Wright spent five of his 13 seasons in the NBA with the team from the city he was born. ", RELATED: Billy Ray Turner found guilty of first-degree murder in killing of Memphis basketball star Lorenzen Wright. Memphis police initially called the case a "death investigation," and it would be some time before foul play was reported. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Lorenzen's father sued Sherra Wright after finding that Sherra had spent all but $5.05 of Lorenzen's $1 million life insurance payment on "luxury expenses" within months of Lorenzen's passing. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. As Turner continued to await a trial date, the COVID-19 pandemic raged in the Mid-South, and forced constant delays in his trial. Search Mesa obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. Marion, who was in the courtroom that day, said that after 12 years, she felt like she can sleep now. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He was shot to death in what police are calling a homicide. She was gonna get some lifetime [if the case went to trial], said Marion. "At 12:12, Mr. [Jimmie] Martin's phone is calling Mr. Turner's phone at the same that Mr. Lorenzen is calling 911," Sgt. 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. I kept calling him all day and he didn't answer the phone, said Marion. Try again later. 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 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. She later pleaded guilty to the facilitation of murder and was sentenced to 30 years behind bars. Prosecutors alleged Sherra asked Turner and Martin to kill Lorenzen in Atlanta, then Memphis, in 2010. Divers pulled the gun out almost immediately. She said that patience paid off in the end. Three of the seven parole board members decided against releasing Wright; the victims mother released an impact statement opposing the release. It was later found by FBI divers. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Turner and Sherra Wright were indicted in December 2017, more than seven years after the killing. 1.6K. We remain family owned, unlike our competitors. Drag images here or select from your computer for Lorenzen Wright memorial. "But we got him now. Judge Lee Coffee sentenced Turner, 51, to life in prison for the murder conviction. She feared that Mr. Wright would never leave her alone, and she recruited Billy Turner to kill Mr. Wright, Ganguli said. While with the Tigers, Wright emerged as a star player, achieving All-American status, All-Great Midwest Conference and All-Conference USA honors. 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. Around midnight on July 19, 2010, Germantown Police received a fateful 911 call from Lorenzen Wright. 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. Billy Ray Turner in court in March of 2022. This is a carousel with slides. Turner is serving a 16-year prison sentence on the separate gun charge. based on information from your browser. Ms. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Memphis mayor A C Wharton pledged to the family that justice will be served. She wasn't gonna get no few years. They gone., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Sons David and Todd, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, and brother Russell C Livesay of Georgia. "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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said Wright had movie star looks with an infectious smile, and served as the team's leader. Martin told prosecutor Paul Hagerman that he was in Batesville, Mississippi, at the time of the shooting just after midnight on July 19, 2010. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. All night now., Lorenzens spirit been with me the whole time, she said. 9.71K subscribers. How Lorenzen Wright's widow blew his $1m life insurance in Thanks for your help! ", Fans, friends, family honor Wright at memorial, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Hobbled Butler serves as 'decoy' late in Heat win, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, 'This one's on me': Brunson self-critical after loss, Jokic on Murray's playoffs: 'We are following him', Rivers: Embiid likely doubtful for G1 vs. Celtics, 'This is probably his best shot': Why the time is now for Harden and the 76ers, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Tigers coach fumes at Zaire v Dwyane comparisons after loss, Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? It showed Turner making calls near Sherra Wright's home hours before the shooting. ET on Investigation Discovery. Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright Sr. was born in Memphis but lived as a youth Oxford, Miss. Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, set a 2022 trial date for Billy Ray Turner, charged with conspiring with the ex-wife of Wright to kill the former NBA player nearly 11 years ago in Memphis. WebEx-wife pleads guilty in killing of Lorenzen Wright. Among those speaking against her early release was Lorenzen Wright's mother, Deborah Marion. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Failed to delete memorial. One of the citys favorite sons returned to town. 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. Money, Marion said. Make sure that the file is a photo. Deborah Marion was the mother of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, who was found shot in 2010. 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. Sherra told police she last saw her ex-husband who she had divorced that year around 2 a.m. on July 19 when he left her home with an unknown person. His mother filed a missing persons report on July 22. GREAT NEWS! 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. Sherra listed four defendants, two sergeants and two correctional officers, and claimed she suffered cruel and unusual punishment. The lawsuit claimed that she suffered extreme mental anguish and distress., RELATED: Sherra Wright sues Shelby County Sheriff's Office for $12 million. Billy Ray Turner and Sherra Wright were indicted on first-degree murder charges in December 2017, more than seven years after the killing. Billy Ray Turner found guilty of first-degree murder. 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. Each child was wearing a different team hat from their father's 13 year NBA career. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The 34-year-old was shot to death in what police are calling a homicide. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Jeffrey L. Archie told the audience that he may never understand why someone would kill his brother. 4Y; Bond for ex-wife of slain NBAer Wright at $20M. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. 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. The decomposing remains of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright were found in a Memphis field in 2010 -- he had been shot 11 times. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Perry said Martin not Turner was in Memphis the night Lorenzen Wright was shot. Complete Coverage of Lorenzen Wright on Crimesider. With that bond, Sherra sat in jail for the entirety of her trial until her conviction. WebHe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Minnie Bass Lorenzen. 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. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. Try again later. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. For more on the disturbing slaying of NBA star Lorenzen Wright, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this weeks issue, on newsstands now. Prosecutor Austin Scofield said Sherra Wright told Turner during a meeting at her house that Lorenzen Wright had a hit out on her. On the evening of July 18, 2010, Wright left his ex-wifes home in Collierville, Tennessee, with drugs and money to Dr. Bill Adkins, of the Greater Imani Church and Christian Center, appeared to reference the 911 call when he talked about how "a cry of help went unnoticed.". As defense attorney Juni Ganguli argued, however, Sherra Wright had been physically abused by the victim. Prosecutors allege Turner and Martin were asked by Lorenzen Wrights ex-wife, Sherra Wright, to kill him in Atlanta, then Memphis, in 2010. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The trial of Billy Ray Turner, the man accused of killing Lorenzen Wright, continued Friday morning. Watch the full story on "20/20" FRIDAY at 9 p.m. 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. "That's the biggest service you could pay him.". "Miss Wright does appear to be an ongoing danger to Shelby County, Tennessee," said Coffee at the time. 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. FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2008, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' Lorenzen Wright poses at the team's NBA basketball media day in Independence, Ohio. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A Tennessee woman convicted of killing her ex-husband, one-time NBA star Lorenzen Wright, has been denied parole. 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. 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. Turner and Martin returned home without killing anyone. In the days he was missing, police said they didn't expect foul play. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. 12 years later, a guilty verdict brings the high-profile case to an end. Turner and Sherra Wright were indicted in December 2017, more than seven years after the killing. The slaying is one of the most highly publicized murder cases in Memphis history. In exchange, prosecutors lessened her sentence to 30 years in prison. "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. She knows she was fittin' to go down, down, down. I think she is a calculating, heartless person.. Wright Robinsons plea deal was announced in court and the judge gave Marion the chance to address her sons ex-wife. Martin said he told detectives in 2012 where the gun was located. 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. He then went to the University of Memphis, where he played two seasons and was an All-America selection after his sophomore year. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "That's the biggest service you could pay him.". "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. 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. We remain available 24/7 to serve families. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. As people mourned, police worked to find the killers. Sherra Wright was there when defendant Billy Ray Turner, 51, shot and killed her former husband, according to Shelby County prosecutor Paul She will get credit for time served (nearly two years). Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Sons David and Todd, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, and brother Russell C Livesay of Georgia. Wright said she has done well in classes she is taking from prison and has a support system to help her when she is released. The 34-year-old father of six had been missing for days before his body was discovered. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. Martin testified that Sherra Wright recruited him and Turner to kill Lorenzen Wright. A motive for the slaying was not made clear during the trial, though prosecutors said the killers were driven by jealousy and greed. 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. 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. 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. Jeffrey L. Archie told the audience that he may never understand why someone would kill his brother. The decision was reached after three of seven board members agreed to deny her release based on the seriousness of her offense, board spokesman Dustin Krugel said in an email to The Associated Press. 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. A system error has occurred. Lorenzen Wright funeral and obituary March 22, 2022March 22, 2022by gordonofori Lorenzen Wrightwas a retired NBA player who was shot on Monday July 19, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. cemeteries found in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Authorities also discovered that Sherra was the trustee of Wrights $1 million life insurance policy. 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. Now that Lorenzen's murder has finally been solved, Memphis can move forward, towards remembering the good times with their hometown star. (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. Wrights death shook his hometown of Memphis. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Among the mourners was Wrights ex-wife Sherra, whom he had met when he was 16 and she was 21. 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. (AP Photo/Lance Murphey), Deborah Marion, mother of former NBA basketball player Lorenzen Wright, speaks with reporters, Monday, March 21, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn., after a jury convicted a Tennessee man in the slaying of her son, whose bullet-riddled body was found in a field nearly 12 years ago. Trump asks for mistrial in E. Jean Carroll rape lawsuit, First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase, Reward offered as manhunt for Texas shooting suspect reaches "dead end", Tornado hits Virginia Beach, damaging up to 100 homes, More Americans escape Sudan as country teeters on edge of civil war, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current "hostile political climate", Stray bullet strikes college baseball player during game, Texas police say, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46, Massive clumps of seaweed from giant blob wash up on Florida beaches, Arkansas woman indicted for selling stolen body parts to Pennsylvania man, DNA solves "decades-old mystery" after woman's remains found in 1995, $3 million fentanyl shipment to Maine restaurant prompts arrest, New details emerge in "crazy" murder-incest case. Marion said she knew something was wrong when Wright didnt show up to his sisters baby shower. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Lorenzen Wright (55748448)? No arrests have been made and Memphis police will not discuss whether they have a motive or suspects. An ABC 20/20 report that aired Friday detailed the circumstances around his Sherra Wright entered a surprise guilty plea to facilitation of murder in July 2019 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. "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. For over a decade, Deborah Marion has been fighting for answers. He will be sentenced for the other charges at a later date. I think that is purely fiction, said Bill Adkins, a close friend of Wright. There was a problem getting your location. A judge presiding over the lawsuit ordered a trust fund be set up in the children's names, with Sherra as their trustee. In November, 2017, Jimmie Martin led police to the lake in Walnut, Mississippi, where the murder weapon had been dumped. Woman Found Dead in Park Charged with Murder, Ga. Police Officer Arrested After Naked Body of Missing 16-Year-Old Girl Found in Woods, Ga. Woman Was Killed Inside Car Dealership, Suspect Is Business Partner She Used to Date, Md. Sherra Wright would be eligible for parole after 30% of the sentence is served, after 9 years. 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.. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The conviction for first-degree murder will see Turner behind bars for at least 51 years, joining fellow murder conspirator Sherra Wright, Lorenzen's ex-wife, who is serving a 30 year sentence for conspiring to murder the basketball star. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. RELATED: COVID delays trial for Billy Ray Turner, accused of killing former NBA star Lorenzen Wright. Family and friends started to worry when days passed and Wright didnt return their phone calls. For more on how the story ended for Sherra and her co-conspirator, tune in to People Magazine Investigates: Memphis Blues, airing Monday, Dec. 9 at 10 p.m. Learn more about managing a memorial . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Wrights body was found with multiple bullet wounds in a swampy field in east Memphis on 28 July 2010. He worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber for 40 yrs. 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. Subscribe. (An exclusive clip is above.). RELATED: Sherra Wright pleads guilty in Lorenzen Wright murder case. Check back for updates. Current Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph and former NBA player Damon Stoudemire also were there. He has received immunity from prosecution in the Wright case. In March, Billy Ray Turner, identified as another suspect in the murder, was sentenced to life in prison for murder, attempted murder and conspiracy. 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. In December 2017, police arrested Sherra, along with her friend Billy Turner, and charged them with Wrights murder. Friends and family have accused authorities of dragging their feet. Wright spent five of his 13 seasons in the NBA with the team in the city where he was born. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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. The plea was a surprise move to some, who saw Sherra maintain innocence during pre-trial hearings. Listen to a previous episode on the case below. Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said Wright had movie star looks with an infectious smile, and served as the team's leader. Their arrest came after a gun that was allegedly used to shoot Wright was found in a Walnut, Mississippi, lake. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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. He played for the Memphis Tigers in college and the Memphis Grizzlies during his 13 seasons as a forward and center in the NBA. 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. "That is our prayer. Wright's six children and ex-wife were in the procession, trailed by his father, Herb Wright, who uses a wheelchair. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Try again later. Wright contributed to children's charities, holding basketball camps, contributing to child reading programs and visiting St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.
