Anwar Phillips
Anwar Phillips was held at Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, Virginia, where he was found unresponsive in his solitary confinement cell on January 4, 2022. His mother, Vernetta Phillips, says he had many challenges as a teenager, was later found to be bipolar, and had persistent medical problems that made it hard for him to walk and sit, and that he was not suicidal. She says Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Steven Davis told her the death was a homicide by strangulation, and that another prisoner, William Pettigrew, has been indicted on murder and strangulation charges. Mrs. Phillips disputes the timeline and the prison's account of what happened, and the Virginia Department of Corrections declined to comment, citing the ongoing case.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed). The Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney reportedly told his mother the death was a homicide by strangulation by another prisoner, and she disputes the timeline and the prison's account.
Reported by: Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney Steven Davis, as relayed to Vernetta Phillips; Vernetta Phillips, his mother (family or their lawyers).