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Ex-Dolphins, NFL Running Back’s Cellmate Death Ruled Homicide

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BAKERSFIELD (AP) — The death of a man sharing a prison cell with former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips was ruled a homicide by strangulation, according to a coroner’s report released Thursday.

Damion Soward, 37, was found lifeless early Saturday in a Central California prison cell, and he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death was neck compression asphyxia, the report by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.

Officials have said they suspect Phillips, 39, an inmate at Kern Valley State Prison serving a sentence of 31 years and four months.