Dateline episode The Murder of Lorenzen Wright explores the mysterious disappearance of NBA star Lorenzen Wright. The athlete went missing in July 2010, and ten days later, his body was discovered in the Tennessee Woods.
At the time of his murder, Wright was 34 years old and had six children. He had already retired from the game when suddenly misfortune befell him. Recordings of Wright's 911 call received by Dateline: Unforgettable have revealed the disturbing final moments of the basketball star. He tried to save his own life by running through the woods before being shot at.
Dateline correspondent Andrea Canning has reportedly said in a statement:
"I am used to covering cases of everyday people who sadly fall victim to extraordinary tragedy. Lorenzen Wright sticks with me because I'd never covered a story involving a superstar athlete before. He had it all. Money, fans, fame, but speaking to those close to him I learned that beyond the spotlight, Lorenzen was like so many others featured on Dateline. He was a loyal friend, a doting father, and a devoted son and when he mysteriously disappeared his loved ones were desperate to find him."
5 harrowing details about the 2010 disappearance of NBA star Wright
(1) Lorenzen Wright's body was found ten days after his murder
The former chief of Memphis Police had reportedly mentioned the call recording in a statement, saying:
"It made the hair on the back of your neck stand up."
On further investigation, the police tracked down the call location using cell phone tower data, and Wright's body was discovered in a forest near Tennessee ten days after he went missing. As reported on Dateline NBC, there were multiple bullet wounds on his chest and face.
(2) A weekend with loved ones turned fatal for Lorenzen Wright
At the time of his disappearance, Lorenzen had been stationed in Atlanta, but he went to Tennessee over the weekend to spend some time with his family. He was staying at his ex-wife's (Sherra Wright) place. Per the latter's statement, he left home around 3 a.m. and never returned.
(3) Wright was battling a troubled marriage and loss of a child
Lorenzen got married to Sherra in 1998, but the couple often used to fight and get possessive about each other - throwing accusations of unfaithfulness. Their baby daughter Sierra passed away due to infant death syndrome in 2003, and it further derailed their marriage.
Later, Lorenzen reportedly found out about an affair his wife was having. In a heated argument, he pointed a gun at Sherra and assaulted her, per reports. She reportedly never filed any charges, and Wright publicly denied the whole incident.
The couple eventually got divorced in 2010, and as stated in the agreements, Lorenzen set aside $ 1 million from his insurance policy, which would be left for his six children upon his death. Sherra would reportedly be the legal custodian.
(4) Sherra was the mastermind behind the murder
As the investigation further proceeded, officials got statements from Lorenzen Wright's mother Deborah Marion, suspecting his ex-wife Sherra. She mentioned:
"I told the police y'all need to go talk to his wife."
Upon questioning, Sherra had told the police that his husband was involved with drugs to make some quick cash, but the theory did not hold valid for long. After further digging, the police came across Sherra's cousin Jimmie Martin, who had been charged with the murder of his girlfriend and was hoping for a smaller sentence.
As we learn from Dateline, Martin told the investigators that Sherra had planned the whole thing with him and their gardener, Billy Ray Turner. Turner initially tried to take Lorenzen out of his Atlanta home but failed. The NBA star was later lured by Sherra, who had reportedly sent explicit text messages to him promising s*x.
According to Martin's statements, Sherra and Turner carried out the murder. Sherra lured Lorenzen into the woods, saying she had to meet a man for a deal. As the couple reached the spot, Turner, who was already present there, started firing his gun at Lorenzen. Later, the murder weapon was disposed of by Turner and Martin in a lake near Mississippi, as the latter reported.
(5) The closing investigation led to Sherra Wright
After Martin's statements, the police swept the above-mentioned lake but could not find the gun used to kill Lorenzen. But later, in 2016, a fresh search team retrieved the murder weapon from the same lake. Eventually, Billy Turner and Sherra Wright were arrested a year later.
As per reports, the defense attorney claimed in court that Sherra did the whole thing as Lorenzen had trapped her in an abusive relationship. After being accused of attempting and committing murder in 2019, Sherra was sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment. She is currently being detained at Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center in Nashville and will get parole in May 2027.
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