"To me he was invincible," Archie said. Martin was convicted and is currently serving prison time in that case. Divers pulled the gun out almost immediately. Wrights death shook his hometown of Memphis. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CBS/WREG/AP) The procession moved slowly and solemnly on Wednesday, a long line of mourners dressed in black and white, pausing in Relatives and friends fought off tears as they addressed the crowd, still in disbelief at the way he died. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Itll never be closure, because Ill never see my son again, Marion said. A 911 hang-up call from Wright's cell phone in the early morning hours of July 19 has become a key piece of evidence in the investigation. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The call was received by dispatchers in suburban Germantown, but they didn't alert patrol officers or commanders because they couldn't confirm that it came from inside their jurisdiction. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. On the tape, the 911 operator could hear an unidentified man yelling Hey, goddamn, as the sounds of gunfire erupted in the background. On the evening of July 18, 2010, Wright left his ex-wifes home in Collierville, Tennessee, with drugs and money to Martin said he told detectives in 2012 where the gun was located. Jeffrey L. Archie told the audience that he may never understand why someone would kill his brother. She wasn't gonna get no few years. Martin testified Thursday that Sherra Wright recruited him and Turner to kill Lorenzen, in a plot to receive the over $1 million in life insurance benefits after Lorenzen died. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. A little over a month later, Sherra Wright was arrested in California, along with Billy Ray Turner in Memphis. Wright She said she would visit her sons grave Monday night. In March 2003, Wright's 11-month-old daughter, Sierra, died of sudden infant death syndrome. He then denied a motion of acquittal made by the defense. GREAT NEWS! Tell Me Anything. The supposedly fictitious story centered around the life of a woman who marries an abusive and unfaithful basketball player. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Money, Marion said. In 2017, a huge break came in the investigation. subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. She later alleged that the former power forward was involved in criminal activity and had left her home at 11:30 p.m. with a box of drugs and cash. His mother and siblings moved to Memphis for his senior year in high school, and he became a star at Booker T. Washington High School. She said that patience paid off in the end. "We should all leave this hall with the thought that were going to do a little bit in Lorenzen's honor to make sure things like this don't happen again," Heisley said. I think that is purely fiction, said Bill Adkins, a close friend of Wright. In July 2019, his ex-wife, Sherra WrightRobinson, pleaded guilty to facilitating his death. WebEx-wife pleads guilty in killing of Lorenzen Wright. Memphis Police Sgt. Turner is serving a 16-year prison sentence on the separate gun charge. Deborah Vassar, mother of Lorenzen Wright, and Lorenzen Wright Jr. approach the casket of Lorenzen Wright during a memorial service honoring his life, Aug. 4, 2010, at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. A Memphis native, Wright was a 6-foot, 11-inch center who played 13 seasons in the NBA before he retired after the 2008-2009 season. Lorenzen Wright funeral and obituary March 22, 2022March 22, 2022by gordonofori Lorenzen Wrightwas a retired NBA player who was shot on Monday July 19, Check back for updates. Mesa Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Mesa, AZ - Echovita Judge Lee Coffee sentenced Turner, 51, to life in prison for the murder conviction. Who killed NBA star Lorenzen Wright? What we know - The We remain family owned, unlike our competitors. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55748448/lorenzen-wright. Sons David and Todd, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, and brother Russell C Livesay of Georgia. Family members linked to this person will appear here. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. "Not just facilitation, he got charged with the real deal crime, Murder, first degree.". Billy Ray Turner found guilty of first-degree murder. Make sure that the file is a photo. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. His death came as a shock to the world of the National Basketball Association. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. In court, prosecutors said Wright Robinson's cousin, Jimmie Martin, started talking to investigators about Wrights murder while awaiting sentencing in an unrelated murder case that had occurred three years prior to Wrights death. A Murder in Memphis debuts Wednesday, July 14, at 9 p.m. Burial will be at the City of Mesa Cemetery. On July 19, 2010, Memphis lost one of its local stars when Lorenzen Wright was murdered. ET on ESPN. His decomposing remains were found in a Memphis field. Phoenix Remembers, powered by Legacy.com, is the most timely and comprehensive collection of Phoenix obituaries and local obituaries from the Phoenix Money, Marion said. At the time, Wright Robinson claimed to investigators that Wright was connected to drugs. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. Money the motive behind ex-wifes 2010 plot to kill retired NBA Search above to list available cemeteries. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. According to prosecutors, Martin claimed that after Wright was murdered, Wright Robinson and Turner confessed to him that they did it and needed his help in disposing the evidence, which is how he knew the location of the murder weapon. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Lorenzen Wright (55748448)? Days later, police discovered the distressed caller was 34-year-old former NBA player Lorenzen Wright. In the days he was missing, police said they didn't expect foul play. Martin was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the crime, providing information to investigators in exchange for immunity. Marion, who was in the courtroom that day, said that after 12 years, she felt like she can sleep now. Raymond Lincoln Lorenzen - Bunker Family Funerals He will be sentenced for the other charges at a later date. Kelvin Cowans, Sherra's ex-boyfriend who dated her after Lorenzen's death, called Wright in California to tell her police had found the murder weapon. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Sherra Wright said she lured her ex-husband to the field by telling him that she was going to meet someone there to get some money, Martin testified. She later pleaded guilty to the facilitation of murder and was sentenced to 30 years behind bars. Wright's body was found July 28 in woods outside Memphis after he had been missing for 10 days. Lorenzen Wright funeral and obituary March 22, 2022March 22, 2022by gordonofori Lorenzen Wrightwas a retired NBA player who was shot on Monday July 19, 2010. Martin said he went to the Memphis field with Sherra Wright some days after the shooting and she essentially confessed. Hundreds of fans, friends and family members of the former NBA player filed into the FedEx Forum in Memphis for Wright's memorial service and funeral, remembering the man many called "Ren" as a loving, gentle, charitable family man. NBC's "Dateline" will show "The Murder of Lorenzen Wright" with updates on the former NBA player's killing in 2010 and new interviews from Wright's family and those close to the case. Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. I just dont believe it. A motive for the slaying was not made clear during the trial, though prosecutors said the killers were driven by jealousy and greed. Wright said she had been taking classes inside prison and will have an outside support system. Learn more about managing a memorial . Martin also said Turner and Wright got rid of evidence from the shooting scene and he went with Turner to dispose of the weapon by dumping it in a north Mississippi lake. Among the mourners was Wrights ex-wife Sherra, whom he had met when he was 16 and she was 21. He was a member of their squads that reached two consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. / CBS News. Turner and Sherra Wright were indicted in December 2017, more than seven years after the killing. Search Mesa obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He had been shot 11 times. The entire footage from the Lorenzen Wright Memorial held at the Fed Ex Forum. While growing up, Wright's father, who was paralyzed after being shot in the spine, coached him on the basketball court and taught him to be a family man off the court. Reporting Contributed by CBS Affiliate WREG. Example video title will go here for this video. Lorenzen Wright Obituary (1975-2010) - Memphis, TN Perry said Martin not Turner was in Memphis the night Lorenzen Wright was shot. Around midnight on July 19, 2010, Germantown Police received a fateful 911 call from Lorenzen Wright. It was later found by FBI divers. The board voted to deny parole for Sherra Wright, who entered a guilty plea in July 2019 to facilitation of first-degree murder in her ex-husband's killing. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)], Masseur Charged With Sexually Assaulting Patron at Wifes Acupuncture Clinic, Police Investigating Break-in at Home of Slain Neurosurgeon, North Carolina Cop, Wife Found Shot Dead in Fayetteville Home, was sentenced to life in prison for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged Sherra asked Turner and Martin to kill Lorenzen in Atlanta, then Memphis, in 2010. Marion remained a driving force behind the investigation and said she would call the police station everyday to ask if they had found any new information. Armed with handguns, Turner and Martin went to Wrights condo in Atlanta, entered through a window and found someone sleeping on the couch in the living room but it was not Lorenzen Wright, Martin testified. "To me he was invincible," Archie said. Sherra Wright received the hearing based on her so-called "safety valve" date, which is the earliest possible release date for some inmates under an executive order regarding prison overcrowding. Thats all I want is my grandkids.. She will get credit for time served (nearly two years). The slaying is one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Memphis history. Weve updated the security on the site. Lorenzen Wright murder case: Man found guilty in the murder of Sometime in 2012, an affidavit claims Jimmie Martin, serving time in prison for an unrelated second-degree murder charge, struck a deal with the FBI for immunity in the Lorenzen Wright case in exchange for information leading to Sherra Wright and Billy Ray Turner, at the time unnamed suspects. Listen to a previous episode on the case below. "He would still be a mommas boy if he was here now.". In college, Wright scored more than 1,000 Thanks for your help! Neither Turner nor Sherra Wright testified during the trial. His decomposing remains were found in a Memphis field. After roughly two hours, they returned with a unanimous guilty verdict, sending Turner to jail likely for the rest of his life, and marking the end of one of the highest-profile murder cases in Memphis history. Dennis Evans outlined phone records and deleted messages between Turner and Sherra Wright in the weeks before and after Lorenzen Wright's death. Investigators began monitoring Wright Robinsons and Turners cell phones and alleged that they had learned incriminating information. I wasn't gonna never get tired until I die 'cause somebody had to pay for killing my child.. Lorenzen Wright Trump asks for mistrial in E. 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The trial of Billy Ray Turner, the man accused of killing Lorenzen Wright, continued Friday morning. The night Lorenzen Wright was fatally shot. Hundreds of fans, friends and family members of the former NBA player filed into the FedEx Forum in Memphis for Wright's memorial service and funeral, As people mourned, police worked to find the killers. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A jury on Monday convicted a Tennessee man in the slaying of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, whose bullet-riddled body was found in a field nearly 12 years ago in his hometown of Memphis. "Miss Wright does appear to be an ongoing danger to Shelby County, Tennessee," said Coffee at the time. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Verify and try again. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman defended Martins testimony, saying Martins immunity agreement required him to tell the truth and statements given to investigators and prosecutors have been consistent. Her next parole hearing is scheduled for May 2027. Turner and Sherra Wright were indicted in December 2017, more than seven years after the killing. Marion, the slain players mother, said shes convinced the insurance policy was Sherra Wrights motivation. "I'm just glad we got him, it took 12 years, I don't care if it took 24, if he was guilty at the end I wouldn't mind," Marion said. Slain NBA player Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife, Sherra Wright, has been denied parole from a 30-year prison sentence she's serving after pleading guilty to Instead of expressing outrage, Marion focused on moving forward with her six grandchildren who are said to be standing by their mother. It was later found by FBI divers. Two of her children gave statements on her behalf. Sherra, I want to thank you for giving me my grandchildren, thats what I want to thank you for, she said in court. After the state rested, Judge Coffee said there was more than enough corroborating evidence of conspiracy, first degree murder, and attempted first degree murder, including items and bullet casings recovered at crime scene. RELATED: Big Break In Lorenzen Wright Case: Alleged Murder Weapon Found In Mississippi Lake. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany. Lorenzen Wright was visiting Memphis from Atlanta. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A jury on Monday convicted a Tennessee man in the slaying of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, whose bullet-riddled body was found in a field nearly 12 years ago in his hometown of Memphis. RELATED: Lorenzen Wrights Family and Close Friends React to Sherra Wrights Arrest. Sherra Wright received $1 million from her ex-husband's life insurance policy and settled a court dispute in 2014 over how she spent the insurance money meant to benefit their six children. A Tennessee woman convicted of killing her ex-husband, one-time NBA star Lorenzen Wright, has been denied parole. Murdered Former NBA Player Lorenzen Wright ET on Investigation Discovery. WebHe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Minnie Bass Lorenzen. Born Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright, he attended Booker T. Washington High School (Memphis), and played collegiate basketball at the University of Memphis. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. At the time, Sherra said the family was financially sound, with $1.4 million in "assets on hand.". They later picked up Wrights son and Dotson dropped them off at Sherras home in a Memphis suburb around 10 p.m. I drove off and I never heard from him again, says Dotson. Martin told prosecutor Paul Hagerman that he was in Batesville, Mississippi, at the time of the shooting just after midnight on July 19, 2010. This is just some satisfaction for me and my family.. Relatives and friends fought off tears as they addressed the crowd, still in disbelief at the way he died. I cant say I was completely surprised, says Dotson. Show more. Funeral Services are Saturday, Jan. 7th at the Kimball Stake Center 1266 S. 32nd St. Mesa Az. In the years that Lorenzen and Sherra Wright were married, they welcomed seven beautiful children into their lives. On April 11, 1995, their first child Lorenzen Wright Jr. was born. Then came their eldest daughter Loren Wright. Billy Ray Turner's first-degree murder trial of Lorenzen Wright, nearly 12 years in the making, finally kicked off on March 14, 2022, with Judge Coffee selecting a jury. Add to your scrapbook. Lorenzen Wright (1975-2010) - Find a Grave Memorial Please enter valid email address to continue. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. According to staff, Wright berated workers, stripped off her clothes, and flooded a toilet. Wright's body was found July 28 in woods outside Memphis after he had been missing for 10 days. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. "As loving as Lorenzen was, and he gave so much to so many people, if we can just come together and love each other instead of all this violence, it will be a much better world," Herb Wright said after the service. Martin told prosecutor Paul Hagerman that he was in Batesville, Mississippi, at the time of the shooting just after midnight on 19 July 2010. Learn more about merges. Friends and family of slain NBA basketball player Lorenzen Wright grieve at the casket of Wright during a memorial service at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010. Sherra's and Turner's later defense would center heavily around Martin's credibility as a witness, Sherra going as far as to claim Martin had more evidence pointing to him as the killer than she did. Coffee urged Marion to remember the good things and celebrate Lorenzen's life, as she nodded in agreement with Coffee's words. In March, Billy Ray Turner, identified as another suspect in the murder, was sentenced to life in prison for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy. According to Martin, she said that she and Turner ambushed and chased Lorenzen Wright, who jumped a fence and tried to run away before they shot him in the field. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. In December 2017, police arrested Sherra, along with her friend Billy Turner, and charged them with Wrights murder. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Billy Ray Turner is charged with conspiring with Sherra Wright to killer her ex-husband, retired NBA player Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in a swampy field Memphis in 2010.