Editing Big Lurch (section)

== Murder and lawsuit ==
On April 10, 2002, 25-year-old Singleton murdered Tynisha Ysais in her apartment in Los Angeles, California.<sup>[3]</sup>

The victim was found in her apartment by a friend. Her chest had been
<nowiki> </nowiki>torn open and a three-inch blade was found broken off in her scapula.
<nowiki> </nowiki>Teeth marks were found on her face and on her lungs, which had been 
torn from her chest. An eyewitness reported that, when Singleton was 
picked up by police, he was naked, covered in blood, standing in the 
middle of the street, and staring at the sky. Neighbors reported hearing
<nowiki> </nowiki>"thrashing sounds, followed by an argument, when Singleton said 
'Tynisha, you're a sock', and from there was only screaming."<sup>[4]</sup>

A medical examination performed shortly after his capture found human flesh in his stomach that was not his own. The victim's boyfriend said 
she and the aspiring rapper used PCP the day before the alleged murder took place.<sup>[1]</sup>

On November 7, 2003, Singleton was sentenced to life in prison.<sup>[3]</sup> He had been convicted of murder and aggravated mayhem the previous June after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity
<nowiki> </nowiki>at the time of the murder. The court ruled that his intoxication and 
claimed insanity were not satisfactory reasons for committing the crime,
<nowiki> </nowiki>after a court-appointed psychiatrist who evaluated Singleton reported 
that he had no reason to believe Singleton was of unsound mind; three 
other court-appointed doctors concluded that Singleton was insane during
<nowiki> </nowiki>the commission of the crime. The district attorney made a motion for a 
directed verdict, stating that PCP
<nowiki> </nowiki>intoxication can not be used as grounds for an insanity plea in 
California, and the judge granted it. It is not known whether he will 
ever be eligible for parole.

In 2004, Stress Free Ent. and Black Market Records released a solo LP on behalf of Singleton, ''It's All Bad''. Features included Killa Tay, C-Bo, Lil Keke, Roger Troutman II, and Too $hort.

Ysais' mother, Carolyn Stinson, filed a wrongful death lawsuit 
against Black Market Records, Singleton's record label. The label, in 
similar fashion, has put out albums for X-Raided while he was awaiting trial and eventually convicted of murder (''Xorcist'', ''Unforgiven, Vol. 1'',
<nowiki> </nowiki>etc.). The suit charged that the label had 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."<sup>[1]</sup>

"Part of what makes a Gangsta Rap artist marketable is the fact that the artist is participant in violent activities," the lawsuit said.<sup>[1]</sup>

Singleton was incarcerated at California State Prison, Los Angeles County in Lancaster, California. He was transferred to California State Prison, Sacramento
<nowiki> </nowiki>(SAC). A petition to "Free Big Lurch" has been started by those 
believing his conviction was based on entirely circumstantial evidence.

Singleton was featured in the film ''Rhyme and Punishment'', a 
2011 documentary that chronicles hip-hop artists who have been 
incarcerated. In the film Lurch talks about his conviction and time in 
prison. In June 2013 Singleton was featured alongside other individuals 
who have used PCP in a television show titled ''Drugs Made Me Do It''. This series focuses on individuals who had simple, everyday lifestyles before the use of PCP.

Singleton is currently incarcerated at California State Prison Sacramento.