She said Sherra Wright should serve the full 30 years of her sentence. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. She also pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit attempted first degree murder, and sentenced to a total of 38 years in jail. Marion, the slain players mother, said shes convinced the insurance policy was Sherra Wrights motivation. Wright In the days he was missing, police said they didn't expect foul play. This is just some satisfaction for me and my family.'. Turner and Martin returned home without killing anyone. 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 His decomposing body was found riddled with bullet wounds in a swampy field in east Memphis on July 28, 2010. Lorenzen Wright was visiting Memphis from Atlanta. Tennessee man gets life in prison for murdering former NBA Who killed NBA star Lorenzen Wright? What we know - The (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, slaying of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright. For over a decade, Deborah Marion has been fighting for answers. Lorenzen Wright Funeral: Slain NBA Player WebEx-wife pleads guilty in killing of Lorenzen Wright. Try again later. Example video title will go here for this video. Board member Barrett Rich presided over the hearing and recommended that the board deny parole. Funeral Services are Saturday, Jan. 7th at the Kimball Stake Center 1266 S. 32nd St. Mesa Az. Lorenzen Wright (1975-2010) - Find a Grave Memorial Sherra Wright would be eligible for parole after 30% of the sentence is served, after 9 years. 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. Leading the group was Lorenzen's father, mother, and ex-wife Sherra with their six children. 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. Days later, police discovered the distressed caller was 34-year-old former NBA player Lorenzen Wright. I think that is purely fiction, said Bill Adkins, a close friend of Wright. 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. "Miss Wright does appear to be an ongoing danger to Shelby County, Tennessee," said Coffee at the time. Failed to report flower. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. 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. "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. (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. 12 years later, a guilty verdict brings the high-profile case to an end. 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. "I want you to know that we are working day and night, not to see that things are done quickly, not to rush, but that things are done right and that justice will be done," Wharton said. Man sentenced to life for murder of former NBA star Lorenzen While with the Tigers, Wright emerged as a star player, achieving All-American status, All-Great Midwest Conference and All-Conference USA honors. Divers pulled the gun out almost immediately. He was 34. Martin was convicted and is currently serving prison time, in that case. A little over a month later, Sherra Wright was arrested in California, along with Billy Ray Turner in Memphis. 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. Five years after the murder, Wright Robinson published a novel in 2015 titled Mr. A motive for the slaying was not clear, though Hagerman said the killers were driven by jealousy and greed. She will be eligible for parole as early as May 2027. 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. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. Show more. In exchange, prosecutors lessened her sentence to 30 years in prison. Mesa Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Mesa, AZ - Echovita At the time, Wright Robinson claimed to investigators that Wright was connected to drugs. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Martin said he told detectives in 2012 where the gun was located. His mother, Deborah Wright, also attended. He was preceded in death by his father Fred P. Lorenzen and Mother Letha Livesay. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. How Lorenzen Wright's widow blew his $1m life insurance in At the end of the trial, Coffee called Wright "a sacred son" of Memphis. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Authorities also discovered that Sherra was the trustee of Wrights $1 million life insurance policy. In college, Wright scored more than 1,000 Meanwhile, Sherra Wright sued the Shelby County Sheriff's Office from her jail cell in December, 2020. It was later found by FBI divers. Lorenzen Prosecutor Paul Hagerman previously issued a statement calling the athletes death a violent offense, an offense that has torn apart a family, an offense thats been highlighted throughout Memphis and the media and everything else.. In closing arguments, defense attorney John Keith Perry said Martins crazy, contrived story was not believable. based on information from your browser. An ABC 20/20 report that aired Friday detailed the circumstances around his He served in the U.S. Army in Germany. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. ET on ABC. He then went to the University of Memphis, where he played two seasons and was an All-America selection after his sophomore year. Three of the seven parole board members decided against releasing Wright; the victims mother released an impact statement opposing the release. Both Wright Robinson and Turner were arrested and charged in December 2017. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Family and friends started to worry when days passed and Wright didnt return their phone calls. The $20 million bond amount is tied to both the murder allegations of Lorenzen Wright and her behavior in jail. Money, Marion said. 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. He then denied a motion of acquittal made by the defense. Turner and Martin returned home without killing anyone. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. 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 The night Lorenzen Wright was fatally shot. He will be sentenced for the other charges at a later date. Verify and try again. His decomposing remains were found in a Memphis field. 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. GREAT NEWS! Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The suit claimed that Lorenzen had directed the money be spent on their six children, but the Commercial Appeal reported at the time that Sherra had spent the money on expenses including: $339,000 for purchase and improvement to a new home. Previous violations while at the Shelby County Jail played a role in the judge setting that bond amount. Wright's body was found July 28 in woods outside Memphis after he had been missing for 10 days. 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. Editor's note: Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports 1 collaborated on a three-part investigation looking into the 2010 murder of ex-NBA playerLorenzenWright. Wright pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit first degree murder in Lorenzen's death July 25, 2019. Judge Lee Coffee sentenced Turner, 51, to life in prison for the murder conviction. 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. Wright's six children and ex-wife were in the procession, trailed by his father, Herb Wright, who uses a wheelchair. Evans told the courtroom. 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. In November, 2017, Jimmie Martin led police to the lake in Walnut, Mississippi, where the murder weapon had been dumped. There was a problem getting your location. "Not just facilitation, he got charged with the real deal crime, Murder, first degree.". Try again later. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. They later had six children together. They gone., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. A jury on Monday convicted a Tennessee man in the murder of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, who was found shot dead in a field nearly 12 years ago in his hometown of Memphis. Wrights supporters allege the book is fiction. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? He was supposed to have been coming to the baby shower. Days later, police discovered the distressed caller was 34-year-old former NBA player Lorenzen Wright. In closing arguments, Perry said Martins crazy, contrived' story was not believable. 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. Billy Ray Turner is charged with conspiring with Wright's ex-wife in the slaying. "There's no reason for anybody to take him like this.". Resend Activation Email. Itll never be closure, because Ill never see my son again, Marion said. The 911 operator initially dismissed the call and never reported it, as no information could be obtained. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Under Tennessee Law, the judge immediately sentenced Turner to life in prison. Martin testified that Sherra Wright recruited him and Turner to kill Lorenzen Wright. 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. Thats what it was about. Lorenzen Wright "There's no reason for anybody to take him like this.". Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. 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, Prosecutors allege Turner and Martin were asked by Lorenzen Wrights ex-wife, Sherra Wright, to kill him in Atlanta, then Memphis, in 2010. However, she did not appear in court for the suit, and a judge threw out the case. Lorenzen Wright Thanks for your help! Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Investigators began monitoring Wright Robinsons and Turners cell phones and alleged that they had learned incriminating information. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Wrights decomposing body was found riddled with bullet wounds in a swampy field in east Memphis on July 28, 2010. Judge Coffee spoke directly to Deborah Marion, who was present at the trial Monday, like every day before that. 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. Thats what it was about. 4Y; Bond for ex-wife of slain NBAer Wright at $20M. For more on the disturbing slaying of NBA star Lorenzen Wright, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this weeks issue, on newsstands now. Sherra Wright appeared at a parole hearing May 11 at the prison in Nashville where she is being held. RELATED: Lorenzen Wrights Family and Close Friends React to Sherra Wrights Arrest. Lorenzen Wright was visiting Memphis from Atlanta. Wife of murdered NBA player Lorenzen Wright denied First published on August 5, 2010 / 12:56 PM. Perry said Martin not Turner was in Memphis the night Lorenzen Wright was shot. Kappa Alpha Psi members pay tribute to the family and father of slain NBA basketball player Lorenzen Wright during a memorial service and funeral for Wright at Lorenzen Wright funeral and obituary March 22, 2022March 22, 2022by gordonofori Lorenzen Wrightwas a retired NBA player who was shot on Monday July 19,
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