Singleton Enters Plea in Murder Case

Convicted rapist Lawrence Singleton pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of prostitute Roxanne Hayes. Singleton, who raped a teenage hitchhiker and chopped her arms off with an ax in California 19 years ago, is accused of stabbing Hayes in his Tampa, Fla., home last month. Singleton was covered with blood when a deputy responded to a 911 call, and the body of Hayes, 31, was on the floor behind him, officials said. “They framed me the first time, but this time I did it,” Singleton, 69, said on his way to jail Feb. 19, after his arrest. He is being held without bond.