Former NFL running back, Lawrence Phillips, was serving a 31 year prison sentence in Kern Valley State Prison after being convicted in 2005 of choking a former girlfriend twice in San Diego (once into unconsciousness) and hitting three teenagers with his car in Los Angeles. In April 2015, Phillips got into more trouble when his 37 year old cellmate (who was serving 82 years for murder) was found dead. The victim was also sexually assaulted prior to his death, and though Phillips was a prime suspect in the murder case, they did not have reason to believe he had anything to do with the sexual assault.
Phillips was the prime suspect in the investigation and had been in an Administrative Segregation Unit on single-cell status since his cell mate’s death. He was in the early stages of his trial before being found dead in his cell nearly a year later.
Around 12:05 am on Wednesday, Kern Valley State Prison staff was conducting their routine security checks when they discovered Phillips unresponsive in his cell. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Investigators suspect it was a suicide and next of kin was notified.
Lawrence Phillips was 40 years old.
