Sports

Former Football Star Found Dead In Prison

David Hookstead Sports And Entertainment Editor
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Former Nebraska football star Lawrence Phillips was found dead at the Kern Valley State Prison early Wednesday morning.

The death is being investigated as a suicide, according to USA Today. The former Cornhuskers star was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and driving over three people with his vehicle in 2005 and was serving a 31- year sentence. In September 2015 he was charged with murder after allegedly strangling his cellmate. (RELATED: Former Football Star Lawrence Phillips Charged With Murder)

Initially prosecutors weren’t going to seek the death penalty, but that decision was reversed when a judge granted the Kern County (Calif.) District Attorney the option to reconsider the option of executing Phillips if he was found guilty. (RELATED: Former Football Star Could Face The Death Penalty After Allegedly Murdering Cellmate)

Phillips was an electric running back at Nebraska where he won two national championships. His career in the NFL was quickly derailed after character issues and legal problems.

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