Sherra Wright was arrested in Riverside, California on Friday night and has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her ex-NBA husband seven years ago
The ex-wife of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright has been arrested in California in connection with his 2010 murder.
Sherra Wright was arrested in Riverside on Friday night and charged with first-degree murder, court records show.
Police arrested her on a fugitive from justice warrant, online records show. She had previously given police an account of seeing him ten days before his body was found – the last time he was reportedly seen before his death.
His mother, Deborah Marion, told the Commercial Appeal that she believes money was a motivating factor for Sherra, citing her son’s $1million life insurance policy.
‘They need to bury her,’ she said.
The arrest comes after Billy Turner, 46, was arrested on December 5 and charged with Wright’s murder.
Turner is being held on $1million bail. He has not entered a plea.
During his arraignment, Marion shouted at him: ‘How could you have murdered my son?’
The dead body of Lorenzen Wright (right) was found bullet-ridden in a field outside of Memphis, Tennessee on July 28, 2010. Eleven days ago, a man was finally charged in connection with his murder. Now his ex-wife, Sherra (left) has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death. The former couple is pictured together in December 2003
Her arrest follows that of Billy Turner, 46, who was arrested on December 5 and charged with first-degree murder
Wright’s body was found in a swampy field outside of Memphis on July 28, 2010, 10 days after the 34-year-old was reported missing. He had been shot multiple times.
The body was found in a field near some woods in the height of summer, complicating the investigation because evidence had likely deteriorated in the heat.
An autopsy report showed bullet fragments were lodged in Wright’s skull, chest and right forearm.
The corpse was badly decomposed, weighing 57 pounds. Wright’s playing weight was around 225 pounds.
The father of six was last seen on July 18, 2010, as he left the home of his ex-wife, Sherra.
According to an affidavit, she told police she saw him leave her home carrying money and a box of drugs.
Sherra Wright is pictured crying at the memorial service for her dead ex-husband in August 2010. She now has been charged with his murder
Before he left, She said she overheard her ex-husband on the telephone telling someone that he was going to ‘flip something for $110,000,’ the document said.
She said he left her home in a car with a person she could not identify.
The affidavit said she gave the statements to police in the Memphis suburb of Collierville, where she lives, on July 27 — nine days after he left her house for the last time.
Lorenzen Wright played for the Memphis Grizzlies and four other NBA teams before retiring from basketball in 2009
On July 19, 2010, authorities received a 911 call from Wright’s cell phone – before the call was dropped, the dispatcher heard what sounded like gunshots.
Dispatchers didn’t alert police because they weren’t sure it came from their jurisdiction. Wright’s mother filed a missing person’s report on July 22.
The seven-year investigation into Wright’s death has been one of the Memphis Police Department’s most high-profile unsolved cases.
The 6-foot-11 Wright played for the Memphis Grizzlies and four other NBA teams as a forward and center over 13 seasons before retiring in 2009. He averaged 8 points per game and more than 6 rebounds per game during his career.
Born and raised in Memphis, he was a fan favorite thanks to his charity work with youth and his father’s involvement as a coach in summer leagues.
Former NBA players and friends including Anfernee Hardaway and Elliot Perry attended a memorial service for Wright in the days after his body was found.