Podcast. (n.d.). Episode 73: Mary Vincent: Survivor.

• Rose, S. (2021, February 4; updated 2024, November 3). How Mary Vincent survived Lawrence Singleton’s attack. Blurred Bylines. https://blurredbylines.com/articles/mary-vincent-lawrence-singleton-attack-survival/

• Tampa Bay Times. (1998, February 17). Witness describes stumbling on slaying. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/02/17/witness-describes-stumbling-on-slaying/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

• The Mirror. (n.d.). Chilling case: Woman who left. https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/chilling-case-woman-who-left-947876

• The New York Times. (1987, May 26). Parolee shifted after protest. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/26/us/parolee-shifted-after-protest.html

• The New York Times. (1988, September 28). Rape victim gives up on collecting award. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/28/us/rape-victim-gives-up-on-collecting-award.html?src=pm

• Time Magazine. (1997, January 6). The monster next door. Archived from: https://web.archive.org/web/20090726022302/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985988,00.html?promoid=googlep

• True Crime Weekly. (2024, October 28). Mary Vincent’s survival against all odds. True Crime Weekly [Medium]. https://medium.com/true‑crime‑weekly/mary‑vincent‑was‑a‑teenager‑with‑big‑dreams‑715d68236695

• What It Was Like Podcast. (n.d.). Episode title: “He Cut Off My Arms and Left Me to Die.”

• YouTube. (n.d.). Mary Vincent interview/coverage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbJ_1vHagfQ