Sherra Wright

Summary

Podcast Summary: Snapped: Women Who Murder – Episode: Sherra Wright

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, Oxygen delves into the tragic story of Lorenzen Wright, a celebrated NBA star whose life was abruptly ended in 2010. Hosted by Kelsey Ballerini, the episode meticulously unpacks the events leading up to Wright's disappearance, the intense investigation that followed, and the eventual conviction of his ex-wife, Sherra Wright. This detailed narrative explores themes of love, betrayal, and the quest for justice, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of one of Memphis's most haunting true crime cases.

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Background: Lorenzen Wright – A Hometown Hero

Lorenzen Wright was not just an NBA star; he was a beloved figure in Memphis. Born on November 4, 1975, in Oxford, Mississippi, Lorenzen excelled in basketball from a young age, guided by his father, Herb Wright, a former NBA prospect who overcame paralysis to mentor his son.

• Kelsey Ballerini [04:31]: “Lorenzen Ren Wright was born on November 4, 1975, in Oxford, Mississippi to Deborah, Marion, and Herb Wright. Although his parents never married, Lorenzen was close to both his mother and his father.”

Lorenzen's dedication to basketball earned him national recognition, culminating in his selection by the LA Clippers as the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft. His success on the court translated into substantial earnings, with Lorenzen amassing $55 million over his career.

• Deborah Marion [09:32]: “Cheryl was always there for her kids. She was great as a mother.”

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The Disappearance: July 22, 2010

On July 22, 2010, Lorenzen Wright returned to Memphis from Atlanta to visit his family. That very night, he failed to attend his son's baby shower, prompting his mother, Deborah Marion, to file a missing person report.

• Kelsey Ballerini [11:26]: “But on July 22, just days after returning to Memphis to visit his family, Lorenzen is missing.”

As news of his disappearance spread, the Memphis community was thrown into turmoil. Friends and family expressed deep concern, noting that this behavior was out of character for Lorenzen.

• Shara Robinson [03:10]: “He was called a hometown hero. So you would see his name on billboards everywhere...”

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Investigation: Unraveling the Mystery

The initial investigation focused on Lorenzen's last known whereabouts, including a significant 911 call made on July 27, five days after his disappearance.

• Michael Buble [18:02]: “On July 27, detectives obtain a recording of the call from neighboring Germantown...”

This distressing 911 call captured Lorenzen hearing gunshots, indicating he was in immediate danger. However, the call was mishandled by the Germantown Police Department, leading to delays in locating Lorenzen's body.

• Deborah Marion [18:44]: “So they, in turn then contact the Germantown Police Department. They follow...”

As investigators pieced together phone records and triangulated locations, the search for Lorenzen intensified, ultimately leading to the grim discovery of his body in a secluded area near Callous Cutoff Road.

• Kelsey Ballerini [20:11]: “Along with a full forensic team and K9s, investigators head to the narrow street... And they found his body.”

The forensic evidence suggested a personal motive rather than a random act of violence, with Lorenzen's valuables remaining untouched.

• Deborah Marion [21:43]: “He still has his watch on. He still has diamond earrings and a chain which kind of right off lets you know this wasn't a robbery.”

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Sherra Wright's Connection: Motive and Opportunity

Sherra Wright, Lorenzen's ex-wife, emerged as a key figure in the investigation. Their relationship had been tumultuous, marked by financial strain and personal conflicts following their divorce in February 2010.

• Shara Robinson [16:16]: “They didn't argue in front of people. So whatever happened, happened behind closed doors.”

Sherra's extensive insurance policies and significant financial control over the family’s wealth provided a potential motive for Lorenzen's murder. Investigators scrutinized her actions, particularly her persistent efforts to reconcile with Lorenzen shortly before his disappearance.

• Kelsey Ballerini [26:34]: “Investigators subpoena Shera's phone records, and it's clear that Shara had been on a campaign to get Lorenzen to come to Memphis for days before he arrived.”

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Breakthrough: The Judas Moment

The case took a pivotal turn two years after Lorenzen's death when Jimmy Martin, Sherra’s cousin and a convicted murderer himself, decided to cooperate with authorities. Martin revealed that Sherra had orchestrated Lorenzen's murder, involving accomplices Billy Turner and himself.

• Deborah Marion [30:33]: “Jimmy Martin's murder trial wraps up and brings an unexpected twist.”

The corroborated evidence from Martin's testimony, combined with ballistic matches of recovered shell casings, solidified the case against Sherra and Turner.

• Adam Levine [35:28]: “The divers told us, if it's there, we're going to find it. And they went down in maybe an hour. We hear them talking to the command post. We've got a gun...”

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Arrests and Trials: Bringing the Culprits to Justice

In December 2017, both Sherra Wright and Billy Turner were arrested. Sherra faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and the murder itself.

• Deborah Marion [39:41]: “Sherra Wright has been indicted for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder…”

Billy Turner’s trial culminated in his conviction for first-degree murder, resulting in a life sentence without parole.

• Michael Buble [44:13]: “Billy Turner didn't wake up one morning wanting to kill Lorenzen Wright. Billy Turner is somebody that was manipulated and used by Sherra Wright.”

Sherra Wright eventually pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder in July 2019, receiving a 30-year sentence with eligibility for parole in 2027.

• Kelsey Ballerini [43:18]: “On July 25, 2019, Shera pleads guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder...”

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Aftermath: Legacy and Closure

Lorenzen Wright's tragic death left a lasting impact on the Memphis community and his family. His legacy as a talented athlete and a dedicated family man continues to be remembered, despite the sorrow surrounding his untimely passing.

• John Legend [44:48]: “I think he would have been actively involved in our community. That is one of the biggest things that Lorenzen had.”

While Sherra Wright and Billy Turner faced legal consequences, the emotional scars and unanswered questions linger for Lorenzen's loved ones, who continue to seek closure and honor his memory.

• Herb Wright [45:25]: “Because of that, people still grieve his loss today.”

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Conclusion

This episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder offers a compelling examination of the Lorenzen Wright case, highlighting the intricate web of personal relationships and motivations that led to a tragic end. Through detailed narration and critical interviews, listeners gain a profound understanding of the complexities surrounding Lorenzen's murder and the relentless pursuit of justice by those closest to him.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Kelsey Ballerini [04:31]: “Lorenzen Ren Wright was born on November 4, 1975, in Oxford, Mississippi to Deborah, Marion, and Herb Wright. Although his parents never married, Lorenzen was close to both his mother and his father.”

• Shara Robinson [03:10]: “He was called a hometown hero. So you would see his name on billboards everywhere...”

• Kelsey Ballerini [11:26]: “But on July 22, just days after returning to Memphis to visit his family, Lorenzen is missing.”

• Michael Buble [18:02]: “On July 27, detectives obtain a recording of the call from neighboring Germantown...”

• Kelsey Ballerini [20:11]: “Along with a full forensic team and K9s, investigators head to the narrow street... And they found his body.”

• Deborah Marion [21:43]: “He still has his watch on. He still has diamond earrings and a chain which kind of right off lets you know this wasn't a robbery.”

• Kelsey Ballerini [26:34]: “Investigators subpoena Shera's phone records, and it's clear that Shara had been on a campaign to get Lorenzen to come to Memphis for days before he arrived.”

• Deborah Marion [30:33]: “Jimmy Martin's murder trial wraps up and brings an unexpected twist.”

• Adam Levine [35:28]: “The divers told us, if it's there, we're going to find it. And they went down in maybe an hour. We hear them talking to the command post. We've got a gun...”

• Deborah Marion [39:41]: “Sherra Wright has been indicted for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder…”

• Kelsey Ballerini [43:18]: “On July 25, 2019, Shera pleads guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder...”

• John Legend [44:48]: “I think he would have been actively involved in our community. That is one of the biggest things that Lorenzen had.”

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the tragic narrative of Lorenzen Wright, highlighting the critical moments and key players involved in his untimely death. Through meticulous investigation and unwavering determination, the episode underscores the pursuit of justice amidst personal turmoil and community loss.

Transcript

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[John Legend]

Hey, it's John Legend, and I'm excited.

[Adam Levine]

For a new season of the Voice with the return of the one and only Adam Levine. He's back, folks.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Thank you.

[Michael Buble]

I'm well rested and I'm coming for you all.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Oh, come on.

[John Legend]

Plus, we got new coach Kelsey Ballerini.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Niceties won't get you anywhere. I'm here to win.

[Adam Levine]

And the great Michael Buble return.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

So excited to beat you guys, even though I seem sweet.

[Michael Buble]

Join us for a new season of the Voice where you can see us having fun like this every single show.

[Adam Levine]

The new season of the Voice premieres Monday on NBC.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

She was his high school sweetheart and became a basketball wife.

[Deborah Marion]

He made $55 million playing basketball.

[John Legend]

It seemed to be a true love story with the two of them.

[Herb Wright]

I knew he was madly in love with her.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On a steamy summer night in Memphis, this fairytale of riches comes to a startling end. Hi. How are you?

[Adam Levine]

Dark Hand911.

[Deborah Marion]

Where's your emerg? Okay, you're literally hearing someone be murdered.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

For nearly a decade, the case haunts the city. And when the truth finally comes out, a cold hearted killer is close to home court.

[Deborah Marion]

This wasn't a robbery. It would lead you to believe it was something personal.

[Adam Levine]

I mean, that was the Kodak moment When they brought the weapon out, he.

[Herb Wright]

Was nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard that did what his queen wanted him to do.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

July 22, 2010. In a wealthy suburb just outside of Memphis, Deborah Marion makes a phone call to the Collierville police department. Deborah identifies herself as mother to famed NBA star Lorenzen Wright. The name is well known to the officer and everyone else in Memphis.

[Shara Robinson]

He was called a hometown hero. So you would see his name on billboards everywhere, every restaurant you go to, they have something of this nature now, whether it was a jersey or upholstery.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Deborah tells the officer that 34 year old Lorenzen, who currently lives in Atlanta, arrived in Memphis four days earlier to visit, but now has disappeared.

[Adam Levine]

One of his sisters was pregnant at the time and she was having a baby shower. But he would not have missed that for the world. He didn't show up for that.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Deborah insists this just isn't like her son.

[Adam Levine]

No one could get in contact with him. They knew that there was something was wrong, something was bad wrong. The mother filed the missing person report.

[Herb Wright]

All of us became highly concerned then because it was not like Wren. Something has happened.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

As investigators review the report, news of the missing NBA player spreads quickly across the city.

[Deborah Marion]

This was indeed a very big deal. He was one of Memphis favorite sons. The whole city was abuzz. Wanted to know what happened.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Lorenzen Ren Wright was born on November 4, 1975 in Oxford, Mississippi to Deborah, Marion and Herb Wright. Although his parents never married, Lorenzen was close to both his mother and his father.

[Shara Robinson]

The relationship that him and his mom had was a bond that would never be broken. I mean, they were very, very close.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Lorenzen's bond with his father, father, a former NBA prospect, centered around their shared love of basketball.

[Herb Wright]

His father Herb was injured, wounded and was paralyzed and Herb never let the wheelchair stop him. Ren loved his daddy, he loved him, and Herb was his first sort of coach, taught him a lot about basketball.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

By the time Lorenzen was in high school, it was clear that the 6 foot 11 teenager was a gifted athlete.

[Herb Wright]

Anybody could see. Even when he was in high school, this guy got a express train ticket to the NBA.

[Shara Robinson]

He was one of the top players in Mississippi. Then his senior year, his dad had made the move to get him out of Mississippi and get him to Memphis.

[Herb Wright]

Memphis produces a lot of top basketball players. If you want to be better, if you want to get better, play the best.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

During the summers, Lorenzen played for the exclusive Amateur Athletic Union.

[Shara Robinson]

AAU is like a, they call it all American. All the top players around the country play in.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Lorenzen was a star on the team, gaining plenty of attention from his coach as well as from his coach's daughter, Shara Robinson.

[Shara Robinson]

From what I know, Shara's mom died at a young age and she met Lorenzen through her dad.

[John Legend]

Her father was an AAU basketball coach. And by that being the Case Cheryl had a lot of access to knowing who basketball players were.

[Herb Wright]

Cheryl was different, just different than anything he had been around. He was madly in love with her.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

In 1994, Lorenzen began his freshman year of college playing for the University of Memphis. That same year, Cheryl became pregnant with his child. The couple was excited, but decided to hold off on marriage so Lorenzen could focus on basketball.

[Adam Levine]

Here this kid is 6:10, 6:11, could run like a gazelle. He had it and it was everything.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

A year later, Lorenzen was still playing at the University of Memphis when all of his dedication and hard work paid off.

[John Legend]

Draft night Lorenzo get drafted by the LA Clippers as the number seven player. Ben Bay draft. So instantly his life changed. So now Lorenzen was out on the road 42 times a season playing basketball.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

But he was always eager to return home to Shara and his son.

[Herb Wright]

Being on the road was fine and it's fun for a while, but he always wanted to get home to his children.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

By 1998, the couple had married, and Lorenzen had built both a reputation in the NBA and a handsome bank account. In 1999, Shara gave birth to their second child.

[Shara Robinson]

Oh, the wedding was awesome. Had a huge wedding in Memphis. The wedding was beautiful. Yeah, he was excited. We're all excited for him.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

His marriage to Shara was a constant, even when his NBA career had the family moving from LA to Atlanta after he was traded to the hawks. Then in 2001, another dream came true.

[John Legend]

That's where they held the press conference at for Lorenzen to come into play for the Memphis Grizzlies. It was real, real big. It was very, very, very much like this thing is coming back for a circle.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Shara and Lorenzen moved their family to the wealthy Memphis suburb of Collierville.

[Herb Wright]

The neighborhood's a very exclusive neighborhood, and in that neighborhood were two NFL football players. In that same little cove that they.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Were in, their family continued to grow. By 2002, they had seven children, three girls and four boys.

[Shara Robinson]

Cheryl was always there for her kids. She was great as a mother. They had all kinds of help, whether it was family, friends and live in nannies.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

By 2003, Lorenzen and Shara were living a fantasy. But tragedy struck when their youngest daughter, Sierra Simone, died of SIDS at 11 months old.

[Shara Robinson]

Cheryl was heartbroken. You know, it really, really hurt her a lot.

[Herb Wright]

Lorenzen was devastated. That was probably the pivotal point in his marriage. Well, their relationship became very volatile. The arguments just continued on, on and on and on.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Over the next few years. The relationship was tumultuous but the couple didn't give up.

[Shara Robinson]

They had some issues in Memphis when he was with the Griffeys before they got back to Atlanta. But they decided, hey, okay, let's just squash it. They renewed their vows.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

In 2006, Lorenzen was traded once again, this time back to the Atlanta Hawks. But less than three years later, he was cut and wouldn't play again. By then, it was clear that both his career and his marriage were in trouble.

[Shara Robinson]

Cheryl moved back to Memphis, and Lorenzo actually stayed. I think they started to drift apart.

[Lorenzen Wright]

So he lives in Atlanta. Emma come back and forth to Memphis.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

In February 2010, the couple finally divorced.

[Shara Robinson]

It was still a 50, 50 thing. She would have kids, obviously, during the school year or whatnot. But Lorena still made time, whether it's having them here in Atlanta while he was in Memphis, he loved his kids to the fullest. The kids were a big reason why that they actually stayed together for as long as they did.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

But on July 22, just days after returning to Memphis to visit his family, Lorenzen is missing.

[Michael Buble]

It wasn't entirely unlike Lorenzen to go a day or two without making contact. His family not knowing exactly where he was. He did like to travel. He did have friends in various cities.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Family members say Lorenzen had an amicable relationship with his ex wife, Shara, and planned to stay with her and his kids while he was in Memphis. When friends and family reach out to Shara, she isn't overly concerned.

[Michael Buble]

She says, there's nothing to be worried about. I'm sure he's just gone. He'll come back. This is what Lorenzen does.

[Adam Levine]

But when he hadn't been heard from for four days, that became an issue.

[Shara Robinson]

Lorenzen tends to disappear whenever he needs some time to himself. But he'd always let somebody know. We're just thinking the worst.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Coming up. Was Lorenzen's return to Memphis an act.

[Herb Wright]

Of love, and that's one of the reasons he came back to Memphis. He was trying to get back with her.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Or was it fatal mistake?

[Adam Levine]

Two Hispanic men show up at the house, and they were armed and they were looking for Lorenzo.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Hello? Memphis investigators are looking into the disappearance of NBA star Lorenzen Wright by tracking his last known whereabouts the night of July 18, 2010. Family members tell police that earlier that day, Lorenzen was with his college friend Phil Dotson.

[Michael Buble]

So Mr. Dotson was interviewed. He was somebody who's a lifelong friend of Lorenzen's.

[Deborah Marion]

He has dinner with a bunch of his fraternity brothers from the University of Memphis, among them Philip and then after dinner, Phil Dodson takes him over to the gym.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

At the gym, they watched Lorenzen's son play in a pickup game of basketball. But their time was interrupted by a constant stream of texts, all from Shara Wright.

[Shara Robinson]

Cheryl started sending Lorenzen, you know, nudity pictures. You know, okay, well, come on, come on, get this.

[Deborah Marion]

Shara sending him these sexually explicit text messages. I want you to come see me. You know, we're going to do this, that, and the other.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Eventually, Phil tells the investigators he took Lorenzen and his son to Shara's house.

[Deborah Marion]

They then all get in the car, and Mr. Dodson drives them out to Collierville and drops them off, I believe around 10pm and that was the last.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Time he saw or heard from Lorenzen.

[Michael Buble]

Mr. Dodson was extremely cooperative. He was somebody who was a lifelong friend of Lorenzen's. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing odd.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Since Shira's home was Lorenzen's last known location, investigators speak with her next. Shara corroborates Phil's story and tells detectives she last saw Lorenzen after he returned to the house with their son on the night of the 18th.

[Michael Buble]

She has Lorenzen coming to the house, I think around 10 o'clock that evening, them spending some time together. And then Lorenzen was making comments about how having a box of drugs.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Shara claims around 10:30 that same night, two men she had never seen before arrived to pick up Lorenzen.

[Adam Levine]

Two Hispanic men show up at the house, and they're wearing long overcoats, and they were armed and they were looking for Lorenzen. And then he left, got in the car with Bill.

[Michael Buble]

The words coming out of her mouth would alert alarm and suspicion, you know, to anybody. There's red flags popping up. The entire tenor of the story is one that would make us concerned for his welfare.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

After they finish their interview with Shara, investigators continue speaking with those close to Lorenzen and learn it's no secret the couple has had their trouble.

[Adam Levine]

Both were having extramarital affairs.

[Shara Robinson]

They didn't argue in front of people. So whatever happened, happened behind closed doors.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

However, the infidelity was nothing compared to the financial shock that came when he was cut from the hawks.

[Deborah Marion]

He made $55 million playing basketball. I think by the time they got divorced, that was basically gone.

[Adam Levine]

They had cars that had been repossessed, and I don't think he was in a good place financially.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

But in spite of all their problems, when the divorce became final just a few months ago, they seemed to regret it almost instantly.

[Herb Wright]

And that's one of the reasons he came back to Memphis. She asked him to come back, and he came back. He was trying to get back with her.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Did Lorenzen's financial troubles lead him to get involved with the wrong crowd? Investigators need to verify Shara's story and identify the two men Lorenzen left with. They immediately subpoena his phone records.

[Michael Buble]

Back then, it took a little bit longer than it does for detectives to get his call records that include location information.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

While detectives wait for the phone's location data, they are able to check the last call made from Lorenzen's phone. And they spot another red flag.

[Michael Buble]

And they see that there's an outgoing call at 12:12am so just right after.

[Adam Levine]

Midnight, they realize that the last call that was made. What's the 911?

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On July 27, detectives obtain a recording of the call from neighboring Germantown, just 22 miles east of Memphis. And what they hear is terrifying. Hi. How's it Germantown? 911, where's your emergency?

[Adam Levine]

It's down.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Hello? Hello? I don't have nothing but gunshots.

[Michael Buble]

Anyone listens to it. It's chilling, and it's. It's pretty brutal.

[Adam Levine]

So they, in turn then contact the Germantown Police Department. The follow. What did Germantown do? What did the Germantown Police Department do to follow up on this 911 call?

[Kelsey Ballerini]

They get an answer they didn't expect.

[Michael Buble]

That call was not followed up on at all. It wasn't shared with any of the other agencies. It was just ignored.

[Adam Levine]

The tower that the call is pinging off of kind of sits right in the middle of three jurisdictions. So when Germantown looked at the longitude and latitude, they saw that it was not in their jurisdiction, so they just dropped it.

[Deborah Marion]

It's brutal. It's shocking. I don't know how you hear that phone call and just go, well, that was weird, and move on. It was shocking.

[Adam Levine]

You hear these shots. I mean, you have to imagine that at some point, Lorenzen is running for his life as he's being shot.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

More than a week after the 911 call, Collierville detectives get the phone information they've been waiting for.

[Michael Buble]

They're able to use cell phone location information, triangulate where that came from, the location where this happened. Suburbs of Memphis. Name of the street is Callous Cutoff.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Along with a full forensic team and K9s, investigators head to the narrow street.

[Adam Levine]

Cardierville Police department led that. Gridded everything out, and it kind of began that very exhaustive search.

[Michael Buble]

They go over the barbed wire fence Walk through a field, up a little hill by some bushes, and probably haven't walked more than maybe 120 yards. And they found his body.

[Adam Levine]

So you're talking nine days, a decomposing body laying out nine days in the Memphis weather in July. He was nothing but bones.

[Michael Buble]

It's unrecognizable as a person except for the bright white tennis shoes that remained.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Between the shoes, jewelry, and clothing, investigators are all but certain the body belongs to Lorenzo. As the medical examiner collects the remains, investigators comb the area around the body for evidence.

[Michael Buble]

They search numerous times in an attempt to find his cell phone. It's never found, but they find at least two different kinds of casings. One a small caliber handgun and one a 9 millimeter. It suggests more than likely multiple perpetrators.

[Deborah Marion]

A.25 caliber gun is not going to shoot 9 millimeter and vice versa. Typically, in my experience, people aren't shooting two fisted.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Detectives believe that this wasn't a random attack.

[Deborah Marion]

He still has his watch on. He still has diamond earrings and, and a chain which kind of right off lets you know this wasn't a robbery. It would lead you to believe it was something personal.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Investigators aren't able to keep the discovery of the body under wraps for long.

[Lorenzen Wright]

You could see his mother, Deborah, pacing and wanting answers from the police.

[Herb Wright]

That was breaking news. And his mama was one of the first to get to the scene.

[Lorenzen Wright]

It was just so visceral. It was just really, really hard to watch her find out that moment that it was him.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

A day later, the medical examiner uses dental records to confirm that the remains belong to the basketball.

[Adam Levine]

He was shot five times. He was shot in the head. He was shot in the chest.

[Lorenzen Wright]

What could have possibly happened? You just got this really chilling visual of just those last moments. And so you felt like it had to be some type of execution.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Coming up, Shara's story continues to raise questions.

[Deborah Marion]

Once the officers start pointing out to her that she's saying things that don't match up, she gets a lawyer and stops talking.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

And a darker truth begins to unfold.

[Deborah Marion]

His phone was hitting on a tower overlapping the same general area where Lorenz and Wright's 911 call was overlapping.

[Adam Levine]

Monday on NBC.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

How many inmates got out?

[Adam Levine]

A lot. America's most dangerous killers escape from a classified prison. We have to get them all back before they kill anyone else. Only one elite team can catch them.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

The longer they're out there, the more dangerous they're gonna become.

[Adam Levine]

But with every new discovery, there's something more. Here comes an even deeper mystery.

[Lorenzen Wright]

What are you hiding?

[Adam Levine]

The Hunting Party premieres Monday on NBC. Welcome to the Captain's lounge. Bravo's Emmy nominated Below Deck down under is back for a new season in the Seychelles.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Hurting Africa.

[Adam Levine]

I can't believe it. And there's a boatload of reasons to get on board.

[Nadine Bailey]

Oh, my God.

[Adam Levine]

Customer service is on point.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Is this the kind of place where we all wind up in a hot tub?

[Adam Levine]

Workplace drama makes waves. So I'm gonna let you go. And the captain.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Is it hot in here, or is it Captain Jason?

[Adam Levine]

A new season of Below Deck down under starts February 3rd on Bravo and streaming on Peacock.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Having found the badly decomposed body of NBA star Lorenzen Wright, investigators follow up on his ex wife Shara Wright's claims that he left her house with drugs and two mystery men.

[Michael Buble]

Originally, she was just telling family members, just Lorenzen being Lorenzen, don't worry about it. And then it wasn't until she was interviewed by police the first time that she tells this story about him leaving in the middle of the night. If anyone left under those circumstances disappeared, the loved one who witnessed that would immediately be concerned for the welfare. But Cher is not.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

When investigators. Investigators follow up with more of Lorenzen's family and friends, they explain that if Lorenzen blew through his fortune, he had plenty of help from Shara.

[Herb Wright]

She would often brag that the clothes that she wore, you know, was Bangladesh, most people's cars. This was her style, and she loved to spend money.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Lorenzen's loved ones say that even if Lorenzen was having money problems, there's no way he was involved in drugs.

[John Legend]

Anybody that knows Lorenzen, first of all, know that he don't have a bad bone in his body. Drugs? No. Lorenzen is not a street guy.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

After the interview, investigators want to speak to Shara again, but she throws up a roadblock.

[Deborah Marion]

Once the officers start pointing out to her that she's saying things that don't match up, she gets a lawyer and stops talking.

[Michael Buble]

So they began looking at the text messages that she sent to Lorenzen to get him to come to Memphis.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Investigators subpoena Shera's phone records, and it's clear that Shara had been on a campaign to get Lorenzen to come to Memphis for days before he arrived.

[Deborah Marion]

She's sending him pretty sexually explicit text messages to come to Memphis and see her.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Was Shera really that eager to reconcile with her ex, or was she luring him into a trap? As investigators comb through the texts in the days before Lorenzen went missing, they discover a number of messages between Shara and two men, Billy Turner and Jimmy Martin.

[Michael Buble]

Shara had exchanged a series of suspicious appeared to be coded text exchanges with Jimmy in the days before the murder.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Investigators discover that Jimmy is Shara's cousin, and he is currently out on bail awaiting trial for second degree murder.

[Michael Buble]

@ the time Lorenzen was killed, Jimmy Martin had his own legal problems going on. He had been charged with the murder of his girlfriend.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

When detectives ask around about the other man, Billy Turner, they learn he is sheriff's landscaper.

[Adam Levine]

Her and Billy met at church. He was the deacon at the church, and he also became her yard guy.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

When detectives pull location data from their phones, Billy's phone is the only one that raises an alarm.

[Deborah Marion]

His phone was hitting on a tower, overlapping the same general area where Lorenzen Wright's 911 call was. Overlapping. That helped us put Billy close to, if not on the scene. Shortly after the murder happens.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Investigators reach out to Billy and Jimmy, but both men deny any involvement.

[Michael Buble]

We have a crime scene that's been covered up. The 911 call was not followed up on at all.

[Deborah Marion]

They ran down all these tips. They got phone records. They talked to a lot of people. But eventually you kind of run up into a wall where, what else are we going to do here? And if you don't catch them with, I guess, the literal smoking gun in this case, you kind of run into a dead end.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Lorenzen's mother refuses to let the case go cold.

[Deborah Marion]

Deborah Marion, who is pushing, pushing, pushing. I want this investigated. I want justice for my son. And I'm not going to leave you alone until I get it.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

While Deborah is dogged in her efforts to get the case solved, investigators learn Shara is on a different quest.

[Lorenzen Wright]

She had nearly spent a million dollars in 10 months of the insurance money. After Lorenzen's death, I was covering the court case. His dad was suing Shara to try to stop a money bleed.

[Adam Levine]

She burned through it like Sherman burning through Georgia. She just went through expensive trips, houses, furniture, lawn equipment.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Two years pass, and it looks as if Lorenzen's murder will remain unsolved. Then, in 2012, Shara's cousin Jimmy Martin's murder trial wraps up and brings an unexpected twist.

[Michael Buble]

Jimmy gets convicted, and at that point, he comes forward to authorities.

[Herb Wright]

It's like a lot of prisoners in jail. They're trying to get better conditions. They sometimes want to be moved to a different prison. They trying to work a deal.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Jimmy shocks investigators when he says he is finally ready to talk about Lorenzen's murder.

[Deborah Marion]

Jimmy Morton told police about meeting with Cher Wright and Billy Turner at Cher's home and talking about a plot to kill Lorenzen Wright. Jimmy, he didn't really take her seriously.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Jimmy claims when they decided to put the plan in motion on July 18, he was abruptly left out.

[Deborah Marion]

His story is that night I was supposed to be there, but they never came and got me.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

After midnight, Jimmy says he finally heard from Billy, who told him that he and Sharon needed his help. Billy admitted that Lorenzen was already dead. But during the attack, Shara had panicked and left a 25 caliber pistol at the scene on Callous cutoff road.

[Deborah Marion]

They told him that she started shooting and essentially ran up the street in a panic and threw it.

[Adam Levine]

He talked about getting a metal detector, and they kind of went back to the scene the next day, used the metal detector to find the gun.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Jimmy says that Shara took the.25 caliber pistol with her while he went with Billy to get rid of the 9 millimeter.

[Adam Levine]

He talked about this lake that he and Billy went out to and threw one of the guns in the lake.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Jimmy's story matches evidence recovered at the scene by investigators.

[Deborah Marion]

Up on the road, you had 25 caliber shell casings and one 9 millimeter shell casing.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

But investigators also know they will need more than a convicted murderer's word to bring this case to justice.

[Adam Levine]

We want to follow up on that evidence, and we are going to let the evidence drive the investigation.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Coming up, investigators take a deep dive for evidence.

[Adam Levine]

The divers told us, if it's there, we're going to find.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

And they stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

[Deborah Marion]

The plan for the wiretap was to tap both of their phones. You gotta jump through quite a few hoops to get that, so we did that.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Two years after the murder of Lorenzen Wright, detectives head out with Jimmy Martin to the spot where he claims his co conspirator, Billy Turner, dumped one of the murder weapons.

[Michael Buble]

Those investigators asked for a volunteer dive team from Walnut, Mississippi, to come and search the lake. They did it on the day after it had rained and all the. The lake was muddy. They spent a few hours and were unable to find anything.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Detectives are forced to consider the possibility that the most promising break in years was just a ploy.

[Michael Buble]

The original detectives dismissed Jimmy Martin's account and the case went cold for years.

[Deborah Marion]

I don't know why they didn't go back and search the lake with a professional dive team on a day when conditions were clear.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

In the following years, Shara moves to Riverside, California, and she remarries twice Meanwhile, Lorenzen's mother, Deborah, refuses to let her son's case die.

[Herb Wright]

God bless her heart, she wouldn't let a day go by and she didn't phone call him and go up there to the police department. She kept saying, y'all gotta find who killed my son.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

In 2017, seven years after Lorenzen's death, Deborah gets her wish. The Memphis Police Department officially reopens the case with a multi agency gang unit unit. They dub it Operation Rebound.

[Adam Levine]

I was the operations commander for the motel gang unit, which included Memphis police officer Shelby county sheriff deputies, Special Agent with ATF, Special Agents with the FBI.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On June 27, 2017, Memphis detectives bring an FBI dive team to the Mississippi lake, where Jimmy Martin told them he helped Billy Turner dump the murder weapon.

[Adam Levine]

The divers told us, if it's there, we're going to find it. And they went down in maybe an hour. We hear them talking to the command post. We've got a gun. That was one of the happiest moments of my life. I mean, that was the Kodak moment when they brought that weapon out.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Detectives send the 9 millimeter gun for ballistics testing. Over a month later, the results are in.

[Adam Levine]

They took the shell casing from the test fire and compared that microscopically to the shell casing recovered from the scene, and they matched nine millimeter shell casing.

[Michael Buble]

That was truth test number one for Jimmy Martin. So that's a big deal, but that's still not time to go out and charge somebody. We decided that a good investigative strategy would be to go on a wiretap on her phone and on Billy Turner's phone.

[Deborah Marion]

The plan for the wiretap was to tap both of their phones after getting a court order signed by a judge. You got to jump through quite a few hoops to get that. So we did that for both Billy Turner's phone and Cherrah Wright's phone.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On November 9, 2017, Memphis Police announce the discovery of the gun. The media latches on to the story, and within a couple of hours, it's clear that Shara has heard the news.

[Adam Levine]

She said somebody then told somebody about something. They've got some kind of informant. She knew not to have those confessional conversations on the phone. Luckily for us, we were listening not only to her phone, we were listening to Billy's phone as well.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

The wire tab also allows detectives to track the search activity on Shera's cell phone.

[Michael Buble]

Sherra Wright begins Internet searches on her phone that include how long do fingerprints last on a gun underwater. She also searches for the name Billy Turner.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Within days, Shara is on a plane back to Memphis. When she touches down, detectives tail her.

[Michael Buble]

She uses a third party's phone to contact Billy Turner and set up a secret meeting with Billy Turner.

[Adam Levine]

When we knew they were going to meet at a certain location, then we would kind of get ahead of that and set up surveillance.

[Michael Buble]

They're not able to get audio, but they're able to get video of the meeting. They're actually Billy looking over his shoulder to make sure nobody else is watching. Numerous times during about a 30 minute conversation that is animated.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On December 5, 2017, investigators obtain a search warrant for Billy's residence in Memphis in an attempt to recover evidence connected to Lorenzen's murder.

[Adam Levine]

We conducted a search warrant. We found some weapons. Billy's convicted felon, he's not allowed to have weapons. So we arrested him and got an indictment on him for weapons charges as well as being responsible for killing Lorenzo. So it's beginning to kind of come together.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

But when investigators speak with Billy, the only thing he admits to is being more than Shara's friend.

[Deborah Marion]

He admitted to police that he had had sex with her at least once.

[Adam Levine]

And then at some point he just said he didn't want to talk anymore.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

A few days later, U.S. marshals arrest Shara in California.

[Adam Levine]

She was at her boys basketball game and they just followed her from there, made a traffic stop, took her into custody.

[Deborah Marion]

Neither one cooperated. Shara did not give a statement.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On December 16, 2017, the Memphis Police Department calls another press conference.

[Deborah Marion]

Sheryl Wright has been indicted for conspiracy to commit first degree murder, criminal attempt, first degree murder, and first degree murder for her ex husband, Lorenzen Wright.

[Herb Wright]

When the announcement was made that there was a cheer across this town like Lorenzen escorted a slam dunk.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

After seven long years, Lorenzen's mother finally has justice.

[Herb Wright]

Last night, it's like the good Lord.

[Adam Levine]

Put me in the bed and put.

[Deborah Marion]

Me in a coma until my alarm.

[Adam Levine]

Pop went off this morning.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Yes, indeed, this is a day, day.

[Adam Levine]

Day I'm been waiting on for the last seven years.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

But prosecutors know that an arrest doesn't assure a conviction, especially when it comes to Shara Wright.

[John Legend]

She stays ahead of the game and she stays ahead of the curves. And she always out thinking her opponents.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Coming up, prosecutors try to build a witness list.

[Michael Buble]

We reached out to Billy Turn, but.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Shara has one last trick up her sleeve.

[John Legend]

She knew that if she had to go to trial herself, then you know, what eventually came out would have been her own demise.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

As prosecutors in Shelby county build their case Against Shara Wright. Her motive is crystal clear.

[Michael Buble]

There's not a doubt that Lorenzen Wright was worth more to share Wright dead than he was alive. At the end. There's a life insurance policy. There's also an MBA pension policy. Add those together, about $2 million.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Prosecutors believe that Shera recruited her lover, Billy Turner, to help.

[Herb Wright]

Billy Ray Turner was nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard that did what his queen wanted him to do.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

They theorize that on July 18, 2010, Shara lured Lorenzen to Memphis with promises of sex and reconciliation. Then around midnight, she convinced him to take a ride with her during some.

[Adam Levine]

Of their evening family interviews. Our investigation revealed that oftentimes when they would kind of get into these heated arguments, they would go to callous cut off to kind of have these very deep conversations. That was their lover's name.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

When they arrived, Billy Turner was waiting, gun in hand.

[Michael Buble]

Billy Turner was armed and Sherra was armed. They both fired shots at Lorenzen there on the road. He jumped over the barbed wire fence. Billy pursued over the barbed wire fence.

[Deborah Marion]

They started shooting and then he ran away. They had to chase him, and they fired a lot of bullets.

[Michael Buble]

Lorenzen was on his phone trying to call 911. Billy followed the light from the phone. Lorenzen thought when he got to those bushes that he had some sort of COVID but he didn't. Billy fired numerous shots and executed them right there.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

As they prepare for two trials, prosecutors are shocked when Sherra's lawyers unexpectedly contact them about a plea.

[John Legend]

I believe that she knew that if she had to go to trial herself, then, you know, what eventually came out would have been her own demise.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

On July 25, 2019, Shera pleads guilty to facilitation of first degree murder. A judge sentences her to 30 years. She will be eligible for parole in 2027. For those who had waited seven years for her arrest, the sentence feels like a slap in the face for her.

[Shara Robinson]

To get off knowing that she might not even do the whole 30 years. Probably not, you know, is really sickening.

[Herb Wright]

I was a mad angry. A few other words that I don't want to use because of my. My clerical collar. She got off easy.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Billy Turner takes his chances in court. At his trial in March 2022, his lawyer places a lot of the blame on Shara.

[Michael Buble]

Billy Turner didn't wake up one morning want to kill Lorenzen Wright. Billy Turner is somebody that was manipulated and used by Cher Wright.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

The tactic doesn't work. Billy is convicted of first degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy in the state.

[Adam Levine]

Of Tennessee, when you're found guilty of first degree murder is automatic life sentence.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

In Memphis, Lorenzen's legacy lives on. But the city is haunted by what might have been.

[John Legend]

I think he would have been actively involved in our community. That is one of the biggest things that Lorenzen had. He had a heart to give. He had a heart to pour back into. He had a heart to inspire.

[Herb Wright]

We've got some great players on the Grizzlies team right now. Great guys, I mean, great. But none of them have risen to the point where Lorenzen was with Memphis. And because of that, people still grieve his loss. Today.

[Kelsey Ballerini]

Billy Ray was sentenced to life in prison. His parole eligibility has not been determined. Shara Wright will be eligible for parole in 2027. She will be 56 years old. Jimmy Martin has never been charged in connection to Lorenzen's murder.

[Nadine Bailey]

You don't believe in ghosts. I get it. Lots of people don't. I didn't either, until I came face to face with them. Ever since that moment, hauntings, spirits, and the unexplained have consumed my entire life. I'm Nadine Bailey. I've been a ghost tour guide for the past 20 years. I've taken people along with me into the shadows, uncovering the macabre tales that linger in the darkness and inside some of the most haunted houses, hospitals, prisons, and more. Join me every week on my podcast, Haunted Canada, as we journey through terrifying and bone chilling stories of the unexplained. Search for Haunted Canada on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.