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Coroner: Ex-NFL RB Lawrence Phillips' cellmate death ruled homicide

The Associated Press

In this Jan. 2, 1996, file photo, Nebraska's LawrencePhillips runs for a touchdown against Florida during the Fiesta Bowl college football game in Tempe, Ariz. (Eric Draper, AP file)

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The death of a man sharing a prison cell with former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips was ruled a homicide by strangulation, according to a coroner's report released Thursday.

Damion Soward, 37, was found lifeless early Saturday in a Central California prison cell, and he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death was neck compression asphyxia, the report by the Kern County Sheriff's Office said.