The troubled and now tragic life of former 49ers running back Lawrence Phillips might include murder. Phillips is suspected of strangling his cellmate, Damion Soward, to death in Kern Valley State Prison.
Phillips, 39, is serving 31 years and four months for multiple offenses, including choking his girlfriend twice and driving his car into a group of three teens following a pickup football game in Los Angeles.
During his playing days, Phillips was signed by then-general manager Bill Walsh in the summer of 1999 and Walsh had high hopes for him. Phillips had already flamed out with the Rams and Dolphins, but Walsh nevertheless was convinced Phillips could be the 49ers’ starting running back.