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Lawrence Phillips found dead in prison, suspected suicide

Lawrence Phillips, the former Husker running back who was oft troubled away from the football field, was found dead early Wednesday at Kern Valley State Prison.

Prison officials deemed the matter a suspected suicide. A press release stated the incident occurred at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, when staff conducting security checks found Phillips unresponsive in his cell. He was transported to an outside hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 1:27 a.m.

Phillips was 40 years old.

He was facing murder charges for the death of a fellow inmate, Daimion Soward. Phillips appeared to have a strong case for himself, given that Soward was involved in 12 incidents involving weapons or violence while incarcerated dating back to 2004, according to records USA TODAY obtained.