Stanley Wilson Jr, a former cornerback for the Detroit Lions and the son of former Bengals running back Stanley Wilson Sr, died earlier this month after collapsing at a mental hospital.
Wilson Jr. had been in police custody since he was arrested for vandalism in August, but prosecutors said he was too sick to stand trial, so on Feb. 1, he was moved from the county jail to the Metropolitan State Hospital in Los Angeles County.
But sources in law enforcement tell us that he collapsed and died while being checked in at the hospital, which specializes in caring for people with mental health problems.
Those interested in reading more about the deaths of celebrities this year can peruse our other articles:
- How Did Dave Hollis, Ex-husband of Motivational Speaker Rachel Hollis Died at Age 47?
- How Did “NYPD Blue” Actor Austin Majors Die at Young Age of 27?
Our sources say that they don’t think there was foul play. The results of the autopsy will depend on the toxicology. Wilson Jr. was only 40 at the time.
The Lions picked the former defensive back in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played for the team for three seasons before getting an Achilles injury right before the start of the 2008 season.
Wilson got in trouble with the law more than once after he was done playing in the NFL. In 2016, he was charged with trying to break into a house while he was naked because he was shot in the stomach while trying to break into a home in Portland.
In 2017, he was arrested after being accused of walking around a Portland neighborhood naked for a few months. In 2017, he was arrested a third time after he allegedly tried to break in again.
In August, he was arrested again on charges that he broke into a house, ransacked it, and then took a bath in a fountain outside. Wilson Jr. played pro football for 32 games and had 87 tackles, eight pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
