Big Lurch

Case record: Big Lurch

Background

Big Lurch was born Antron Singleton c. 1975, in Fort Worth, TX, although some sources say Compton, California. Singleton was also described as born September 15, 1976. He was an American rapper. He grew up nearby in east Dallas, Texas. At 7 years old, he began writing poetry. He began performing in 1990. He was associated with a group called Cosmic Slop Shop along with fellow members Doonie Baby and Rick Rock.

During his music career, Singleton worked with Bay Area rappers including Too Short, Mac Dre, RBL Posse, C-Bo, E-40, Luni Coleone, Keak Da Sneak, Yukmouth, E-A-Ski, and Mystikal. He also worked with TQ, DJ U-Neek, Texas' Lil Keke, and Big Bone. Stress Free Ent. and Black Market Records released a solo LP on behalf of Singleton titled It's All Bad.

The offence

Singleton murdered Tynisha Ysais in her apartment in April 2002 while under the influence of PCP. The record described him as eating parts of her body, including her lung.

Eyewitnesses reported that when Singleton was picked up by police, he was naked in the middle of the street, covered in blood and staring at the sky.

Victim

Tynisha Ysais was described as 21 years old. The record described her as a female acquaintance and also as a 21-year-old female roommate. Her boyfriend and police testimony identified Thomas Moore. Her friend identified her in the account as Alisa Allen.

Investigation

Thomas Moore testified that he and Singleton spent the evening prior to the murder smoking PCP, also known as Angel Dust.

Tynisha Ysais was found in her apartment by her friend Alisa Allen. The record stated that her chest had been torn open and that a three-inch blade was found broken off in her shoulder blade. Tooth marks were found on her face. The record stated that her lungs had been torn from her chest and that her lungs had also been chewed and torn.

A medical examination performed shortly after Singleton’s capture found human flesh in his stomach that was not his own.

Arrest

Eyewitnesses reported that when Singleton was picked up by police, he was naked in the middle of the street, covered in blood, standing in the middle of the street and screaming at the sky.

Trial

Singleton pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the murder. He was convicted of murder and aggravated mayhem the previous June. The court ruled that his intoxication and plea of insanity were not satisfactory reasons for committing the crime.

The record also stated that Singleton’s charge of murder was amended to include torture. He was charged with one count of aggravated mayhem and was held without bail.

The record described a pretrial phase in Los Angeles Superior Court where Singleton was preparing for pretrial hearings on July 18, after he pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 13. It also stated that he was accused of cannibalism and preparing for pretrial hearings.

Sentencing

On November 7, 2003, Singleton was sentenced to life in prison.

The record stated that if convicted, Singleton faced the death penalty or life in prison.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Singleton remained serving his life sentence.

Aftermath

Ysais’ mother, Carolyn Stinson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Black Market Records, Singleton’s record label. The record described the label as releasing albums on behalf of Singleton while he was awaiting trial and eventually convicted of murder (including Xorcist, Unforgiven, Vol. 1, etc.).

The lawsuit charged that the label provided Singleton with drugs “to encourage [him] to act out in an extreme violent manner so as to make him more marketable as a 'gangsta rap' artist.” The record included the lawsuit quote: “Part of what makes a Gangsta Rap artist marketable is the fact that the artist is a current ongoing participant in violent gang activities,” and that “Singleton met this criterion and was even more marketable because his songs were as violent as his lifestyle and included rape, murder and ended with him eating his victim's body organs.”

The lawsuit alleged that Singleton used a “sharp (object) to remove body organs” from Ysais and eat them, and that “These acts were performed within the course and scope of his employment with the other defendants,” as recorded in the account.

The lawsuit named Singleton, Death Row Records (also noted as now known as Tha Row), Stress Free records and two employees as defendants. The record stated that a representative of Death Row Records could not be reached for comment and that David Chesnoff, Knight’s lawyer, said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment. It also stated that Stinson’s lawyer, Winston McKesson, of Beverly Hills, could not be reached for comment.

The record stated that Singleton was serving his life sentence at California State Prison, Los Angeles County in Lancaster, California. It also stated that he had spent the last 4 of 5 years in solitary confinement and was recently transferred to California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC).

Timeline

• April 2002 — Singleton murdered Tynisha Ysais in her apartment while under the influence of PCP and ate parts of her body.
• April 10, 2002 — Singleton murdered Tynisha Ysais in her Los Angeles, California, apartment.
• June 13 — Singleton pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court.
• July 12, 2002 — A report described Singleton preparing for pretrial hearings on July 18.
• July 18 — Singleton was scheduled for pretrial hearings.
• November 7, 2003 — Singleton was sentenced to life in prison.
• 2004 — Stress Free Ent.
• Year referenced in the wrongful death lawsuit account — Ysais’ mother, Carolyn Stinson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit; the record described it as filed “just before the close of business on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.”
• “He has spent the last 4 of 5 years in solitary confinement” — Singleton spent the last 4 of 5 years in solitary confinement (as stated in the account).
• “He was recently transferred” — Singleton was recently transferred to California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC) (as stated in the account).

Other details

The record described a further account of the case as reporting that the District Attorney’s office had not indicated whether or not they would seek the death penalty.

The record described Tynisha Ysais as being in South Central Los Angeles in one account, and as being found in her Los Angeles, California apartment in another.

The record included multiple descriptions of Singleton’s music and collaborators: features on It’s All Bad included Killa Tay, C-Bo, Lil Keke, Roger Troutman II and Too $hort.