The State - News from June 22, 1988

Florida lawmen say it will be virtually impossible for them to keep track of convicted rapist-mutilator Lawrence Singleton, with the glut of ex-felons registering with the Tampa sheriff’s office. Singleton, 60, who was released from California parole in April, registered with Florida authorities last week, as required by law. But in spite of a community meeting of about 40 angry people demanding that officials keep tabs on him, Sheriff’s Col. Cal Henderson said, “There are 30 ex-convicts a month who register in Hillsborough County. We can’t keep up with all of them.” He did promise to pursue possible revisions in the registration law. Singleton served eight years for raping a 15-year-old hitchhiker, hacking off her arms and leaving her for dead. He is scheduled to appear in Orange County Superior Court today on a claim for a $2.4-million damage settlement awarded to his victim.