Homicide Investigation on Murder of NBA Star Lorenzen Wright Shifts To Ex-Wife

By Alicia Cruz

A month after police found the bullet-riddled body of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright in a wooded area about 15 miles south of downtown Memphis, no one is in custody, but the homicide investigation hasn't exactly stalled.

Investigators seem to be focusing their attention on the ex-wife of the former Memphis Tiger and Memphis Grizzlies, Sherra Wright.

Neighbors of Ms. Wright told My Eyewitness News that homicide investigators searched Sherra Wright's home and a fire pit in the backyard because on one of the hottest nights of the year --the same night her ex-husband disappeared -- the mother of six started a fire in her backyard. The investigators could be seen removing several items from the home, and at one point, were in the backyard looking very carefully at Wright's grill and fire pit.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF LORENZEN WRIGHT INVESTIGATION

According to a WREG report, officers seized a letter that was addressed to Lorenzen and Sherra Wright and pieces of burned metal from the home.

Sherra Wright told police her ex-husband kept a shotgun in her Collierville home and a handgun in the family van. A search warrant showed that while Collierville police didn't find the weapons Sherra said her ex-husband owned, they did find documentation the weapons existed. That prompted police to see if the shell casings found near Wright's body match those of the guns that were in Sherra Wright's home.


Reports say Wright vanished after leaving Sherra home on the evening of Sunday, July 18th.
His mother, suspecting foul play, became concerned and reported him missing July 22. He was found dead nine days later on July 28.

He'd been shot multiple times, and at least 10 gunshots can be heard in the background on a 911 call made from Wright's cell phone just after midnight on the day he allegedly disappeared.

Approximately six weeks before Wright was found shot to death, Sherra told police she was confronted at her home by three gunmen who were looking for her former husband. In fear for her safety, Sherra says she did not disclose this fact to police until after her husband was found dead.

Her attorney, Coleman Garrett, said "If her ex-husband met the violent fate that has been reported, why wouldn't it be natural for her to think under the given circumstances something violent could happen to her."

Sherra told Collierville police that Lorenzen left her home carrying a box of drugs about 10:30 p.m. July 18th. He returned and left a second time with a sum of money. She told officers about a phone conversation she overheard him having with an unidentified individual before he left saying he was going to "flip something for $110,000".

When family friends were asked if they believed Wright had drugs, they said no.

Earlier this month, Wendy Wilson, the personal assistant to the former Atlanta Hawks player told ABC24-WPTY that she was in possession of audio recordings that depict Wright’s ex-wife threatening to harm him.

Wilson said that Sherra can be heard saying “things like if she caught him with anyone else, she’d have him 'F’d up.'

Wilson said she filed a report with Memphis police because she felt the recorded conversations were “threatening.” She said Lorenzen asked her to keep the tape, adding “he wouldn’t have asked me to keep them if he didn’t think he’d need them someday.”


Sherra divorce attorney, Gail Mathes, dismissed Wilson's claims alleging that the personal assistant had a "huge crush on Lorenzen and wanted the couple to split up."

Wilson told the Black Urban Times that Mathes' statement is untrue.

"I never had anything but a professional working relationship with Mr. Wright, Wilson told the Black Urban Times. "I worked for him beginning in 2001 and continued even after he began having financial difficulties and could not pay me. I was his professional executive assistant and always conducted myself in a professional manner. Mathes' allegation is a lie," said Wilson.

Mathes said her client was a devoted mother of six, struggling to pay the bills, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“I just feel like Sherra Wright is being placed in a bad light. She does not deserve it all. She’s been an incredible mother and woman," said Mathes who added that while her client had not worked in 17 years and was nearly $3 million in debt, she stood to gain nothing by killing her ex-husband because he was broke.

When the Wrights divorced, Lorenzen was ordered to pay his former wife $26,000 a month in child support and alimony. Mathes said the former NBA player, who earned more than $50 million during his career, had not made any payments since November 2009. “He gave her a little bit of money and she kept track of it. But, he wasn’t giving her much to support the family."

Following up on reports that Lorenzen was also seen at New Era Barber Shop getting a hair cut, police questioned owner Tavio Brigance about Lorenzen's mood and what clothing he was wearing the night he went to barbershop.

After investigating the sighting, including surveillance video, investigators determined that there was a mix up with the dates and Lorenzen was at the barbershop and it wasn't Monday evening, but rather Sunday evening.

Police have assured the public that this investigation has not been forgotten. "It's just a matter of time," MyFoxMemphis reported.

Police urge the public to come forward with any information, no matter how big or small, they may have. Your tip just may be the one investigators need to close this case. Call Crimestoppers at 528-CASH.

Contact reporter Alicia Cruz at nj.newsroom.cruz@gmail.com