Watch the full story on "20/20" FRIDAY at 9 p.m. Wright's six children and ex-wife were in the procession, trailed by his father, Herb Wright, who uses a wheelchair. Mesa Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Mesa, AZ - Echovita Call (480) 964-8686 to learn more. A little over a month later, Sherra Wright was arrested in California, along with Billy Ray Turner in Memphis. LORENZEN WRIGHT There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. His death came as a shock to the world of the National Basketball Association. A Tennessee woman convicted of killing her ex-husband, one-time NBA star Lorenzen Wright, has been denied parole. He worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber for 40 yrs. 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. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Now that Lorenzen's murder has finally been solved, Memphis can move forward, towards remembering the good times with their hometown star. Oops, something didn't work. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife will not be granted early release from a 30-year prison sentence she received after pleading guilty to plotting the retired NBA player's 2010 slaying, the Tennessee Board of Parole said Monday. Update: NBA Player Lorenzen Wrights Wife Denied Parole After Coffee called Wright a sacred son of Memphis and told his mother, Deborah Marion, that the trial might not bring her closure but would celebrate the good about her son. Sherra, I want to thank you for giving me my grandchildren, thats what I want to thank you for, she said in court. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. No arrests have been made and Memphis police will not discuss whether they have a motive or suspects. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. When Lorenzen was murdered, the city was in shock, absolutely shocked, because first of all no one ever thought something like this would happen and to one of our heroes, says Adkins. Wright was missing for nine days before his remains were found in a wooded area off a desolate road in southeast Memphis that he used to take as a shortcut to his mothers house. It showed Turner making calls near Sherra Wright's home hours before the shooting. "He would still be a mommas boy if he was here now.". But I left the meeting with a whole lot of information I didnt know.. In March 2003, Wright's 11-month-old daughter, Sierra, died of sudden infant death syndrome. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Lorenzen Wright Sons David and Todd, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, and brother Russell C Livesay of Georgia. The 34-year-old was shot to death in what police are calling a homicide. I think that is purely fiction, said Bill Adkins, a close friend of Wright. His mother, Deborah Wright, also attended. Raymond Lincoln Lorenzen - Bunker Family Funerals I think she is a calculating, heartless person.. We remain family owned, unlike our competitors. Learn about how to make the most of 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. Lorenzen Wright was visiting Memphis from Atlanta. He was supposed to have been coming to the baby shower. In July 2019, his ex-wife, Sherra WrightRobinson, pleaded guilty to facilitating his death. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Our experts predict every series, 2023 NBA playoffs: Second-round series, Finals, MVP odds, 'He looks better than ever': Why the Orlando bubble was 'just the beginning' for Jamal Murray, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics. Around midnight on July 19, 2010, Germantown Police received a fateful 911 call from Lorenzen Wright. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The seven-year investigation into Lorenzen Wrights murder was one of the Memphis Police Departments most high-profile unsolved cases. 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. 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. Born Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright, he attended Booker T. Washington High School (Memphis), and played collegiate basketball at the University of Memphis. In November, 2017, Jimmie Martin led police to the lake in Walnut, Mississippi, where the murder weapon had been dumped. In college, Wright scored more than 1,000 Simple as that," she said. 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. Billy Ray Turner and Sherra Wright were indicted on first-degree murder charges in December 2017, more than seven years after the killing. Coffee urged Marion to remember the good things and celebrate Lorenzen's life, as she nodded in agreement with Coffee's words. Lorenzen Wright Board member Barrett Rich presided over the hearing and recommended that the board deny parole. "We should all leave this hall with the thought that we're going to do a little bit in Lorenzen's honor to make sure things like this don't happen again," Heisley said. Leading the group was Lorenzen's father, mother, and ex-wife Sherra with their six children. He was 34. The Memphis basketball star could be heard shouting as shots were fired. 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. Parts of his testimony were challenged by defense attorney John Keith Perry, who said the information Martin gave to investigators was a farce and full of lies. We remain available 24/7 to serve families. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The procession moved slowly and solemnly on Wednesday, a long line of mourners dressed in black and white, pausing in front of the silver casket of their slain native son Lorenzen Wright. 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. This is just some satisfaction for me and my family.'. 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. The jury heard a chilling 911 call made by Lorenzen Wright that captured the pop-pop-pop sound of multiple gunshots. Neither Turner nor Sherra Wright testified during the trial. She will be eligible for parole as early as May 2027. The defense called one witness - Jennifer Bogan - who testified that Turner attended a cookout at her Collierville home the evening of July 18, 2010 - roughly two hours before Lorenzen Wright made the 911 amid gunshots. He will be sentenced for the other charges at a later date. Lorenzen Wright Obituary (1975-2010) - Memphis, TN 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. Current Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph and former NBA player Damon Stoudemire also were there. Investigators began monitoring Wright Robinsons and Turners cell phones and alleged that they had learned incriminating information. Martin testified that he and Turner met with Sherra Wright to plan the killing and went to Lorenzen Wrights condominium in Atlanta to shoot him, with an understanding that he would get paid. "It's a celebration for me because we've got somebody elseyou know for actually doing what they did," Said Deborah Marion, Lorenzen's mother, after the guilty verdict was delivered. Eventually, a trial date was set for October, 2021, but Turner's lawyers filed 15 motions to have his trial reset to when it eventually was held; March, 2022. Martin has not been charged in connection with Wrights death. Former NBA player Lorenzen Wright was found in Mississippi dead of multiple gunshot wounds back in 2010 after being reported missing days before in Tennessee. 9.71K subscribers. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? At the time of his death, Wright had retired from the league in 2009 where he had earned an estimated $55 million over the course of 13 seasons in the NBA. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Turner had already pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon as a convicted felon after he was found with two guns when he was arrested in Wrights killing in 2017. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. He said Shelby County courtrooms were not suitable for trying many cases, and certainly not cases during a pandemic. Wright Robinson initially pleaded not guilty but later agreed to a plea deal on July 25, 2019, and pleaded guilty to the facilitation of first-degree murder. Judge Lee Coffee sentenced Turner, 51, to life in prison for the murder conviction. On the tape, the 911 operator could hear an unidentified man yelling Hey, goddamn, as the sounds of gunfire erupted in the background. Family members linked to this person will appear here. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Sherra Wright listens as prosecutor Paul Hagerman reads a list of evidence against her during a hearing in Judge Lee Coffee's court in Memphis, Tenn., July 25, 2019. For more on the disturbing slaying of NBA star Lorenzen Wright, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this weeks issue, on newsstands now. Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, USA. In exchange, prosecutors lessened her sentence to 30 years in prison. The 12-person jury deliberated for about two hours before it found Billy Ray Turner guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in the death of Wright, who played 13 seasons in the NBA before he retired after the 2008-09 campaign. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Wright A motive for the slaying was not clear, though Hagerman said the killers were driven by jealousy and greed. Lorenzen Hes not going to come back anyway., RELATED: Devoted Or Deceived: The Man Who Loved Sherra Wright, Cowans said murder investigators paid him a visit hed never forget. Funeral Services are Saturday, Jan. 7th at the Kimball Stake Center 1266 S. 32nd St. Mesa Az. Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright Sr. was born in Memphis but lived as a youth Oxford, Miss. 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. 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. Money the motive behind ex-wifes 2010 plot to kill retired NBA I just dont believe it. Billy Ray Turner found guilty of first-degree murder. Martin, still serving time for the unrelated murder charge, provided damning new testimony in the trial. A litany of former NBA brethren paid their respects, including Memphis hero Penny Hardaway, Elliot Perry, Bonzi Wells, and former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson. Citing witness testimony, Scofield said Turner responded: What do you want me to do, Sherra?'. Sherra Wright entered a surprise guilty plea to facilitation of murder in July 2019 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Billy Ray Turner is charged with conspiring with Wright's ex-wife in the slaying. Top police officials in Germantown said they didn't learn of the call until July 27 -- eight days after it was made and five days after Wright's family reported him missing. It all began in July 2010. Authorities also discovered that Sherra was the trustee of Wrights $1 million life insurance policy. Friends and family have accused authorities of dragging their feet. Wright was missing for nine days before his severely decomposed body was found on July 28, in a field near the TPC Southwind Golf Course. Tenn. Man Found Guilty of Murdering NBA Star Lorenzen Wright, Sentenced to Life in Prison, An Ohio Art Student Mysteriously Vanished 12 Years Ago. A system error has occurred. Resend Activation Email. "That's the biggest service you could pay him.". MEMPHIS, Tenn. The trial of Billy Ray Turner, the man accused of killing Lorenzen Wright, continued Friday morning. Martin was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the crime, providing information to investigators in exchange for immunity. Phoenix Obituaries | Obits for the Phoenix, AZ Area - Legacy.com GREAT NEWS! Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? 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. 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. At the end of the trial, Coffee called Wright "a sacred son" of Memphis. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. WebHe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Minnie Bass Lorenzen. His decomposing remains were found in a Memphis field. According to police, Martin and Turner cleaned up the crime scene, and threw the murder weapon into a lake in Walnut, Mississippi. For thirteen seasons (1996 to 2009), he played at the center and forward positions in the National Basketball Association with the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers. Current Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph and former NBA player Damon Stoudemire also were there. Memphis mayor A C Wharton pledged to the family that justice will be served. She will get credit for time served (nearly two years). Wrights supporters allege the book is fiction. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Tennessee's Department of Correction said she has received more than three years of credit related to her time served. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Turner had already pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon as a convicted felon after he was found with two guns when he was arrested in Wrights killing in 2017. "To me he was invincible," Archie said. Martin testified that Sherra Wright recruited him and Turner to kill Lorenzen Wright. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. I wasn't gonna never get tired until I die 'cause somebody had to pay for killing my child.. She said she would visit her sons grave Monday night. RELATED: Lorenzen Wrights Family and Close Friends React to Sherra Wrights Arrest. Jeffrey L. Archie told the audience that he may never understand why someone would kill his brother. 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. 9458 Obituaries. Investigators looked into Wright Robinsons claims, but Wright was never implicated in any criminal activity. The ex-wife of former NBA center Lorenzen Wright, 34, recruited both her lover and her cousin to murder the basketball star, a prosecutor said Tuesday during opening statements. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Sherra Wright was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of first-degree murder seven years after 34-year-old Lorenzen Wrights decomposed body was found after he was reported missing in July 2010. No arrests have been made and Memphis police will not discuss whether they have a motive or suspects. Lorenzen Wright funeral and obituary March 22, 2022March 22, 2022by gordonofori Lorenzen Wrightwas a retired NBA player who was shot on Monday July 19, He then denied a motion of acquittal made by the defense. The 911 operator initially dismissed the call and never reported it, as no information could be obtained. Cowans said Wrights response had him second-guessing everything about their relationship. 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. 0 cemeteries found in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA. While with the Tigers, Wright emerged as a star player, achieving All-American status, All-Great Midwest Conference and All-Conference USA honors. RELATED: COVID delays trial for Billy Ray Turner, accused of killing former NBA star Lorenzen Wright. Memphis Police Sgt. Money, Marion said. Fans, friends, family honor Lorenzen Wright at memorial 7 in 1996 by the Los Angeles Clippers where he spent three seasons before moving onto the Atlanta Hawks, for two separate stints, Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008-09. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. The night Lorenzen Wright was fatally shot. The $20 million bond amount is tied to both the murder allegations of Lorenzen Wright and her behavior in jail. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Weve updated the security on the site. Sherra Wright was there when defendant Billy Ray Turner, 51, shot and killed her former husband, according to Shelby County prosecutor Paul Jeffrey L. Archie told the audience that he may never understand why someone would kill his brother. She feared that Mr. Wright would never leave her alone, and she recruited Billy Turner to kill Mr. Wright, Ganguli said. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Prosecutor Austin Scofield said Sherra Wright told Turner during a meeting at her house that Lorenzen Wright had a hit out on her. Reporting Contributed by CBS Affiliate WREG. Deborah Marion was the mother of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, who was found shot in 2010. His mother, Deborah Wright, also attended. CNN Nearly 12 years after his death rocked the basketball world, former NBA player Lorenzen Wrights murder case came to a close Monday when a Memphis Among the mourners was Wrights ex-wife Sherra, whom he had met when he was 16 and she was 21. In December 2017, police arrested Sherra, along with her friend Billy Turner, and charged them with Wrights murder. Their arrest came after a gun that was allegedly used to shoot Wright was found in a Walnut, Mississippi, lake. He had been shot 11 times. Prosecutors allege Wrights ex-wife, Sherra Wright, masterminded a plan to kill her ex-husband and recruited Turner and her cousin, Jimmie Martin, to help her. She later pleaded guilty to the facilitation of murder and was sentenced to 30 years behind bars. There is a problem with your email/password. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. In closing arguments, defense attorney John Keith Perry said Martins crazy, contrived story was not believable. Subscribe. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. There was an error deleting this problem. This is a carousel with slides. After one week of testimony, the jury deliberated for a little over two hours, finding Turner guilty on all three counts: first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Lorenzen Wright His decomposing remains were found in a Memphis field. 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 front of the silver casket of Memphis' slain native son Lorenzen Wright. Marion said she knew something was wrong when Wright didnt show up to his sisters baby shower. 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. Sherra was there at the funeral and gave me a hug, and thanked me for doing such a nice eulogy, Wrights friend, pastor Bill Adkins, tells PEOPLE. / CBS News. "I feel like jumping for joy every time I think about what they said, 'We found the gun in Walnut, Mississippi,'" Deborah Marion said at the time. Sherra Wright appeared at a parole hearing May 11 at the prison in Nashville where she is being held. Prosecutors allege Wrights ex-wife, Sherra Wright, masterminded a plan to kill her ex-husband and recruited Turner and her cousin, Jimmie Martin, to help her. subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. Marion, who was in the courtroom that day, said that after 12 years, she felt like she can sleep now. ET on Investigation Discovery. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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. The 12-person jury deliberated for about two hours before it found Billy Ray Turner guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy in the death of Wright, a 6-foot, 11-inch center who played 13 seasons in the NBA before he retired after the 2008-2009 season. A litany of former NBA brethren paid their respects, including Memphis hero Penny Hardaway, Elliot Perry, Bonzi Wells, and former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson. In closing arguments, Perry said Martins crazy, contrived' story was not believable. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. At the time of Wrights slaying, Martin was facing charges of killing his girlfriend, and he said his cousin helped pay part of his legal fees. RELATED: Big Break In Lorenzen Wright Case: Alleged Murder Weapon Found In Mississippi Lake. Wright spent five of his 13 seasons in the NBA with the team from the city he was born. According to Bleacher Report, Sherra Wright said at the time Lorenzen was carrying a "considerable sum of money.". Turner is serving a 16-year prison sentence on the separate gun charge. Lorenzen Wright funeral RELATED: Prosecutors Reveal Several Violations Against Sherra Wright While Locked Up In Jail East. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Lorenzen Wright Funeral: Slain NBA Player Lorenzen Wright's slaying is one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Memphis history. The case of Lorenzen Wright's murder has taken many twists and turns since 2010, and ABC24 took a look back to see exactly what led up to today's decision. 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