Singleton in Florida, Parole Officer Says

RICHMOND, Calif. — Lawrence Singleton’s ex-parole officer said he received a telephone call this week from the rapist, who said he was living near Tampa.

The telephone call to Tom Webb, who supervised Singleton during the ex-convict’s stormy parole, apparently was prompted by rumors that Singleton had returned to the Bay Area.

“He asked me how I was, and I told him I was fine,” Webb said of Thursday’s call. “Then he gave me his address.”

Webb said Singleton was living with his brother, Walter, in a neighborhood known as Forest Hills.

(Singleton’s brother told reporters in Florida last week that although Singleton was using his address, the ex-convict was actually living at another location nearby.)

The rumors began when Singleton failed to appear earlier this week for a hearing in Orange County Superior Court. The rapist who chopped off the forearms of his teen-age victim sent the court a letter with a Richmond postmark and the return address of the parole office.