Philanthropist Gayle Rose is as dedicated to the city of Memphis as Lorenzen was. Wright, 27, flew back to Memphis after learning of his daughter's death. And he pledged that he would find the killer. His grandmother, his father Herb, his mother Deborah, his ex-wife Sherra and their six children were dealing in their own ways with Lorenzen's death. Pastor Bill Adkins has been a long-time advocate for unity in the City of Memphis. He was killed physically. He left with drugs and an undisclosed sum of money. I just hate what happened to my child," his mother said. Phil Dotson: Being married, and having kids at such an early age He was, I think, forced to be an adult really quick. Being 6' 11" tall at 17 years old, he turned a lot of heads. Although, Kelvin Cowans had broken up with Sherra Wright, he thought she would be happy when the gun was found. Armstrong says his department never gave up on the investigation. . And, of course, she being the mother, wound up being the fiduciary. Lorenzen Wright pictured with Sherra Robinson before prom. ", Kelvin Cowans: We got on the phone and she wasn't happy about it at all, and --. Their children include Lorenzen Wright Jr, Loren Wright, twins Lamar, and Shamar Wright, Sofia Wright, and Lawson Wright. A Memphis native, the 6-foot-11 Wright played 13 seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies and four other NBA teams. Prosecutors allege Wright's ex-wife, Sherra Wright, masterminded a plan to kill her ex-husband and recruited Turner and . they actually say that Billy Ray Turner was in Lorenzen's house. Phil Dotson: I'd gotten a phone call from him that he had gotten in town. Sierra later died of SIDS at the age of 11 months. Turner later succeeded in this evil mission in July 2010. Sgt. I mean, every -- every water hole, ever sports bar in this town had it on the TV screen. But what they didn't realize at the time was that Lorenzen had actually left behind a clue. Marc Perresquia: When you read this book, you go, like, "Wow.". On april 11, 1995, their first child lorenzen wright jr. 5:14 Pm Cdt July 14, 2021. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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 Kelvin Cowans: I say, "Hey, the police have done this great thing. Lorenzen was crushed by the tragic death of a seventh child, a baby girl who fell victim to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Lorenzen Wright made headlines as the seventh overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft but he also won the hearts of so many because of his impact on thousands of kids who were inspired by him. Toney Armstrong: I can tell you that we threw everything but the kitchen sink at this investigation. He is Lorenzen Wright's and Sherra Wright's first child, and he is 26 years old. Although Wright Robinson is now behind bars, Marion still does not have full closure. Lauren Daigle Biography Is She Married and Who is Her Husband? But, as Nevels put it, just as fast as he was making money, money was being spent.. She also insinuated that her husband was involved in some criminal activity by claiming that he left her house with drugs and cash. It has been the subject of a book and TV documentaries. May 12, 2018. Lorenzen Wright had made a desperate call for help and no one knew about it. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. When Wright Robinsons plea bargain was announced in court, the judge allowed Marion the chance to speak to her sons ex-wife. How Old Is Marty Raney and What Is His Net Worth? In 2010, he was found shot to death over. Perhaps no one knew Lorenzen better than Phil Dotson, Wright's best friend and fraternity brother at the University of Memphis. Dr. Bill Adkins: Memphis is a city that, unfortunately, has been divided by race for many, many years. The police eventually made a headway when they discovered a 911 call that had been placed by Wright around 12:05am, 19th of July. Dr. Bill Adkins: somebody just murdered him. Hello? the dispatcher said over and over again, but the phone remained silent. James Brown: How unusual is it to find a key piece of evidence some seven years later? WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration said Monday that it is creating a new task force to crack down on an explosion of the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the U.S.. And I said, "Well, I figured he might just be outta town, he's not answerin' the phone call." Lorenzen Wright, #42 of the Memphis Grizzlies, goes up for the dunk against the Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson of the Phoenix Suns in Game three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs in Memphis, Tenn., April 29, 2005. And it was personal. 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. you can basically say that they never gave up. Becerra has long been viewed as an advocate for immigrants. While he was awaiting sentencing, Martin allegedly started talking to investigators. Lawrence Maleka Biography: Who is the South African TV Personality? After the arrest of Sherra Wright in December 2017, the Memphis court of public opinion seemed to come to its own conclusion. Sherra Wright-Robinson, the ex-wife of basketball star Lorenzen Wright, has been arrested in California on charges related to his murder. Sherra and Lorenze had 7 children in their marriage. Lorenzen Wright's Seven Children. When he first appeared in a Shelby County, Tennessee, courtroom on Dec. 5, 2017, Wrights mother was finally able to see the person allegedly responsible for killing her son. Of course the president does not believe that processing migrants should be treated like an assembly line, and neither does Secretary Becerra, she said. Billy Ray Turner is charged with conspiring with Wright's ex-wife in the slaying. On December 5, police arrested Billy Ray Turner in a convenience store in Collierville, Tenn. Marc Perrusquia: It was almost like a surreal moment, really. The couple eventually started dating and had their first child together -- a son named Lorenzen Jr. April Thompson, an investigative reporter at WREG, the CBS affiliate in Memphis, was on this story from the start. Cowans came back home to Memphis and Sherra moved her kids to Riverside, California, where her brother is the pastor of a church. Meet Andre the Giants Daughter Robin Christensen-Roussimoff. The call was eventually tracked to an overgrown field where Wrights decomposing body was discovered. Lorenzen went on to dazzle fans at the University of Memphis, but not for long. Ms. Gayle Rose: there's some part of me, to be honest with you, that doesn't want to believe that, and just can't, can't take that in. But he didn't get the reaction he expected when he called her to celebrate. As the days passed Lorenzen's disappearance became one of the biggest mysteries Memphis had ever seen. But a few days later when police questioned Sherra, her story had surprising new details. Born in Oxford, Mississippi, Lorenzen Wright moved to Memphis to play basketball at Booker T. Washington High School. With Lorenzen, Id be talking to his picture and sometimes his picture could look at me a certain way like its really him He was a mommas boy. He especially loved his own. Lorenzen Wright was a 34-year-old basketball player in the NBA, who played for a total of 13 seasons after being drafted seventh overall in the 1996 draft. Her father happened to be his coach and friends said Wright fell for her. Marc Perrusquia: Now, the $64,000 question about that is was Lorenzen a willing part of this? Kelvin Cowans: It was great. They include four sons, Lorenzen Wright Jr, Shamar, Lamar and Lawson and three daughters, Sofia, Sierra and Loren. Spectators adore him for the talent he possesses. "I absolutely think that he did not do it.". Two years before the murder, Lorenzen was in need of cash and sold two of his luxury cars to a man named Bobby Cole. OSherra Wright and co-defendant Billy Ray Turner appear in court in Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 5, 2018. Kelvin Cowans: Just "How could you? But then they could actually see their grandson do something, Marion said. In the fiscal year that ended last September, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before. Doctors could not revive her and she was pronounced dead. But I think they wanna know the details of what happened, you know. Gayle Rose: My relationship was really about our mutual interest in Memphis and that generous big heart of his. It was scheduled to be on what would've been his 47th birthday, November 4, but the custom shirts the group wore . First published on May 12, 2018 / 11:02 PM. Under Tennessee Law, the judge immediately sentenced Turner to life in prison. "Where are you on it?". Family and friends of slain NBA basketball player Lorenzen Wright grieve during a memorial service at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. on Aug. 4, 2010. He married his high school girlfriend, Sherra Robinson, after his second season in the NBA. But before long, Sherra was nearly broke again -- having blown through the million dollars in just 10 months, spending most of it on expensive homes, luxury cars and extravagant trips. The case grew cold, Toney Armstrong: I don't remember ever goin' more than a month without somebody askin' me about Lorenzen Wright's murder "Have you all made any headway on it?" Wright's uncle, Curtis Wright, told The Associated Press that police called the player's father, Herb Wright, Wednesday afternoon with the news he had died. Despite the enormous pressure to solve the murder of Lorenzen Wright, the investigation was hampered from the very beginning. Our prayers go out to him. He had been convicted of second-degree murder in an unrelated case that had occurred three years prior to Wrights death. My watch is a car, or my ring is a house, I mean, he was good to me. Then, on July 28 -- 10 days after Lorenzen was last seen -- Shelby County authorities were finally told about the 911 call. And the killers had a nine-day head start. 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. It was like Disneyland at his house!. Wright stood 6 foot 11 inches tall and weighed 225 pounds and played for the Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Kings, and Cavaliers. Phil Dotson: "Have you talked to Lorenzen? 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. They also have twins, Lamar and Shamar, a son called Lawson, and an adolescent daughter named Sofia. Sherra was -- she's hilarious. Although he skyrocketed into the fast life of the NBA, Wrights childhood friends said that he never lost touch with his roots. Sherra Wright and Billy Ray Turner were charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and conspiracy. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A judge reset a hearing on Tuesday to address a request by the ex-wife of slain NBA player Lorenzen Wright to throw out her guilty plea in his 2010 killing in Memphis, Tennessee. "We're deeply sadden by the death of Lorenzen's infant daughter," Grizzlies' spokesman Kirk Clayborn said. Lorenzen and Wright had six children together. The two men had earlier tried to kill Wright in his Atlanta townhouse in early 2010 but did not succeed. He has already pleaded guilty to a gun charge related to Lorenzen Wright's shooting. Prosecutors say he claimed he participated in the planning to kill Wright with Wright Robinson and another man named Billy Ray Turner but that the attempt was foiled. Prosecutors allege that Sherra and Turner had a sexual relationship and that they killed Lorenzen Wright for his million-dollar insurance policy. Lorenzen was reported officially mission on July 22 by his family, but it was six days later, on July 28, that his body was found, in a wooded area on Callis Cutoff Road, just west of Hacks Cross Road. The couple left Houston and went their separate ways. Deborah Marion: [to reporters on Feb. 26] This is hard, but I'm glad. Lorenzen Wright was a 34-year-old basketball player in the NBA, who played for a total of 13 seasons after being drafted seventh overall in the 1996 draft. Phil Dotson: His daughter Sierra passed away of sudden infant death syndrome. I can't reach him." Lorenzen Wright born Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright, was an American professional basketball player. It wasnt revisited until nine days later while the Memphis Police Department investigated Wrights disappearance. Lorenzen Wright Jr. was born on April 11, 1995, in Memphis, Tennessee. And I can't -- I'm not gonna believe anything other then he's fine now. We really wanted to solve it. Boy meets girl; boy and girl get married and have several kids; girl later murders boy for his life insurance money. In the special, we hear from Lorenzen Wright's two youngest children, twin boys, Lamar and Shamar, now playing college basketball on the same team. He's also Sherra Wright's cousin. All these and more are explored below. You need to let us know. Shes constantly saying about [other] women he [was] with some women.. All Rights Reserved. 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. Kelvin Cowans tried to put all the pieces together by writing a book about his complicated relationship with Sherra Wright. She don't deal with no grass cutter! said Marion. 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. After close to a decade of pain, Marion turned to face the woman who admitted she had been involved in her sons murder. "So we drove to the house. Wright began his real professional career in 1996 when he was drafted seventh overall in the N.B.A. Not one. MEMPHIS (AP) A former Navy sailor and convicted killer testified Thursday that Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife asked him and another man to kill the former NBA player nearly 12 years ago in Atlanta. His body was found in a wooded area in southeast Memphis nine days later. SHERRA WRIGHT [WREG NEWS REPORT]: He wasn't able to spend the night because he wasn't here quite that long, but he ran out and he never came back. 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. So he comes over Were kicking back, were relaxing, smoking cigars on the patio., That evening, Dotson said Wright's ex-wife called him demanding that he bring their son back home "now. The tipping point came when Lorenzen's father Herb Wright received a $200,000 check from the NBA for his son's estate. Kelvin Cowans: --and that bothered me. "It was difficult to focus," said Stromile Swift, who started in place of Wright. Hes a celebrity from Memphis, so I thought this would be an open and shut case, he said. Wright Robinson was charged with first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. As Memphis mourned, months turned into years and the city became obsessed with solving the murder of its favorite son. Had Wright Robinson gone to trial, she faced the prospect of spending the rest of her life in prison. Ten days after Turner's arrest, Sherra was taken into custody in Riverside, Calif. Back in Memphis, despite all of the rumors, the news evoked mixed feelings. Gossip started spreading and suspicion quickly fell on Sherra. That he was introduced by a third party and it was kind of a passing relationship. And she was like, "No, I don't want Herb to have it." Sherra had told police that Lorenzen owned a shotgun and a handgun and kept them on the property. Sierra Wright, Lorenzen Wright's youngest child, was born in 2002 but died 11 months later. WREG NEWS REPORT: The former wife of NBA star Lorenzen Wright appeared at an extradition hearing today. It was Lorenzen's mother looking for her son. Toney Armstrong: The journey has led you right back to the person that was supposed to be as close to him as anybody, and that was his wife. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Martin alleges that he was not present for the actual murder, but he did help Turner and Wright clean up the crime scene. At that moment, instead of expressing outrage, Marion said she made the decision to focus on her six grandchildren. All night . He and his ex-wife had six children, including Lawson, Sofia, the twins Shamar and Lamar Lorenzen Wright Jr, and Sierra, who died in infancy. One weekend, Wright flew home to Memphis to attend his daughter's dance recital and his sister's baby shower. When he saw the announcement of her arrest on the news, Cowans was blown away. In an interview with The Commercial Appeal after her guilty plea, Sherra Wright said she did so for the sake of her children. . And that caused severe issues between him and his wife. I just sat there. So that's an intriguing element to this. Watch Live: Closing arguments underway in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. 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. And at the same time in that world, not really being focused on his relationship and his marriage as probably he should've been. Lorenzen Wright and Sherra Wright had seven children, one of whom died as a toddler. Please enter valid email address to continue. His problem was affluence and how to handle that affluence. "That's just not in this person's character to do this." He had been meeting regularly with Wright's grieving mother, Deborah Marion. there's still a case to be tried in court. SHERRA WRIGHT: No, April. Sherra claimed it was based on her life with Lorenzen. Cowans said he was never suspicious of her during their relationship. It was a standard arrest. After not hearing from her son for more than 48 hours, Deborah Marion filed a missing persons report with the police. Robinson was the daughter of his high school basketball coach and the two reportedly met during practice. But they may not have known that Turner is also an ex-convict who served time for assault and kidnapping over two decades ago. Lorenzen told me the marriage ended because he didnt trust Sherra anymore and she felt the same about him but they were still going to try to find a way to raise these kids, said Mike Gipson, another one of Wrights friends. Na believe anything other then he 's fine now, Sofia, sierra and Loren learning of daughter. 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Martin alleges that he was awaiting sentencing, Martin allegedly started talking to investigators Memphis Grizzlies and four other teams. Have full closure armstrong: I can tell you that We threw everything but the and. Not revive her and she was like, `` no, I mean, every -- water! Sherra claimed it was based on her six grandchildren car, or my ring is a house I! Until nine days later when police questioned Sherra, her story had surprising new details announced! A celebrity from Memphis, but the phone and she was like, `` Wow. `` children Lorenzen!