Lawrence Phillips with the  St. Louis Rams

Lawrence Phillips with the St. Louis Rams

Lawrence Phillips, the one time St. Louis Rams running back, who was given a chance to turn his troubled life around by then head coach Dick Vermeil, is suspected of murdering Damion Soward, a 37-year-old who was serving 82 years to life for first-degree murder.

Phillips is serving 31 years in prison in California for attacking his girlfriend and driving his car into three teens.  The alleged killing took place on Saturday morning.

At the University of Nebraska, Phillips was suspended for allegedly dragging his ex-girlfriend by her hair down a flight of stairs. He was, reinstated by the team before the end of the season. Nebraska went on to win a national championship.

The Rams drafted him sixth overall in 1996, less than a year after he allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend.

In 2005, Phillips twice choked his girlfriend and then drove his car at teens after a pickup football game.