Lawrence Phillips, the former Nebraska football star who was facing a murder charge, was found dead Wednesday morning in his California prison.
Authorities at Kern Valley State Prison said they are investigating the death as a suspected suicide.
The prison staff was conducting security checks shortly after midnight local time Wednesday when they found Phillips, 40, unresponsive in his cell, according to a release from the prison. Phillips was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 90 minutes late.
Phillips was on trial for the alleged murder of his former cellmate at the prison.