All these and more are explored below. He especially loved his own. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Dr. Bill Adkins: The arguments primarily were about two things: infidelity and finances. She had faced a possible life sentence if convicted at trial. He went missing on the night of July 18, 2010 . By summer 2010, Wright was living in Atlanta with Gipson, while his ex-wife remained in Memphis with the kids. Sherra Wright Robinson Family How old is she? In 2001, Wright signed with the Memphis Grizzlies. Marc Parrusquia: she was at the spotlight of this whole thing as -- as, you know, kind of, you know, seemingly suspect number one. Lorenzen Wright and Sherra Wright had seven children, one of whom died as a toddler. As Sherra left the courtroom, she and Turner exchanged a passing glance. Well, it is not. Cowans came back home to Memphis and Sherra moved her kids to Riverside, California, where her brother is the pastor of a church. Prosecutors allege that Sherra and Turner had a sexual relationship and that they killed Lorenzen Wright for his million-dollar insurance policy. Thats wicked, Montae Nevels, Wright's friend, told "20/20. Then came their eldest daughter Loren Wright. Kelvin Cowans: I believe she did, and that's hard to say. Cowans, a journalist, started dating Wright Robinson that same year even though he admits their relationship crossed a professional line. He was still wearing a watch and a chain. Sherra Wright and Billy Ray Turner were charged with first-degree murder, by writing a book about his complicated relationship with Sherra Wright. Watch fullscreen. Dr. Bill Adkins: And I turned on the television And -- I saw Deborah, his mom -- running down the road, tryin' to get to his body It was a total shock. Kelvin Cowans: I can't say it didn't work out because she was a awful person, but there were signs of greed that I wasn't used to. So I don't have a clue. Sierra Wright, the 11-month-old daughter of Memphis Grizzlies' center Lorenzen Wright, died Saturday morning at the family's home in Memphis, Tenn. Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads. 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. Lorenzen and Sherra married in 1998, and welcomed another child in 1999. Who Are Bola Tinubus Children and What Do They Do For A Living? Sherra was -- she's hilarious. On Jan. 25, 2018, the real court of Shelby County weighed in. Lorenzen Jr, then 15 years old, was the oldest of six, and the youngest, Sofia, was still a baby. On the call, a voice could be heard yelling, God ****" before it was followed by gunshots. Billy Ray Turner is charged with conspiring with Wright's ex-wife in the slaying. That Lorenzen didn't really know Bobby Cole. 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. Turner was expected to go to trial this month, but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed his proceedings. In my experience workin' homicides, there's always been somebody to come to that person's defense. Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal via USA Today Network, FILE. "Our primary concern is to offer our support to a friend and teammate.". This was the last time that anybody saw the former NBA star. He was 34. Memphis Grizzlies' Lorenzen Wright, center, slides by Denver Nuggets' Kenyon Martin, left, and DerMarr Johnson, right, as he drives to the basket during the first quarter Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, in Memphis, Tenn. Sherra Wright in a Memphis courtroom on Jan. 25, 2018. Thats all I want is my grandkids., I just hate what happened to my child, Marion continued, speaking to Sherra. Two days after dropping off Lorenzen at his ex-wife's home, his friend, Phil Dotson got an unexpected call. Both were arrested and charged in December 2017. Marc Perrusquia: Now, the $64,000 question about that is was Lorenzen a willing part of this? Log in. Mother Arrested on Child Abuse Charges After Toddler Dies From Head Trauma. OSherra Wright and co-defendant Billy Ray Turner appear in court in Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 5, 2018. After her, were twins Lamar and Shamar Wright who were then followed by their youngest, another daughter, Sofia Wright, who today, is in her early teens. Hes a celebrity from Memphis, so I thought this would be an open and shut case, he said. There, in the murky red clay water, they found a gun believed to be used in the killing. Being 6' 11" tall at 17 years old, he turned a lot of heads. Sherra Wright faces a charge of first-degree murder for his death. But it cast a shadow over Lorenzen's squeaky clean image and reinforced Sherra's accusations that he was involved in a high stakes drug transaction the night he was murdered. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Boy meets girl; boy and girl get married and have several kids; girl later murders boy for his life insurance money. Should I go after it, should I go to court?" Wright founded the Sierra Simone Wright Scholarship Fund after the death of his infant daughter in March 2003. Then, seven long years after the murder, police got the break they needed. 1:56. Name: Lorenzen Wright ( Lorenzen Wright ) Born: November 04, 1975 Age: 34 years old Died: July 19, 2010 Birthplace: Mississippi, USA Height: 211 Feet Occupation: Basketball player Tags: sport, a basketball player More info: show Wikipedia 0.0 /5 ( 0 votes) Content: show Lorenzen Wright: biography I mean, Lorenzen Wright was a true hometown hero. Wright's killing nearly 11 years ago is one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Memphis' history. Sherra Wright alleged that her conviction was "unlawfully induced" and involuntarily entered without her understanding the nature and consequences of the plea, her court filing showed. James Brown: Never had gotten romantically involved with an interview subject? Lorenzen Wright was a second-team all-American power forward from the University of Memphis who went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA for various teams. Not seeking death could signal that the prosecution believes this case is not open and shut. Most troubling for Lorenzen's family was that he seemed to have disappeared without a trace. Instead, he called for help. In the days after Wright went missing, she said his ex-wife told her Wright was with some women., I kept calling him all day and he didn't answer the phone, said Marion. The remains of Lorenzen Wright weighed 57 pounds. Toney Armstrong: If he is who this investigation says that he is -- he's a murderer. The two men had earlier tried to kill Wright in his Atlanta townhouse in early 2010 but did not succeed. Kelvin Cowans: I say, "Hey, the police have done this great thing. Lorenzen grew up a son of Memphis and played in the world's most elite bas. The pair eventually moved to Houston together with Wright Robinson's kids. Lorenzen Wright's Seven Children. And we just wasn't able to at that time. Sherra Wright pleaded guilty in a . And I'll give you a call later.". 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. Toney Armstrong served with the Memphis Police Department for 27 years and was their deputy director back then. Marc Perrusquia: It's huge. Ms. The list of children is Sierra Wright (born in 2002 but unfortunately died 11 months later), Lorenzen Wright Jr. (born on April 11, 1995), Loren Wright, Lamar Wright, Shamar Wright, Sofia Wright, and Lawson . DALLAS Sierra Wright, the 11-month-old daughter of Memphis Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright, died yesterday morning at the family's home in Memphis, Tenn. That frantic call was placed at 12:05 a.m. on the morning of July 19 -- just hours after Lorenzen was dropped off at Sherra's. Kelvin Cowans: Just "How could you? But he left nice looking kids here for his grandma. When he saw the announcement of her arrest on the news, Cowans was blown away. The stage was set for Wright Robinson and Turner to be tried together, but that all changed when Turner was faced with another legal matter. He has our support. Who Is Sithelo Shozi, Andile Mpisanes Girlfriend and Baby Mama? Turner was a landscaper, a yardman who happened to be a deacon in a small country church that Sherra attended, said Memphis journalist Marc Perrusquia. Two of Wright's children gave statements to the Tennessee Board of Parole to advocate for Sherra's early release in May 2022, while Marion spoke out against her release. In court, prosecutors said the break had come from Wright Robinson's cousin, Jimmie Martin. Hello? All Rights Reserved. Toney Armstrong: I can tell you that we threw everything but the kitchen sink at this investigation. Wright would go on to spend a total of 13 years in the league during which he played for teams such as the L.A. Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers. 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. By 2016, six years after the murder of hometown hero Lorenzen Wright, Memphis had all but given up hope that the crime would be solved. However, the writer is best known as Lorenzen Wright's ex-spouse. Jul 7, 2020 26 Dislike Share Save Thomas D3 1.63K subscribers Tribute to Sierra Wright, the 11-month-old daughter of Memphis Grizzlies' center Lorenzen Wright who passed away in February. Phil Dotson: That Sunday evening we had gone to pick up his son -- Lorenzen Jr. -- from the gym. He died on July 19, 2010 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her perfume was unfair, you know, and so, that's how it all started I had never interviewed a woman and then dated her, never crossed the line. Lorenzen and Wright had six children together. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman [to reporters on Feb. 26]: Two defendants, years and years, cold case for years and years. ", "And he was like, 'OK, all right, fine. "We literally threw everything we had at this investigation. ", 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. Wright and Turner pleaded not guilty to all charges, but the indictments revealed two startling claims. KCAL NEWS REPORT: Memphis police just announced Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife is now charged with murder. the grief over, you know, losing Lorenzen. I think what happened to the marriage was that they grew apart, Dotson said. 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. This is the true life story of retired NBA star, Lorenzen Wright. Wright eventually moved to the Atlanta Hawks and then was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001. He loved children. With the community still in shock, the city's mayor, A.C. Wharton, made this promise: Mayor A.C.Whatron [At memorial]: We are working night and day And that justice will be done. . In an interview with The Commercial Appeal after her guilty plea, Sherra Wright said she did so for the sake of her children. Armstrong's prayers were answered seven years after the murder of Lorenzen Wright on Nov. 9, 2017. Perched on the banks of the Mississippi River, Memphis, Tennessee, has always been a city of contrasts: famous for its place in music history and infamous for its place in the American civil rights movement. I just sat there. But look at it in a positive light. The two had recently divorced . A Child Survived a Serial Killer and Now Tells Her Story on Season Premiere of 'People Magazine Investigates' Everybody was cheering. Dr. Bill Adkins: If Lorenzen had never made the NBA, he'd be alive and well right now. In college, Wright scored more than 1,000 points and was mentioned on All-American team Never in my life did I think it would take so long [to solve].. Ultimately, it wasn't up to Sherra Wright. Dr. Bill Adkins: When you're used to spending $40,000, $50,000 a month in just change, just spendable income and you get accustomed to that, you know, $10,000 a month seems like poverty row. One, a previous murder attempt by Wright and Turner. Part of Alexander Moore Partners Ltd. Ngozika loves nothing more than to turn information into an exciting, delightful, and compelling article that informs and educates, inspires, and motivates the reader. But then just this thing of, you know, why can't they catch these guys? After they broke up, Wright Robinson relocated to California with her kids. ", I hope the truth comes out, Phil Dotson, another of his friends, told "20/20.". An insight into Wright and Robinson's martial life shows that it was less than perfect. Wright was the father of seven children. Among all of them is Lawson Wright. Gayle Rose: he was one young man who was working to make a difference in his children's lives, in other children's lives. Fourteen months after Lorenzen's death, Sherra received a million-dollar life insurance payout. Maybe I've been looking at guilt. After the gun announcement, investigators said they started monitoring Wright Robinsons and Turners cell phones, and alleged that they learned incriminating information. Marc Perrusquia has been writing for the Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, for almost 30 years. They got the wrong guy.". He called Dotson and the two arranged to hang out. "A Murder in Memphis" is set to air at . Wright, according to his ex-wife, left his home in Collierville, Tennessee on the night of July 18, 2010. She also insinuated that her husband was involved in some criminal activity by claiming that he left her house with drugs and cash. "So we drove to the house. 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