Phillips, 40, was serving a 31-year prison sentence for several offenses, including assaulting his ex-girlfriend twice in 2005 and intentionally ramming his vehicle into a group of teenagers after a pickup football game in Los Angeles.
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Phillips had been living in solitary confinement since he was named as a suspect in the death of his cellmate, 37-year-old Damion Soward, last April.
Phillips was facing a possible death penalty in the alleged murder of his former cellmate.
“Lawrence Phillips is dead-and officials are investigating his death as a suicide after he was found in his prison cell”, TMZ reported on Wednesday. His former coach said Wednesday that he was surprised by Phillips’ death.
When he was a star Nebraska running back, he was accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Kate McEwen, a Nebraska basketball player.
Phillips was drafted sixth overall in 1996 by the Rams despite a series of off-field troubles during his college career that deterred other suitors. That same day, the team traded his predecessor, future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
49ers: Trying to make a comeback after a year off due to injury, vying for a starting job, Phillips was waived by San Francisco in November 1999. He only appeared in two games with the Dolphins, carrying the ball 18 times for 44 yards. He also spent time in NFL Europe and the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.
Phillips was a former No. 1 draft pick of the before his National Football League career was cut short by disciplinary problems.
Osborne said he corresponded with Phillips every few months.
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“I asked the coroner for information about his body and she was very unhelpful”, Tonissa says… adding that she was told Lawrence was found with a note – but officials wouldn’t reveal what it said.
