Lawrence was set to go on trial for murdering his cellmate. Phillips says it was self defense and had been writing letters about his mistreatment in the jail.
If found guilty he could have been sentenced to death penalty.
Lawrence Phillips, the former football star facing murder charges, was found dead early Wednesday at Kern Valley State Prison, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Terry Thornton told USA TODAY Sports.
The death is being investigated as a suspected suicide, according to press release from the department.
Phillips had several run-ins with the law going all the way back to his college days at Nebraska. After he was drafted by the Rams, Dick Vermeil famously picked him up from jail.
He bounced around the NFL for several years with several teams, but never reached his full potential as a player.
Once his career was over his life spiraled more out of control. He was serving a 32-year prison sentence for felony assault with a deadly weapon and domestic assault against his girlfriend.
While the report states it was a suspected suicide, Phillips had told people that he felt people were out to kill him in jail. He sent a few letter voicing his concerns.
Phillips was only 40 years old.
FLIP THE PAGES TO READ SOME OF LETTERS PHILLIPS WAS WRITING BEFORE HIS DEATH…