A Greene County man, who was arrested in early January, was booked into the Lawrence County Jail then charged with dealing quantities of methamphetamine. He has been in jail since his arrest, awaiting a jury trial scheduled for late September. Early Thursday morning, he was found unresponsive in his cell.

Sgt. Curt Durnil of the Indiana State Police confirmed that ISP detectives are conducting a death investigation of a male inmate at the Lawrence County Jail in Bedford.

The inmate has been identified as David Cecil Phillips, 45. Phillips has family in Greene County and at the time of his arrest, he was reported to be from Solsberry. After his death, Lawrence County Jail officials advised Phillips was from Monroe County. Family has been notified.

According to logs, an ambulance was requested by jail personnel at 4:49 a.m. yesterday, Thursday, August 20. They reported a male inmate had been found unconscious in J Block.

An autopsy was conducted yesterday afternoon.

Sgt. Durnil reported the preliminary finding of the autopsy for cause of death was hanging by ligature.

Sgt. Durnil said the investigation is ongoing.

No further information has been released.

To find the previous story on GreeneStreets covering the arrest of Phillips, click on the Tag “David Cecil Phillips” below this story.