But I do know that Sherra is quite capable of manipulating a man. Billy Ray Turner is charged with conspiring with Sherra Wright to kill her ex-husband, retired NBA player Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in a swampy field in Memphis in 2010. She had faced a possible life sentence if convicted at trial. But they may not have known that Turner is also an ex-convict who served time for assault and kidnapping over two decades ago. April Thompson | WREG reporter: I was surprised that she agreed to the interview. So armed with a search warrant, they went through the house looking for the guns. Wright claimed her coerced confession was the result of ineffective counsel and her constitutional rights to due process and protection from self-incrimination were violated. He is a young basketball player with a lot of energy. In this episode of Crime Watch Daily Updates: The tragic case of Lorenzen Wright. He'd had been playin' basketball that evening. With Lorenzen, Id be talking to his picture and sometimes his picture could look at me a certain way like its really him He was a mommas boy. The remains of Lorenzen Wright weighed 57 pounds. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. With the 12-year journey of bringing her son's killers to justice now over, Marion said it could never replace the son she lost. Lorenzen Wright Jr. was born on April 11, 1995, in Memphis, Tennessee. During his 13-year career, Lorenzen played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers,. One weekend, Wright flew home to Memphis to attend his daughter's dance recital and his sister's baby shower. Sierra Wright, the 11-month-old daughter of Memphis Grizzlies' center Lorenzen Wright, died Saturday morning at the family's home in Memphis, Tenn. Wright Robinson was charged with first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. It's challenging. Although he skyrocketed into the fast life of the NBA, Wrights childhood friends said that he never lost touch with his roots. Family and friends of slain NBA basketball player Lorenzen Wright grieve during a memorial service at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. on Aug. 4, 2010. I said, "Leave the money alone Let them put it in the kids' trust, they can get it later. This eventually led them to Wrights remains in a wooded area on a desolate road that he used to take to get to his mothers house. He was a power forward who played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks , Memphis Grizzlies , Sacramento Kings, and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Germantown Police Department, which declined to comment to ABC News for this report, did not follow up on the call. A Memphis native, the 6-foot-11 Wright played 13 seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies and four other NBA teams. She and Turner then conspired to kill him in Memphis, authorities have said. The story of murdered former NBA player Lorenzen Wright will be featured in a documentary airing as part of ESPN's E60 programming on Wednesday night. Even though he had reportedly earned more than $55 million during his NBA career, Lorenzen had burned through most of the money and was almost broke at the time of his death. And, of course, she being the mother, wound up being the fiduciary. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman [to reporters]: I expect nothing but a fight. His mothers name is Marion while his fathers name is Herb. She's spiritual. But he didn't get the reaction he expected when he called her to celebrate. Wright grew up in Memphis and started playing basketball when he was still in high school. But I think they wanna know the details of what happened, you know. Then came Loren Wright, their oldest child. Gayle Rose: My relationship was really about our mutual interest in Memphis and that generous big heart of his. We're doing good." Lorenzen Wright, who played 13 years in the NBA, including five with the Memphis Grizzlies, has died. For one, she was accused of misspending some of the $1 million life insurance policy that was intended for their kids' benefit, which Wright had purchased as a condition of their divorce settlement. In 2010, NBA player Lorenzen Wright died and left six surviving children by his ex-wife Sherra Wright-Robinson. A source tells MyEyeWitnessNews.com that the body suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Prosecutors allege Wright's ex-wife, Sherra Wright, masterminded a plan to kill her ex-husband and recruited Turner and . April Thompson: I have heard people say that she liked the wealth I asked her what she was doing for money. Wright, the Grizzlies' starting center, had flown with the team from Memphis following Friday night's 126-116 victory over Miami for Saturday night's game at Dallas. He had been meeting regularly with Wright's grieving mother, Deborah Marion. Once celebrated as one of Memphis' favorite sons, the memory of Lorenzen Wright still haunts this town. Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman is one of Shelby County's best prosecutors, but he's trying to manage expectations. The dispatcher had trouble identifying the exact location of the call, and for reasons that are still unclear, the Germantown Police did not investigate or notify any surrounding police departments. Sign up. And the killers had a nine-day head start. It was like Disneyland at his house!. Feb. 28, 2023 Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 6:37 a.m. Facebook Twitter Email. And I just told her, I said, "This is your opportunity to tell your side of the story.". I mean, Lorenzen Wright was a true hometown hero. The ex-wife of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright pleaded guilty Thursday to facilitation of first-degree murder in his shooting death nine years ago, a surprise development in a high-profile case. Well, it is not. But look at it in a positive light. Then, on July 28 -- 10 days after Lorenzen was last seen -- Shelby County authorities were finally told about the 911 call. Always would -- would be one of the first ones to raise their hand when the team would ask for a player to go into a children's hospital, or to go and speak at a school or an event. They were also reports of domestic violence and infidelity as Robinson caught her husband with other women on several occasions. there's still a case to be tried in court. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman: that they were going to Lorenzen Wright's house in Atlanta, Georgia, to murder. ", 11-month-old daughter of Lorenzen Wright dies, Rare endangered animal seen running across Texas road, Castillo game-winner sends Floydada to regional semi-finals. Kelvin Cowans: No one wants to come to a realization that a mother with no criminal background, mother of seven of his children, would be involved in his murder. In court, prosecutors said the break had come from Wright Robinson's cousin, Jimmie Martin. According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Wright's wife, Sherra, checked on the child in her crib at about 10:30 a.m. and discovered that the baby wasn't breathing. I was like, Shes baring all, said Kelvin Cowans, referring to the book. According to the Shelby County Sheriff's . Sherra Wright faces a charge of first-degree murder for his death. The administration has struggled with how to respond to a surge of migrants, including children who travel alone, at the U.S. border since Biden first took office. Although Wright Robinson is now behind bars, Marion still does not have full closure. Meanwhile the relationship between Lorenzen's ex-wife Sherra and Kelvin Cowans had soured. By summer 2010, Wright was living in Atlanta with Gipson, while his ex-wife remained in Memphis with the kids. . This was the last time that anybody saw the former NBA star. It has been the subject of a book and TV documentaries. Turner later succeeded in this evil mission in July 2010. In 1996, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. Billy Ray Turner's bond was set at $15 million. Toney Armstrong: The journey has led you right back to the person that was supposed to be as close to him as anybody, and that was his wife. and I said, "No." Hundreds of companies that employed nearly 4,000 children last year were found in violation of federal labor laws, a dramatic increase in the last five years. In the E60 special they claim to have. Wright's decomposing body was found riddled with bullet wounds in a swampy field in east Memphis on July 28, 2010. The Grizzlies were in the game early in the third quarter, leading by as many as seven, but the Mavericks took control for a 114-87 victory. Wright, a 6-foot-11 Memphis native and was a right-handed center who played in 778. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman: Martin stated he accompanied Billy Turner to a lake, where Billy Turner disposed of a handgun that was used to murder Lorenzen Wright. James Brown: Who is Billy Ray Turner and how does he fit into the case? KCAL NEWS REPORT: Memphis police just announced Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife is now charged with murder. Ten days after Turner's arrest, Sherra was taken into custody in Riverside, Calif. Back in Memphis, despite all of the rumors, the news evoked mixed feelings. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration said Monday that it is creating a new task force to crack down on an explosion of the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the U.S.. It would prove to be a fateful meeting. His grandmother, his father Herb, his mother Deborah, his ex-wife Sherra and their six children were dealing in their own ways with Lorenzen's death. In 2010, he was found shot to death over. Sherra Wright-Robinson, the ex-wife of basketball star Lorenzen Wright, has been arrested in California on charges related to his murder. Completely unexpected, out of the blue he calls me and says, Hey bud, Im in town, lets hang out, Dotson said. He called Dotson and the two arranged to hang out. Back in Memphis, the rumor mill implicating Sherra Wright was still grinding away. Cowans said he was never suspicious of her during their relationship. Phil Dotson: He never met a fan that he didn't like. Should I go after it, should I go to court?" What were Lorenzen Wright Body Measurements? Phil Dotson: That Sunday evening we had gone to pick up his son -- Lorenzen Jr. -- from the gym. Memphis Grizzlies player Lorenzen Wright tries to get his team psyched while coaching a scrimmage at his annual basketball camp in July 2005. I think what happened to the marriage was that they grew apart, Dotson said. He had been convicted of second-degree murder in an unrelated case that had occurred three years prior to Wrights death. I mean, we had a great time. Kelvin Cowans: she was telling me that the media was hounding her for an exclusive about the finding of the gun and the arrest of Billy Ray Turner, and I was like, "Why don't you do it, you know. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Lorenzen and Sherra Wright talk with the media about the death of their daughter Sierra, "Goddamn:" Lorenzen Wrights desperate call for help, The coroners report said Lorenzen had been hit by five bullets from two different guns: two shots to the head, two to the chest and one to his right arm. It's unnatural not for you to do it," you know, and she's like, "Well, they're just going to twist my words." Kelvin Cowans: I believe she did, and that's hard to say. Lorenzen often returned to Memphis from Atlanta to spend time with his kids. April Thompson, an investigative reporter at WREG, the CBS affiliate in Memphis, was on this story from the start. Life seemed to continue on until November 2017, when police announced a huge break in the Wright murder investigation: They had found one of the murder weapons -- a gun -- in a lake in Walnut, Mississippi, about 45 minutes away from Wrights former home. And it was personal. Lorenzen. After the gun announcement, investigators said they started monitoring Wright Robinsons and Turners cell phones, and alleged that they learned incriminating information. April Thompson: It was really kind of strange in how it happened that he had disappeared, and he was gone over all of these days, and nobody knew anything. He was still wearing a watch and a chain. What you need to know, High winds, lots of dirt cause havoc across Plainview, Sam Elliott award winner for male actor in "1883". Wright was shot dead in July 2010 and it took seven years before the cops unmasked his killers. On July 28, 10 days after Wright's disappearance, his body was found in the woods in Memphis' outskirts. Charges Dropped Against Teen Wrongfully Arrested . After they broke up, Wright Robinson relocated to California with her kids. He took care of Sherra Wright's lawn and was also a deacon at her church. draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Her son, Lorenzen Wright, was murdered in 2010, and now she is facing Frierson's death. APRIL THOMPSON: So how are you getting by now? All Rights Reserved. The couple lived lavishly and burnt through the $ 55 million that Wright made in his career. Who Is Sithelo Shozi, Andile Mpisanes Girlfriend and Baby Mama? On July 25, 2019, Wright Robinson agreed to a plea deal, pleading guilty to the facilitation of first-degree murder. . Within six months she agreed to leave her marriage, leave Memphis, and move with him to Houston. You know? Sgt. who knows what and how it all fits together. Hours later, just after midnight, a Germantown, Tennessee, 911 operator responded to an incoming call. Wrights mom, Marion, reported him missing on the 22nd of July and the cops immediately swung into action. After close to a decade of pain, Marion turned to face the woman who admitted she had been involved in her sons murder. Sierra later died of SIDS at the age of 11 months. Who are Pedro Riveras Children and Grandchildren. But Lorenzen bought cars like you and I buy shirts. The Times investigation identified more than 100 migrant children, some as young as 12 years old, who say theyre working overnight shifts and dangerous jobs for companies big and small throughout the U.S. President Joe Biden still has full confidence in Becerra, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday when asked about the secretarys job in light of the new report. Phil Dotson: Lorenzen was in high school playing for Sherra's father and she would come to practices. 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