Damion Soward was strangled to death in homicide

Lawrence Phillips mugshotDamion Soward was strangled to death in what is being called a homicide, according to a coroner’s report released Thursday.

Soward, 37, died early Saturday after being found lifeless in a cell at Kern Valley State Prison. Soward shared the cell with former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips, who is suspected of strangling Soward to death.

Phillips has a history of strangling people. He is serving 31 years in prison after being convicted of twice strangling his girlfriend in San Diego in 2005. He also was found guilty of driving his car into three teens after a pickup game in Los Angeles the same year.