TONIGHT ON DATELINE:
HE WAS LARGER THAN LIFE. HE WAS A HOMETOWN HERO.//
VERY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS// TO THE
NBA.
AND THEN HE'S MURDERED.
WRIGHT// IT WAS AS IF AN EXPLOSION WENT OFF!
HELLO?!
OH G-- DAMN! SOMEONE IS RUNNING FOR THEIR
LIFE AND THERE'S MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS
IT MADE THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK STAND UP.
YOU AND LORENZEN WERE SO CLOSE
THEY KILLED MY FIRSTBORN (CRIES) WHO WOULD DO THIS TO HIM?
YOU LOOK AT EVERYBODY// EVERY FRIEND, EVERY FAMILY MEMBER
THE DIVORCED SPOUSE... SHE WAS THE LAST KNOWN PERSON TO
HAVE SEEN HIM? WE HAD TO DIG INTO THAT//
THERE ARE THESE MYSTERIOUS GUNMEN SHOWING UP LOOKNG FOR
LORENZEN
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT CAME BY THE HOUSE?
GOSH DO YOU THINK// THEY'LL EVER
FIGURE THIS OUT? FAME, FORTUNE AND A FATAL PLOT:
WHO KILLED THE BASKETBALL STAR?
NOW, A CHILLING NEW ENDING!
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?// IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY
HE WAS UNDER EVERYBODY'S NOSES THE WHOLE TIME?
YEAH. HOW'S THAT FOR A KICKER? //
JUST THE ULTIMATE EVIL
I'M LESTER HOLT AND THIS IS DATELINE.
HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH... "THE MURDER OF LORENZEN WRIGHT"
IT WAS JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT IN MEMPHIS...
AS SUNDAY TURNED INTO MONDAY.
ON BEALE STREET THE BLUES CLUBS WERE BLARING.
BBQ JOINTS STILL SIZZLING...
EVEN THE LIGHTS OF NEARBY GRACELAND WERE AGLOW...
THIS TREE LINED FIELD IT WAS QUIET.
PEACEFUL.
NOT A SOUL IN SIGHT.
THEN SUDDENLY, AN UNMISTAKABLE SOUND ECHOED THROUGH THE TREES.
THAT'S THE ACTUAL SOUND OF A MURDER IN PROGRESS...CAUGHT ON
AUDIO TAPE
THE CRIME, CONCEIVED WEEKS EARLIER, WAS NOW... COMPLETE.
WHEN ONE OF THE CITY'S FAVORITE SONS RETURNED TO TOWN.
LORENZEN WRIGHT OR SIMPLY "REN", PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE
BASKETBALL HERE IN MEMPHIS...
THEN LATER STARRED FOR THE HOMETOWN NBA GRIZZLIES.
LARGER THAN LIFE, ACCORDING TO CLOSE FRIEND BILL ADKINS.
HOW POPULAR WAS HE HERE IN MEMPHIS?
OH, EXTREMELY, (LAUGH) EXTREMELY. EVERYBODY LOVED
LORENZEN. HE WAS JUST POPULAR. I MEAN, YOU COULDN'T-- YOU HAD TO
NOTICE HIM. I MEAN, 6'11", 6'10", YOU KNOW, HE WALKS IN THE
DOOR, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S HIM,
YEAH. CHARISMATIC, YET HUMBLE, REN WAS
AS GENEROUS AS HE WAS OUTGOING...
SAW A TIME WHEN HE WOULD SHUN PEOPLE AWAY OR-- OR SAY CRUDE OR
RUDE THINGS TO PEOPLE. //THE GUY WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF HIS
BACK. MOVIE STAR LOOKS?
AW, YEAH, CHARMING. QUITE CHARMING. HANDSOME GUY.
LORENZEN WAS AT THE END OF A SOLID NBA CAREER, NOW DIVORCED
AND LIVING IN ATLANTA.
BUT HE WOULD OFTEN COME BACK TO MEMPHIS TO VISIT.
ARRIVED AND SPENT PART OF THE DAY WITH CLOSE BUDDY PHIL DOTSON
AND SOME OTHER OLD FRIENDS.
JUST, YA KNOW// THE GUYS HANGING, BONDING...
A FEW HOURS LATER PHIL TOOK 'REN TO PICK UP HIS OLDEST SON AT A
LOCAL GYM.
HOME OF SHERRA WRIGHT, LORENZEN'S EX-WIFE, WHERE REN
SOMETIMES VISITED WHEN HE WAS IN TOWN.
HE SAID, "I'LL CALL YOU LATER."
AND, SO THAT BEING ABOUT 10 PM--
I LEFT.// I GOT HOME //AND I -- I NEVER HEARD FROM HIM.
SUNDAY NIGHT PASSED. BUT NO CALL FROM 'REN.
AND SO I SHOT HIM A TEXT AND HE DIDN'T REPLY.
SO I'M SURE YOU TRIED TO REACH HIM THE NEXT DAY.
THE NEXT DAY. AND?
AND NOTHING.
HE'S JUST BUSY WITH THE FAMILY? WELL, I JUST THOUGHT // HE WAS
STILL BUSY WITH THE FAMILY// IT WASN'T A-- BIG DEAL.
'REN WAS KNOWN TO GO OFF THE GRID OCCASIONALLY.
PLUS HE HAD SCHEDULED A TRIP TO LAS VEGAS LATER THAT WEEK...
MAYBE HE JUST LEFT EARLY.
CASINO, YOU DON'T GET A SIGNAL. // I THOUGHT IT WAS, KIND OF
WEIRD THAT HE //DIDN'T TEXT ME BACK. BUT I DIDN'T THINK
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BUT 'REN'S MOTHER DEBORAH MARION WAS ALREADY WORRYING.
SHE'D BEEN TRYING TO REACH HIM ALL WEEK.
HE'D NEVER NOT CALLED ME BACK. //
// DID YOU JUST THINK, "MAYBE HE'S IN VEGAS HAVIN' A REALLY
GOOD TIME?" NOPE. NOT MY CHILD. AND HE
DIDN'T CALL ME? UNH-UH
LORENZEN'S MOTHER FILED A MISSING PERSON'S REPORT WITH
POLICE WHILE PHIL SOUNDED HIS OWN PERSONAL ALARM.
I'M SENDING HIM, //OUR SOS CODE THAT WE HAD FOR EACH OTHER
//WHEN WE REALLY NEEDED ONE ANOTHER.//
AND I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM HIM.
WAS THIS WHERE THINGS TURNED FOR YOU WHEN HE DIDN'T RESPOND TO
THAT? YES. I STARTED GETTING WORRIED.
//I WAS LIKE, "MAN, WHERE IS HE?"
HE JUST BASICALLY HAS, LIKE, VANISHED--
FALLEN OFF -- VANISHED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. YES.
YES//19:42:56 //IT WAS STARTING TO GET SCARY.
SOMEBODY CALLED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND SAID, "HEY, DID
YOU KNOW LORENZEN WRIGHT IS
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, MISSIN'? //, HOW-- HOW C-- DOES A GUY THAT'S
6'11--"//HOW CAN A GUY THAT'S BEEN ON TV EVERY WEEK-- FOR MOST
OF HIS ADULT LIFE GO MISSIN'?
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE." // AT SIX FOOT ELEVEN AND 255
TO MISS. BUT HE HAS BEEN MISSING FOR A WEEK.
// POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR FORMER MEMPHIS BASKETBALL
PLAYER, LORENZEN WRIGHT BY NOW THE LOCAL MEDIA WAS ALL
OVER THE STORY
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LORENZEN WRIGHT ...
INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT WRIGHT
IS NOT ALIVE. HOWEVER, AS TIME PASSES, THE SITUATION GROWS MORE
WORRISOME.
IT WAS SHOCKING.//IT WAS JUST...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN LORENZEN WRIGHT IS MISSING?
KONTJI ANTHONY COVERED THE STORY FOR NBC AFFILIATE WMC-TV IN
MEMPHIS. //THE WHOLE TOWN WAS ABUZZ.//
LORENZEN'S FORMER WIFE SHERRA, TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS FINE THE
LAST NIGHT SHE SAW HIM... I'M NOT GON' BELIEVE ANYTHING
OTHER THAN THAT HE'S FINE NOW. I JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO CALL IF
THEY'VE SEEN HIM OR HEARD ANYTHING FROM HIM.
BUT 'REN'S MOTHER WAS ALREADY EXPECTING THE WORST.
I TOLD THE POLICE WHEN I FIRST REPORTED HIM MISSIN' //12:47:15
Y'ALL, MY SON IS NOT GONNA BE GOOD WHEN Y'ALL FIND HIM."
YOUR INTUITION-- YEAH.
--WAS TELLING YOU. --YEAH, I WASN'T FEELIN' HIM
NOWHERE. HE WASN'T NO WHERE. YOU MUST-- NORMALLY FEEL KIND
OF-- //A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION-- YES.
--TO YOUR SON? OR... YES. // I TOLD THE POLICE, "I
DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT TO Y'ALL,//12:48:01;18 "BUT HE'S
DEAD."
MEMPHIS POLICE NEEDED MORE THAN A MOTHER'S INTUITION.
THEN THEY FOUND THAT TERRIFYING RECORDING;
//HE WAS LITERALLY RUNNIN' FOR
>>> TONIGHT, POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR FORMER MEMPHIS
BASKETBALL PLAYER, LORENZEN WRIGHT.
>> Reporter: SEVEN LONG DAYS, AND STILL NO SIGN OF
LORENZEN WRIGHT. ONE OF THE LAST TO SEE HIM ALIVE
WAS HIS EX-WIFE SHERRA >> THERE ARE NO NEW LEADS OR
ANYTHING IT'S MIND-BOGGLING
WE'RE HOPEFUL. TODAY IS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS
FOR ME 'CAUSE IT'S AN ENTIRE WEEK
>> Reporter: WITH EACH PASSING DAY REN'S MOTHER BECAME MORE
FEARFUL. YOU MUST BE FRANTIC.
>> YES I DONE CALL EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE
THAT HE WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH, NOBODY KNOWS NOTHIN'
>> Reporter: BUT POLICE DID FIND CLUE, A BIG ONE --
BURIED IN REN'S PHONE RECORDS. THE LAST CALL LORENZEN WRIGHT
EVER MADE WAS TO 911 >> GERMANTOWN 911, WHAT IS YOUR
EMERGENCY? >> Reporter: DETECTIVES TRACED
THAT CALL TO A GERMANTOWN, A MEMPHIS SUBURB
POLICE THERE WERE NOT ABLE TO GEO-LOCATE THE CALL AND NEVER
FOLLOWED UP. >> OH, DAMN.
>> Reporter: THAT'S THE VOICE OF LORENZEN WRIGHT AS HE FACED HIS
KILLER. >> HELLO
>> Reporter: IT WOULD TAKE EIGHT DAYS FROM THE TIME HE WENT
MISSING FOR MEMPHIS POLICE TO FIND THAT RECORDING.
>> IT MADE THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK STAND UP.
THAT WAS PROBABLY HIS LAST SPOKEN WORDS
AND LISTENIN' TO THAT TAPE, IT JUST KINDA BROUGHT IT ALL HOME
THAT YOU KNEW THAT AT THAT -- HE WAS BEYOND DISTRESS.
>> Reporter: THAT'S NO JOKE WHEN SOMEONE IS RUNNING FOR THEIR
LIFE AND THERE'S MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS BEING FIRED
>> I HAD NEVER HEARD A 911 CALL LIKE THAT ONE BEFORE
>> LIVE PICTURES HERE FROM CHOPPER FIVE, POLICE ARE NOT
SAYING ANYTHING OFFICIAL AT THIS POINT.
>> Reporter: POLICE WERE ABLE TO TRACE THE 911 CALL FROM NEARBY
CELL PHONE TOWERS AND SOON SWARMED A FIELD ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF TOWN LOOKING FOR LORENZEN >> THE INFORMATION LED A SHELBY
COUNTY SHERIFF'S SEARCH CREW TO A WOODED AREA NEAR HACKS CROSS
AND WINCHESTER ROAD. >> Reporter: AND IT DIDN'T TAKE
LONG - AS SEARCH TEAMS SUDDENLY NOTICED
SOMETHING VERY DISTURBING. >> BREAKING NEWS, MEMPHIS POLICE
ARE IN SOUTHEAST MEMPHIS WHERE A BODY HAS BEEN FOUND.
>> AND THE WORD WENT AROUND TOWN LIKE WILDFIRE.
ANYONE WHO KNEW LORENZEN LITERALLY HOPPED INTO THEIR CAR
AND DROVE TO THAT SCENE. >> NEWS OF THE DISCOVERY SPREAD
QUICKLY AND CROWDS OF WRIGHT'S FRIENDS ON AN OFF THE COURT
STEADILY GREW. >> Reporter: IT WAS STILL A FULL
ON CRIME SCENE WHEN LORENZEN'S MOTHER ARRIVED, THEN CROSSED THE
POLICE LINE, TO WHERE THE BODY WAS BEING RECOVERED.
>> I WANTED TO WALK IN HIS LAST WALK SO I COULD GET THAT
FEELIN', LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED JUST LET ME WALK THE LAST PATH
HE WALKED. >> Reporter: WHY DID YOU WANNA
DO THAT? >> BECAUSE I WANTED TO FEEL WHAT
HE LEFT FOR ME 'CAUSE I KNEW.
>> Reporter: OF COURSE SHE KNEW. IT WAS HER FIRST-BORN SON,
LORENZEN >> POLICE HAVE NOTIFIED
IMMEDIATE FAMILY THAT LORENZEN WRIGHT WAS FOUND DEAD
HERE >> Reporter: BY NOW A LARGE
CROWD WAS HOLDING AN IMPROMPTU MEMORIAL AT THE GRIM SITE.
AMONG THEM WAS REN'S FRIEND AND NBA STAR PENNY HARDAWAY.
>> YEAH, IT'S A, IT'S JUST A GREAT LOSS FOR THE CITY OF
MEMPHIS, FOR HIS FAMILY. SUCH AN EARLY AGE.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST SENSELESS. >> Reporter: THEN, LORENZEN'S
BODY, WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE SEARING MEMPHIS SUN FOR TEN LONG
DAYS, WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN AUTOPSY.
>> I'VE SEEN DECOMPOSED BODIES BEFORE
BUT I WASN'T READY FOR THAT. I WASN'T READY FOR LORENZEN'S
REMAINS. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT THAT
WAS HIM. >> Reporter: LORENZEN WRIGHT WAS
JUST 34. THE FATHER OF SIX YOUNG
CHILDREN NOW POLICE CONFIRMED THE
HORRIBLE NEWS WITH THE REST OF HIS FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS
>> I LITERALLY REMEMBERED FREEZING
I DROPPED THE PHONE AND MY MIND WENT BLANK
AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S DEAD?
AND THEN HE TOLD ME, HE'S BEEN IN THE FIELD FOR SOME DAYS AND
IT WAS BAD IT WAS BAD
AND I HUNG THE PHONE UP AND I CRIED.
LIKE SOMEONE HAD PULLED MY HEART OUT OF MY CHEST AND JUST STOMPED
ON IT. >> Reporter: SO YOUR BEST
FRIEND >> YEAH.
YEAH >> Reporter: WORD ALSO SPREAD
SOUTH TO ATLANTA WHERE REN'S OLD FRIEND AND ROOMMATE MIKE GIPSON
WAS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING ANY NEWS. >> WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, I
WOULD JUST DROP TO MY KNEES. I COULDN'T -- COULDN'T WALK.
I WAS LIKE PARALYZED I'M LIKE, "THIS CAN'T BE TRUE.
>> Reporter: AT FIRST NOBODY KNEW WHAT EXACTLY HAD HAPPENED
TO REN WAS THERE -- WAS THERE ANY
THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS LORENZEN HAD BEEN ROBBED?
HE'S A REALLY RICH GUY >> HE IS A RICH GUY.
BUT AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, THERE WAS -- THERE WAS JEWELRY
RECOVERED, OTHER PERSONAL BELONGINGS
>> Reporter: THEN THERE WAS WHAT THE AUTOPSY REVEALED
HE HAD BEEN SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES WITH WOUNDS TO THE CHEST AND
EVEN HIS FACE. >> IT WAS AN ASSASSINATION
HE WAS MURDERED. >> THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT HE
WAS SHOT AND THEN TO KNOW THAT THOSE SHOTS WERE TO HIS FACE
>> Reporter: THAT'S PERSONAL >> THAT'S PERSONAL
THAT'S A DEEP-ROOTED HATE. >> Reporter: SO HATEFUL AND SO
PERSONAL, WHICH SUGGESTED THE KILLER MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY KNOWN
LORENZEN >> I JUST COULD NOT IMAGINE
ANYBODY WANTING TO HARM HIM. >> Reporter: DID YOU THINK HE
WAS TARGETED >> I THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEBODY
WANTED TO ROB HIM, BUT WHO WOULD DO THIS TO HIM
>> Reporter: AND WHY A FEW TINY CLUES LEFT BEHIND AT
THE CRIME SCENE WOULD PROVIDE A HUGE LEAD.
BECAUSE IT APPEARED NOT ONLY DID SOMEONE WANT LORENZEN DEAD,
MEMPHIS WAS IN MOURNING....
OF 2010 WHEN THE CITY PAID ITS LAST RESPECTS TO LORENZEN
WRIGHT.
IT WAS TELEVISED BY SEVERAL LOCAL STATIONS.
HIS FUNERAL. OH, BOY. (SIGH) AH,
WELL,IT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE WHO'S WHO OF MEMPHIS.
LORENZEN'S MOTHER COULD BARELY KEEP IT TOGETHER
NEVER IMAGINING SHE'D HAVE TO BURY HER OLDEST CHILD.
I JUST DIDN'T WANNA LIVE.
YOU AND LORENZEN WERE SO CLOSE.
LIVIN' AFTER THEY KILLED MY FIRSTBORN. HE JUST...
YOU TWO HAD BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER.
UH-HUH (AFFIRM). YES, INDEED // YOU SEE, I WAS YOUNG WHEN I HAD
HIM. SO WE KINDA, LIKE, GREW UP TOGETHER.
'REN'S EX-WIFE SHERRA AND THEIR CHILDREN ALL CAME TO SAY
FAREWELL TOO.
SIX YOUNG CHILDREN... NOW SUDDENLY LEFT WITHOUT A FATHER.
THE LOSS OF SUCH A GREAT PERSON
IN THE FABRIC OF MEMPHIS SOCIETY WAS JUST SO TRAGIC AND PAINFUL.
TO HELP THE CITY HEAL, THE MEMPHIS MAYOR MADE A PROMISE...
JUSTICE WILL BE DONE. THAT'S OUR PLEDGE.
JUSTICE OF COURSE DEPENDED ON A THOROUGH POLICE INVESTIGATION.
DETECTIVES WERE NOW PLAYING CATCH-UP GIVEN HOW LONG IT HAD
TAKEN TO FIND 'REN'S BODY AFTER HE WAS MURDERED.
BUT AT THE CRIME SCENE, CLUES WERE ALREADY EMERGING.
POLICE FOUND DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHELL CASINGS AT THE SCENE...
...DIFFERENT CASINGS...WHICH MEANT MORE THAN ONE GUN WAS USED
TO MURDER 'REN.
POSSIBLY BEEN TWO-- SUSPECTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SHOOTING.
TONEY ARMSTRONG WAS ALREADY FEELING THE HEAT TO CRACK ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CASES OF HIS CAREER.
IT WAS. // THE MAYOR OF THE CITY AT THAT TIME HAD VOWED TO THE
PUBLIC THAT WE WERE GONNA SOLVE IT //
I WANTED TO BE ABLE //TO TELL HIS MOM THAT //WE GOT THE PERSON
THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
BUT WHO WOULD DO SUCH A THING?
AND WHY?
IN MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HE WAS BORN AND FIRST STARTED PLAYING
BASKETBALL.
HE BECAME A STAR, DURING HIS HIGH SCHOOL DAYS.
THAT'S WHEN HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE SHERRA, WHOSE FATHER WAS
HIS COACH AT THE TIME.
MARC PERRUSQUIA. A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT HIM UNTIL-- HE PLAYED AAU BALL FOR SHERRA WRIGHT'S DAD.
AND-- SHERRA'S DAD BROUGHT HIM UP TO MEMPHIS. AND //HE PLAYED
HIS LAST SEASON OF HIGH SCHOOL BALL HERE IN
MEMPHIS//17:48:48;21 AND WAS A HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN...
THE COACHES WERE LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS BOY DOIN' BUT HE
CAN MAKE SOME MONEY ONE DAY."
SHERRA ALSO LIKED WHAT SHE SAW... AND THE TWO BEGAN DATING,
YEARS OLDER, AS 'REN'S FRIEND BILL ADKINS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED.
SHE WAS DIFFERENT. UH, YOU COULD TELL SHE WAS QUITE MATURE, QUITE
SAVVY. SEXY. CAN I USE THAT WORD? SEXY?
UH, ABSOLUTELY. SHE WAS A KIND OF GIRL THAT GUYS
LOOKED AT.
SMITTEN WITH THE MORE SOPHISTICATED CITY GAL.
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT SHERRA THAT
HE// FELL SO FAST FOR HER?
LET ME SEE, HOW CAN I PUT THIS NICELY.
--SEX?
SHE WAS 22. SO, SHE// LURED HIM IN?
HE HAD LITTLE GIRLFRIENDS, BUT THEY WASN'T DOIN' ALL THAT STUFF
SHERRA WAS DOIN'. UNH-UH // SHE WAS A LADY AND HE WAS A KID.
THE ROMANCE WITH 'REN FLOURISHED.
AND SO DID HIS BASKETBALL CAREER.
IN COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, HIS STAR CONTINUED TO
RISE.
HE HAD A MEETING' WITH ME AND HIS DAD TALKING' ABOUT HE'S
GONNA GET READY TO GO TO THE NBA. I SAID, "NO YOU NOT. YOU
GOT TWO MORE YEARS." HE'S LIKE,
GRADUATE AND GET A DEGREE. WHO'S GONNA PAY ME $1 MILLION FOR MY
FIRST JOB?"
MINUTES AND I SAY, "WHEN YOU SAY YOU LEAVING'?"
THEN IN 1996, AFTER HIS SOPHOMORE SEASON, LORENZEN HIT
THE NBA JACKPOT, WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND BY
THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS.
AT THE TENDER AGE OF 20, REN WAS AN INSTANT MILLIONAIRE.
BY NOW SHERRA HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO THEIR FIRST BABY, LORENZEN JR.
IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LIVING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH LIFE.
AFTER HIS SECOND SEASON, 'REN AND SHERRA GOT MARRIED...
I WAS ONE OF THE GROOMSMEN. AND IT WAS-- AN AWESOME AFFAIR. THE
WEDDING WAS BEAUTIFUL.// IT LOOKED LIKE A-- LOOKED LIKE A
FAIRYTALE.
LORENZEN AND SHERRA FOR OVER A YEAR WHEN REN PLAYED WITH THE
CLIPPERS.
AND SHERRA DIDN'T MIND//YOU BEING THE HOUSEGUEST?
NO. NO. SHE-- SHE DIDN'T. THEY WERE ALWAYS KNOWN-- FOR HAVING,
'REN PLAYED THREE SEASONS WITH THE CLIPPERS THEN MOVED ONTO
ATLANTA AND SIGNED ANOTHER MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT
BEFORE BEING TRADED TO HIS HOMETOWN TEAM THE MEMPHIS
GRIZZLIES IN 2001.
BACK HOME 'REN RE-IMMERSED HIMSELF IN THE COMMUNITY.
HE OPENED A RESTAURANT...
WHILE COMMITTING TO LOCAL CHARITIES AND CHILDREN.
HE WOULD //DO A SUMMER CAMP
HERE. AND IT WAS ALWAYS HUGE.
//THOUSANDS OF KIDS WOULD ATTEND // GIVING BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY
WAS ONE OF THE// THINGS THAT-- THAT// REALLY MADE HIM HAPPY.
OVER HIS CAREER LORENZEN EARNED SOME $55 MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH
HE LAVISHED ON HIS FRIENDS AND GROWING FAMILY,
OH MY GOD, TRIPS. BUYIN' ANYTHING HE WANTS, HOUSES, CARS.
TOOK CARE OF HIS FRIENDS. TOOK CARE OF HIS FAMILY. ANYBODY WHO
PUT A HAND OUT, HE VIRTUALLY GAVE TO 'EM. //HE NEVER COULD
SAY NO TO PEOPLE.
BEYOND THE SUBURBS. IT WAS THIS HUGE, //13,000 SQUARE FOOT HOME
// COST SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS
AND INSIDE THEIR GIANT GARAGE...
HE HAD A COUPLE FERRARIS //AND HE LOVED CARS
HE HAD BOUGHT TWO BENTLEYS IN ONE MONTH.
AND SHERRA?
SHE LOVED JEWELRY.
ARE WE TALKING DIAMONDS AND-- WATCHES, RINGS, EARRINGS,
BRACELETS.//SHE LOVED TO-- DECORATE HER HOME. // CUSTOM
DRAPES AND-- CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY ON COUCHES AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A
COUPLE MONTHS GO BY AND THEN--
SHE'D CHANGE EVERYTHING UP AGAIN.
IT WAS AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES.
MEMPHIS MANSION, THERE WAS TROUBLE IN PARADISE.
HE WAS A ROCK STAR AND // WITH BEING A ROCK STAR COMES CERTAIN
TEMPTATIONS THAT-- THAT COME AT YOU.
SHE WAS HAVING AFFAIRS AS WELL? WE WERE HEARING THINGS LIKE
>>> DECEMBER 25th, 2007. EVERYBODY IS ABOUT TO COME
DOWNSTAIRS I HEAR THEM MAKIN' NOISE
>> Reporter: THREE YEARS BEFORE LORENZEN WRIGHT'S DEATH, HIS
FAMILY CAN BE SEEN IN THIS RARE HOME VIDEO CELEBRATING WHAT
WOULD BE ONE OF THEIR LAST CHRISTMASES ALL TOGETHER
THE HOUSE WAS DECORATED, AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF PRESENTS
UNDER THE TREE REN WAS PLAYING SANTA FOR THE
KIDS >> NOW YOU GOT ONE OF THESE.
>> Reporter: AND IN THE GARAGE, SHERRA HAD A SURPRISE WAITING
FOR HIM. >> DO YOU LOVE IT, DADDY
>> I LOVE IT IT'S GORGEOUS.
>> Reporter: IT WAS RIGHT OUT OF A CHRISTMAS MOVIE.
BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, REPORTER MARC PERRUSQUIA SAYS REN AND
SHERRA'S LIFE WASN'T ALWAYS SO PICTURE PERFECT.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS >> PEOPLE WHO KNEW THEM WELL,
BEYOND THE PUBLIC ARENA, KNEW THEY HAD TROUBLES.
>> Reporter: A VOLATILE MIX OF INFIDELITY AND JEALOUSY, SAYS
PERRUSQUIA >> THERE WAS THIS DARKER --
DARKER SIDE. >> Reporter: FOR LORENZEN, LIFE
IN THE NBA WAS INTOXICATING, UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, IN THE
BIGGEST CITIES WITH PLENTY OF CASH, CLUBBING AND WOMEN
>> HE WAS A ROCK STAR. AND WITH BEING A ROCK STAR COMES
CERTAIN TEMPTATIONS THAT -- THAT COME AT YOU.
>> Reporter: AND THOSE TEMPTATIONS UNFORTUNATELY DID
WIN OVER AT TIMES. >> YEAH.
YEAH YES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE TEMPTATION -- TEMPTATIONS ARE REAL
>> BY SHERRA'S ACCOUNT, FROM THE TIME THAT HE GOT IN THE NBA, IT
WAS, LIKE, A CONSTANT PARADE OF WOMEN.
HE WAS YOUNG HE WAS A GOOD LOOKIN' GUY.
I MEAN, HE HAD ALL THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT. >> Reporter: SHERRA, ACCORDING
TO LORENZEN'S MOTHER, WAS CHEATING TOO
AND NOT VERY DISCREETLY. >> SHERRA WAS BEIN' SEEN -- NOT
HEARD, SEEN -- DOIN' THINGS SHE SHOULDN'T BE DOIN'
>> Reporter: INFIDELITY? >> UH-HUH.
IF YOU GONNA DO THAT, GO TO THE NEXT TOWN OVER
>> Reporter: SHE WAS FLAUNTING OTHER MEN IN HER HOMETOWN.
>> YES SHE WANTED TO DO WHAT HER SINGLE
FRIENDS DID. >> Reporter: SO SHE WANTED TO
ACT LIKE A SINGLE WOMAN EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS MARRIED
>> UH-HUH, UH-HUH, UH-HUH. SHE DIDN'T JUST WANT TO.
SHE DID IT >> Reporter: REN WAS UPSET ABOUT
SHERRA'S ALLEGED AFFAIRS, ACCORDING TO CLOSE FRIEND
BILL ADKINS. >> HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT HE PERCEIVED AS HER INFIDELITY AND THINGS.
"I CAN'T LEAVE HOME, TRUST HER I'M HEARIN' STORIES AND RUMORS
ABOUT ALL THESE GUYS." AT THE SAME TIME, HE KNEW HE
WASN'T TOTALLY A SAINT AS WELL IN THAT AREA
HE WAS LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO -- SOLVING SOME OF THE
MARITAL ISSUES THAT HE WAS HAVING AT THE TIME
>> Reporter: HE WANTED TO MAKE IT WORK?
>> HE ABSOLUTELY WANTED TO MAKE IT WORK.
YEAH >> Reporter: IN 2003, AMIDST ALL
THE TURBULENCE, AN UNEXPECTED TRAGEDY ROCKED THEIR WORLD
IT INVOLVED THE COUPLE'S 11-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER, SIERRA.
>> WRIGHT'S WIFE FOUND THE BABY NOT BREATHING IN HER CRIB
SATURDAY SHE RUSHED HER TO A NEARBY
MEDICAL CENTER WHERE SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD.
>> THE DOCTOR'S REPORT SAID THAT SHE DIED FROM S.I.D.S.
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING I
KNOW THAT HE EVER WENT THROUGH IN HIS LIFE.
>> SHE'S IN HEAVEN WITH GOD, AND I KNOW THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, NOW I'M JUST GOING TO WORK HARD ON TRYING TO GET
MYSELF THERE >> Reporter: DID IT CAUSE A
STRAIN IN HIS MARRIAGE >> I THINK IT DID.
HE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED
AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THERE AND PROTECT HIS DAUGHTER -
>> Reporter: AWFUL >> I THINK HE ALWAYS REGRETTED
THAT >> Reporter: REN'S FRIENDS SAID
THAT TWO YEARS LATER, THE COUPLE'S PROBLEMS ESCALATED TO A
WHOLE NEW, AND NOW DANGEROUS, LEVEL.
>> THERE WAS A SITUATION THAT HAPPENED AND -- LORENZEN WENT TO
THE HOUSE WHERE SUPPOSEDLY SHE WAS THERE WITH ANOTHER GUY
HE KNEW THE GENTLEMAN. >> AND HE WENT BALLISTIC
AND I THINK HE HAD A GUN >> Reporter: THE STORY MADE THE
LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, WHICH REPORTED THAT REN THREATENED THE MAN AND
ALSO ATTACKED SHERRA >> SHE HAD SOME MARKS ON HER
FACE HE HIT HER
AND THE POLICE WERE GONNA ARREST HIM.
BUT SHE WOULD NOT TESTIFY AGAINST HIM.
LORENZEN HAD A PUBLIC IMAGE TO UPHOLD
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO EXPOSE THAT PART OF HIM.
>> Reporter: NO CHARGES WERE FILED.
IN A NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT, REN DENIED HARMING HIS WIFE OR
HAVING A GUN BUT WE SPOKE TO A WOMAN WHO WAS
THERE WHO TOLD US SHE FEARED FOR SHERRA'S LIFE.
WITH THE HELP OF COUNSELING, THEIR TUMULTUOUS MARRIAGE
SOMEHOW STAYED INTACT. AND IN 2007, THEY EVEN RENEWED
THEIR VOWS >> EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT,
"OKAY, NOW THEY'RE GOOD AGAIN. FEW MONTHS PASS BY AND THE SAME
THING'S HAPPENING AGAIN. >> Reporter: BACK TO THE
FIGHTING >> BACK TO THE FIGHTING.
>> Reporter: AND OFTEN IT WAS ABOUT MONEY, SAYS CLOSE FRIEND
PHIL DOTSON, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO SHERRA'S SPENDING.
>> THERE WERE TIMES WHEN, UH, SHE WOULD SPEND MONEY AND NOT
TELL HIM THAT SHE WOULD SPEND MONEY, MAYBE TO GET BACK AT HIM
FOR INDISCRETIONS. >> THERE WOULD BE, UH, LARGE
SUMS OF MONEY THAT WOULD -- HE WOULD THINK IS IN THE CHECKING
ACCOUNT, AND IT'S NOT THERE. AND IT'D BE BECAUSE OF HER
SPENDING >> Reporter: THIS WAS CAUSING
STRESS IN THE MARRIAGE >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: BY 2009, LORENZEN'S NBA CAREER WAS WINDING DOWN.
AND SO WERE THOSE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PAYCHECKS, WHICH DIDN'T
HELP HIS ROCKY RELATIONSHIP WITH SHERRA
>> YOU COULD SEE VERY QUICKLY THAT THE MARRIAGE WAS HEADED TO
A DEMISE >> Reporter: LORENZEN AND SHERRA
SPLIT UP THAT YEAR AND WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS, SAYS REN'S
CLOSE FRIEND MIKE GIPSON >> HE SAID, "SHE DOIN' HER
THING. I'M DOIN' MY THING
HELL, SHE EVEN SLEEPIN' WITH THE LAWN MAN."
>> Reporter: THE LAWN MAN. YOU MAY WANT TO REMEMBER HIM
SHERRA FILED FOR DIVORCE, AND THEIR MARRIAGE WAS OFFICIALLY
OVER IN 2010 REN'S MOM SAYS HE WAS RELIEVED
>> HE JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT NO MORE
SHE HAD START MAKIN' HIM SICK JUST TO SEE HER FACE
>> Reporter: BUT WAS IT SOMEWHAT ALSO LIBERATING FOR LORENZEN TO
FINALLY BE - >> "I'M FREE
FREE." >> Reporter: -- OUT OF THE
MARRIAGE >> FREE, AND THAT'S ALL HE
WANTED TO BE FREE AND HAVE HIS KIDS
>> Reporter: AS PART OF THEIR DIVORCE SETTLEMENT, LORENZEN
TOOK OUT A MILLION DOLLAR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY THAT WOULD BE
PAID TO THE SIX CHILDREN UPON HIS DEATH.
IT WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY SHERRA SINCE SHE WAS AWARDED
CUSTODY. REN WAS ALSO ORDERED TO PAY
ALIMONY AND CHILD SUPPORT TOTALING $26,000 A MONTH
>> LORENZEN, EVEN THOUGH HE MADE $55 MILLION PLAYIN' BASKETBALL,
HE WAS BROKE HE HAD TWO VERY EXPENSIVE HOMES
THAT WERE FORECLOSED ON. THEY WERE BOUNCIN' CHECKS LEFT
AND RIGHT. I MEAN, THEY BURNED THROUGH ALL
THIS MONEY HE SEEMED TO BE IN NEED OF
MONEY. >> Reporter: BIG MONEY
BUT FROM WHERE THE COPS HAD A NEW LEAD ABOUT
HOW REN WAS TRYING TO RAISE SOME QUICK CASH
AND IT WOULD TAKE HIS MURDER INVESTIGATION IN A WHOLE NEW
DIRECTION. YOU HAD TO TAKE THE DRUG THEORY
>> Reporter: WHEN POLICE CATCH A HOMICIDE CASE, THE VICTIM IS
USUALLY A STRANGER BUT MANY AT THE MEMPHIS POLICE
DEPARTMENT KNEW LORENZEN WRIGHT. INCLUDING TONEY ARMSTRONG.
>> THIS IS A GUY THAT I USED TO TALK TO.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO EAT IN HIS RESTAURANT
UH, OCCASIONALLY HE'D COME SIT DOWN WITH ME
WE'D HAVE CONVERSATIONS WHEN HE WAS IN TOWN.
IT WAS CHILLING. >> Reporter: CHILLING TO THINK
HOW THIS HOMETOWN HERO WAS SO BRUTALLY MURDERED, SEEMINGLY FOR
NO REASON. SO ARMSTRONG AND HIS TEAM OF
DETECTIVES STARTED THEIR INVESTIGATION BY LOOKING AT THE
VICTIM HIMSELF >> LET'S RETRACE LORENZEN'S
STEPS. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE
HIM ALIVE WHO KNOWS HIM BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE?
LET'S TALK TO HIS WIFE >> AND THERE ARE NO NEW LEADS OR
ANYTHING IT'S MIND-BOGGLING
>> Reporter: THAT WOULD BE SHERRA WRIGHT, REN'S EX-WIFE
SHE WAS INTERVIEWED BY INVESTIGATORS WHEN HE FIRST WENT
MISSING. >> I JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO CALL
IF THEY'VE SEEN HIM OR HEARD ANYTHING FROM HIM.
>> Reporter: SHERRA TOLD POLICE SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED IN
THE WEEKS BEFORE REN'S MURDER. >> THERE ARE THESE MYSTERIOUS
GUNMEN SHOWIN' UP, YOU KNOW, WITH, YOU KNOW -- WITH GUNS
TUCKED IN THEIR WAISTBANDS WHO ARE KNOCKING ON DOORS, KNOCKING
ON HER DOOR LOOKIN' FOR LORENZEN
>> Reporter: SHERRA SAID SHE WASN'T SURE WHO THEY WERE OR
WHAT THEY WANTED SHE ALSO TOLD POLICE ABOUT THE
LAST TIME SHE SAW REN, ON THE NIGHT HE DISAPPEARED
>> SHE GIVES A STATEMENT THAT BASICALLY SAYIN' LORENZEN LEFT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT >> Reporter: HE HAD BEEN AT HER
HOUSE? >> HE HAD BEEN IN HER HOUSE.
HE HAD GOTTEN THERE FROM ATLANTA.
AND SOMETIME DURIN' THE NIGHT, HE LEAVES.
>> Reporter: SHERRA'S TIMELINE OF LORENZEN'S LAST NIGHT HAD HIM
ARRIVING AT HER HOME AROUND 8:00 P.M
SHE SAID REN LATER LEFT THE HOUSE AROUND 10:30, BUT SOON
RETURNED THEN, "SOMETIME BEFORE
3:00 A.M.," SAID SHERRA, HE LEFT AGAIN WITH "AN UNKNOWN PERSON.
BUT THAT WASN'T ALL. >> SHE TOLD POLICE THAT THE
NIGHT HE WAS KILLED, HE LEFT WITH A BOX OF DRUGS.
HE SAID HE WAS GONNA FLIP SOMETHING.
>> SHE HEARS HIM TALKIN' ON THE PHONE ABOUT FLIPPIN' OR TURNIN'
OVER A LARGE SUM OF MONEY. BUT SHE DOESN'T SAY WHO HE'S
TALKIN' TO >> Reporter: SO DETECTIVES DUG
DEEPER INTO LORENZEN'S LIFE. THEY CONFIRMED HE WAS NEARLY
BROKE. AND THEY FOUND SOMETHING ELSE, A
CONNECTION OF SORTS, TO A SHADY CHARACTER NAMED CRAIG PETTIES.
>> HE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE LARGEST DRUG DEALERS THAT WE'VE
EVER SEEN. >> Reporter: IN 2009, LORENZEN'S
NAME SURFACED IN A FEDERAL DRUG INVESTIGATION INVOLVING A
LIEUTENANT OF PETTY'S NAMED BOBBY COLE
COLE TURNED OVER TWO LUXURY CARS TO POLICE.
WHEN THEY RAN THE VIN NUMBERS, IT TURNED OUT THE VEHICLES WERE
REGISTERED IN REN'S NAME >> LORENZ
INTO MONEY ILLICITLY AND THEY'VE GOT TO LAUNDER IT.
>> Reporter: DEBORAH INSISTS IT WASN'T HER SON WHO SOLD THE
CARS, BUT A GUY WHO WORKED FOR HIM.
IN FACT, REN WAS NEVER CHARGED WITH ANYTHING.
BUT NOW THAT HE WAS DEAD, THE CITY BUZZED WITH RUMORS THAT REN
MAY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A DRUG HIT
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE WAY HE WAS FOUND IN THAT FIELD, EXECUTED.
YOU HAD TO TAKE THE DRUG THEORY SERIOUSLY.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, DO FAMOUS PEOPLE GET KILLED IN THE DRUG
WORLD? ABSOLUTELY
DO ATHLETES GET KILLED IN THE DRUG WORLD
ABSOLUTELY SO WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
LOOKED AT ALL OF THAT. >> Reporter: WITH HIS NBA CAREER
DONE, THE BIG PAYCHECKS HAD DRIED UP
PLUS THOSE HUGE ALIMONY AND CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS WERE DUE.
POLICE WONDERED IF REN WAS DESPERATE FOR MONEY.
COULD HE HAVE BEEN DEALING DRUGS TO MAKE SOME QUICK CASH?
SO DETECTIVES STARTED INTERVIEWING A WHOLE NEW CAST OF
CHARACTERS TO ANSWER THAT VERY QUESTION
>> WE TALKED TO INFORMANTS THAT WE HAD ON THE STREETS.
AND EVERY DRUG DEALER, EVERY INFORMANT THAT WE TALKED TO
BASICALLY SAID THAT THAT JUST WASN'T THE CASE.
>> Reporter: REN'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE OUTRAGED AT SHERRA
FOR EVEN SUGGESTING HE MIGHT BE DEALING.
>> WHEN SHE CAME OUT AND SAID THAT HE LEFT WITH A BOX OF DRUGS
AND SOME PEOPLE CAME TO THE HOUSE, WELL, YOU TAKE ALL HIS
CREDIBILITY AWAY NONE OF IT MADE SENSE.
>> Reporter: WAS LORENZEN KNOWINGLY INVOLVED IN ANY
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY? >> NOT THAT I KNOW OF AT ALL
I NEVER SAW ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY
>> Reporter: SO THE DRUG THEORY, WHICH SEEMED TO SIDETRACK THE
INVESTIGATION, WAS NOW DEAD. REN'S MOTHER HAD NEVER BELIEVED
IT ANYWAY. SHE WAS CERTAIN THE KEY TO
SOLVING HER SON'S MURDER WAS MUCH CLOSER TO HOME.
>> I TOLD THE POLICE, "Y'ALL NEED TO GO TALK TO HIS EX-WIFE."
>> Reporter: LORENZEN'S MOTHER HAD NEVER BEEN SHERRA'S BIGGEST
FAN. SHE WAS CONVINCED HER FORMER
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW KNEW A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO
REN. WHAT DID THE POLICE THINK ABOUT
YOU? >> UH, THAT I WAS A CRAZY LADY
BUT I TOLD 'EM, "I'M GONNA KEEP ON DOIN' THIS WHILE THERE'S
BLOOD RUNNIN' WARM IN MY BODY. >> Reporter: YOU WOULD'VE NEEDED
A SIGN FROM GOD -- >> RIGHT
>> Reporter: -- TO BACK OFF SHERRA WRIGHT.
>> EXACTLY EXACTLY.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES DID NOTICE ONE THING
WHILE DEBORAH WAS RELENTLESS, SHERRA WAS RECLUSIVE
POLICE DIDN'T HEAR A PEEP FROM HER.
>> THE LEVEL OF GRIEF FROM BOTH OF THOSE WOMEN -- THEY WERE
POLAR OPPOSITES OF EACH OTHER. >> Reporter: NOW, IN FAIRNESS,
ONE'S THE MOM. ONE'S DIVORCED
>> BUT YOU STILL HAVE SIX KIDS BY THIS MAN, AND HE'S BEEN
MURDERED >> Reporter: SHERRA ISN'T ACTING
UPSET ENOUGH 'CAUSE THAT DOESN'T MAKE
SOMEBODY A KILLER. >> IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU A KILLER.
IT MAKES YOU A HIGH LEVEL PERSON OF INTEREST THOUGH
>> Reporter: SHERRA HARDLY SEEMED LIKE A KILLER
SHE WAS DATING A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, WAS DEEPLY RELIGIOUS,
AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT CHURCH WHERE SHE WAS ON TRACK TO
BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER. SHE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY DEVOTED
TO HER SIX KIDS. HOW WAS SHERRA AS A MOTHER
>> SHE LOVED HER KIDS. I SAW LOVE
I SAW NURTURING. THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE
HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH TAKING THEIR FATHER AWAY.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, POLICE COULDN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE
LINKING SHERRA TO THE MURDER AS MONTHS TICKED BY WITH NO NEW
LEADS, THE CASE BEGAN TO GO COLD
>> IT HAS BEEN 365 DAYS. >> Reporter: ON THE FIRST
ANNIVERSARY OF REN'S DEATH, HIS MOTHER HELD A VIGIL.
>> FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FANS OF LORENZEN WRIGHT GATHERED IN
FRONT OF THE FEDEX FORUM >> I'M NOT GIVING UP
I'M NOT TIRED YET. SOMEBODY'S GONNA TELL ON A
FRIEND THAT'S HOW THIS GON' END
>> Reporter: BUT THE END DIDN'T COME
THE CASE GATHERED DUST MORE MONTHS PASSED
THEN YEARS SHERRA LAID LOW AND MOVED ON
WITH HER LIFE. UNTIL SOMEBODY DECIDED TO FOLLOW
>>> THIS ONE IS MY DAUGHTER, MY DOGS
I BREED ROTTWEILERS. >> Reporter: TO HIS FANS,
LORENZEN WRIGHT SEEMED LIKE A GENTLE GIANT
THE LAST PERSON ANYONE WOULD WANT TO KILL
BUT SOMEONE MOST CERTAINLY DID PROBLEM WAS, POLICE COULDN'T
FIGURE OUT WHO BY NOW FOUR LONG YEARS HAD
PASSED SINCE HIS MURDER, AND THE CASE THAT ONCE CONSUMED THE CITY
OF MEMPHIS WAS NOW ICE COLD, ACCORDING TO FORMER WMC-TV
ANCHOR KONTJI ANTHONY. >> NOTHING
CRICKETS CRICKETS
IT WAS JUST CRICKETS FOR YEARS AND EVERY NOW AND THEN SOMEBODY
WOULD JUST SAY, "GOSH, DO YOU THINK THEY'LL EVER FIGURE OUT
WHO KILLED LORENZEN WRIGHT?" >> Reporter: MEMPHIS DETECTIVES
HAD CLEARED ALMOST EVERY POSSIBLE SUSPECT
BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR REMAINED IN THE FOREFRONT --
LORENZEN WRIGHT'S EX-WIFE, SHERRA
>> SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PERSON OF INTEREST
AND NO MATTER WHO WE TALK TO, NO MATTER WHAT DOOR WE KNOCKED ON,
NO MATTER WHAT CRIME STOPPERS TIP WE GOT, IT ALWAYS LED RIGHT
BACK TO SHERRA >> Reporter: WAS ANYONE COMING
TO HER DEFENSE AND SAYING SHE LOVED LORENZEN AND SHE WOULD
NEVER DO THIS? >> I'VE INVESTIGATED PEOPLE THAT
HAVE COMMITTED MULTIPLE MURDERS AND HAD PEOPLE THAT COME TO
THEIR DEFENSE. I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A CALL FROM
ANYBODY THAT HAS DEFENDED SHERRA
EVER >> Reporter: MAYBE THAT'S WHY
SHERRA HAD LAWYERED UP AND STOPPED TALKING TO THE POLICE.
OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE, SHE SOMETIMES SURFACED AT THE MT.
OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE SHE WAS NOW AN ORDAINED MINISTER,
AND RAN A NON-PROFIT CALLED BORN 2 PROSPER MINISTRIES, WHICH
HELPED LOCAL KIDS. >> Reporter: AS FOR SUPPORTING
HER OWN CHILDREN, SHERRA'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME STILL
CAME FROM REN. >> SHE IS GETTING HIS INSURANCE
MONEY AND THE PENSION FROM THE GRIZZLIES AND ALL THE OTHER NBA
TEAMS. SO THE MONEY'S GOING TO SHERRA
BECAUSE SHE IS THE CUSTODIAN OF HER OWN CHILDREN WITH LORENZEN
>> Reporter: THERE WAS THAT LIFE INSURANCE POLICY LORENZEN PUT IN
PLACE FOR HIS SIX CHILDREN WHEN HE AND SHERRA DIVORCED
WHEN HIS FATHER HERB WRIGHT FOUND OUT SHERRA WASN'T USING
THE MONEY IN THE CHILDREN'S BEST INTEREST, HE SUED.
>> SHE COLLECTED THE ONE MILLION DOLLARS AND HAD SPENT SOMEWHERE
LIKE $930,000 OF IT. >> Reporter: HERB WRIGHT VERSUS
SHERRA WRIGHT. SHE RECEIVED MORE THAN A MILLION
DOLLARS BETWEEN AUGUST 1st, 2007
>> SO WE END UP GOING TO COURT THE ENTIRE INSURANCE FUND IS
ALMOST ALL GONE AND HIS FATHER WANTED TO PUT A STOP TO THAT
>> Reporter: HERB WRIGHT IS ASKING THE COURT FOR
SHERRA WRIGHT TO BE REMOVED AS TRUSTEE OF A MILLION DOLLAR LIFE
INSURANCE PROCEEDS TRUST THE LORENZEN WRIGHT CASE WAS
BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS SHERRA WAS NOW IN COURT AND ON CAMERA
>> MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN ON HOLD, PRETTY MUCH.
GOING THROUGH QUITE A BIT. IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE KIDS. AND
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE DESERVE TO BE
HAPPY. >> Reporter: THE COURT
PROCEEDINGS WERE CONTENTIOUS AND EXPOSED ALL THE SPECIFICS OF
SHERRA'S SPENDING. MORE THAN $55,000 FOR FURNITURE.
MORE THAN $180,000 SPENT ON EXPENSES AT FOUR DIFFERENT
PROPERTIES >> AND THE JUDGE DECIDED TO GET
A RECEIVER TO TAKE OVER THE FUNDS AND TO INVESTIGATE WHAT
WAS GOING ON WITH THE MONEY. >> Reporter: WHICH MEANT WHAT
WAS LEFT OF LORENZEN'S INSURANCE MONEY WAS NOW OUT OF SHERRA'S
CONTROL. BUT LOSING IN COURT DIDN'T STOP
SHERRA FROM LAUNCHING A NEW CAREER -
AS AN AUTHOR SHE WROTE AND SELF PUBLISHED A
BOOK CALLED "MR. TELL ME ANYTHING."
YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS WHO THE TITLE CHARACTER WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE >> I THINK A LOT OF IT MIGHT'VE
BEEN TRUE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT'S STILL MADE UP
I THINK A LOT OF IT WAS STILL HER PERSPECTIVE AND SHE WANTED
TO MAKE HIM SEEM LIKE A REALLY BAD GUY.
>> Reporter: THE BOOK SEEMED TO BE A FICTIONALIZED ACCOUNT OF
SHERRA'S TUMULTUOUS LIFE WITH LORENZEN
IT WAS HARDLY A BEST SELLER, BUT KONTJI ANTHONY FOUND IT QUITE
THE READ >> THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
SHERRA, LORENZEN, AND THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK ARE
UNCANNY. AND AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE
BOOK YOU'RE HEARING CLAIMS OF INFIDELITY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
>> SO I ASKED HER, DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN?
SHE GOES, OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY THIS HAPPENED.
99.9% OF THAT BOOK IS OUR REAL LIFE
I JUST CHANGED THE NAMES AROUND. >> Reporter: THE BOOK ENDS WITH
THE SHERRA AND LORENZEN CHARACTERS SETTLING IN FOR A
NIGHT OF ROMANCE BUT IN REAL LIFE, REN'S CLOSE
FRIENDS WERE BEGINNING TO SHARE THE SAME SUSPICION HIS MOM AND
POLICE ALREADY HAD THAT ON THE LAST NIGHT OF HIS
LIFE, SHERRA WASN'T REN'S LOVER. SHE JUST MIGHT HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN HIS MURDER >> I FELT VERY CONFIDENT THAT
SHE PLAYED SOME KIND OF ROLE IN IT
BUT TO WHAT DEGREE, I DID NOT KNOW
>> Reporter: SO MAYBE EVEN INDIRECTLY -
>> INDIRECTLY -- >> Reporter: SHE GOT HIM KILLED.
>> DIRECTLY, YEAH. BEFORE THE FACT, AFTER THE FACT,
SHE HAD SOMETHIN' TO DO WITH IT. >> Reporter: MAYBE, BUT NO ONE
WAS ABLE TO PROVE IT AS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF
REN'S MURDER CAME AND WENT, SHERRA WOULD EMBARK ON A WHOLE
NEW CHAPTER OF HER LIFE. WITH A NEW MAN, IN A NEW CITY.
BUT COULD SHE SHAKE HER PAST AND FINALLY CLEAR HER NAME
>> YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T >> Reporter: THEY MET FOR COFFEE
IN MEMPHIS JUST AFTER NEW YEAR'S, 2015
HE WAS A JOURNALIST IN SEARCH OF A STORY.
SHE WAS THE EX-WIFE OF LORENZEN WRIGHT AND SEEMED EAGER
TO CHAT. >> IT WAS JUST MY REGULAR COFFEE
SHOP EXCLUSIVE, YOU KNOW JUST ON THE BEAT DOIN' MY THING.
AND THAT USUALLY LASTS ABOUT 30 MINUTES
WE ACTUALLY SAT THERE AND TALKED FOR ANOTHER SIX HOURS.
>> Reporter: KELVIN COWANS WANTED TO GET INSIDE THE MIND OF
SHERRA WRIGHT. IT HAD BEEN ALMOST FIVE YEARS
SINCE LORENZEN'S MURDER, AND SHE WAS STILL UNDER SUSPICION.
>> SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW PEOPLE WERE SO UPSET WITH HER.
AND I ASKED HER, "YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT?"
SHE SAID, "NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'M WAITIN' ON THE DAY THAT THEY
FIND, YOU KNOW, THE PERSON OR THE PEOPLE THAT KILLED HIM."
>> Reporter: AT THE END OF THAT MARATHON INTERVIEW, KELVIN HAD
HIS STORY. AND SOMETHING ELSE
>> WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS CHEMISTRY THERE FROM THE
BEGINNING. THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.
WE ALMOST FELL IN LOVE IMMEDIATELY.
>> Reporter: SHERRA HAD BEEN KEEPING A LOW PROFILE EVER SINCE
HER LEGAL BATTLE OVER LORENZEN'S ESTATE
BUT SOON SHE AND KELVIN WERE OUT AND ABOUT AS THEIR ROMANCE TOOK
OFF. THEN, A FEW MONTHS AFTER THEY
MET, KELVIN WANTED TO MOVE TO HOUSTON, WHERE HE HAD SOME WORK.
SO SHERRA AND HER KIDS DECIDED TO GO WITH HIM
>> SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS MOVING TO HOUSTON.
SHE'D HAD ENOUGH OF MEMPHIS, AND SHE WAS GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND
JOIN THE STAFF OF THIS VERY FAMOUS PASTOR DOWN THERE
>> GOD CREATED YOU TO RISE HIGHER
>> Reporter: JOEL OSTEEN, THE WORLD-FAMOUS MINISTER WHOSE
SERVICES ARE ON TV AND YOUTUBE >> SHE JUST HAD, YOU KNOW, ALL
THESE BIG PLANS. YOU KNOW
IT WASN'T JUST THAT SHE WAS GONNA GO PASTOR A CHURCH
SHE WAS GONNA BE A PASTOR OF A MEGACHURCH
YOU KNOW SHE THINKS IN TERMS OF BIG
EVERYTHING'S BIG AND GRANDIOSE >> Reporter: THEY SETTLED IN THE
SUBURB OF SUGARLAND, AND LIFE WAS SWEET.
AT LEAST IN THE BEGINNING. KELVIN GOT A NICE HOUSE ON A
LAKE, IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH GOOD SCHOOLS FOR THE KIDS
AND A CHURCH NEARBY. SHERRA NEVER DID PREACH WITH
JOEL OSTEEN, BUT SHE DID PRAY A LOT.
>> SHERRA WOULD SOMETIMES GO AND GET IN OUR MASTER CLOSET WITH A
PILLOW AND COVER AND PRAY FOR HOURS.
YOU COULD HEAR SHE'S CALLIN' OUT HER FAMILY AND
FRIENDS. SOMETIMES I HAD TO GET UP 2:00,
2:30 IN THE MORNIN', AND I GO IN THE CLOSET AND HAVE TO GET HER
UP I SAY, "HEY, COME ON, GET BACK
INTO BED." >> Reporter: EVEN SO, KELVIN WAS
CONVINCED HE'D MET THE WOMAN OF HIS DREAMS
HER FAMILY FELT LIKE HIS THEY SHARED EVERYTHING, EVEN
THEIR DEEPEST SECRETS. NOTHING WAS OFF LIMITS,
INCLUDING LORENZEN'S MURDER. >> WE'D TALK ABOUT THE NIGHT HE
DISAPPEARED. "WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED?
THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS, "I HAVE NO IDEA.
I FELT LIKE SHERRA STILL HAD FEELINGS FOR LORENZEN.
SHE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "HAD HE NOT PASSED, I'D BE STILL WITH
HIM. AND I WAS THINKIN' TO MYSELF,
"THERE'S NO WAY SHE KILLED HIM THERE'S NO WAY SHE HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT. I MEAN, WHO WRITES A BOOK ABOUT
SOMEONE THEY HELPED KILL >> Reporter: IN FACT, SHERRA
APPEARED ON A SEGMENT FOR "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" AND
FOX SPORTS 1 IN 2015 THEY ASKED HER POINT BLANK IF
SHE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH LORENZEN'S MURDER.
>> I MEAN, AT FIRST I'M A WIFE THEN I'M A MOTHER.
AND THEN, THIRDLY, I AM AN AUTHOR
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD DO WHAT'S BEST TO FIND OUT WHO'S
THE KILLER >> Reporter: BACK IN MEMPHIS,
LORENZEN'S BEST FRIEND PHIL DOTSON SAW THE SHOW
>> AND I COULD JUST THINK, "OH, COME ON, SHERRA.
WHAT TYPE OF ANSWER IS THAT? YOU KNOW, "DID YOU DO IT?"
>> Reporter: DID YOU FIND THAT ODD WHAT SHE SAID?
>> I DID I DID.
I FOUND SEVERAL THINGS ODD >> Reporter: BUT YOU STILL
DIDN'T THINK - >> I COULDN'T.
I COULDN'T >> Reporter: -- IT WAS HER
>> I COULDN'T -- I COULDN'T. EARLY ON IN THE MARRIAGE, LIKE,
THERE WAS LOVE TO GO FROM THAT TO YOU MURDERED
HIM? I -- I COULDN'T BUY IT
I -- I DIDN'T BUY IT >> Reporter: NEITHER SHERRA'S TV
INTERVIEW NOR HER SALACIOUS BOOK PROVIDED POLICE WITH ANY
EVIDENCE CONNECTING HER TO THE CRIME.
>> IT'S ALMOST AS IF SHE'S POKIN' FUN OR SHE'S TAUNTING LAW
ENFORCEMENT WITH THIS BOOK FOR SOMEBODY THAT SUPPOSEDLY
WOULD BE GRIEVING TO WRITE A BOOK LIKE THAT WAS JUST REALLY
BIZARRE. >> Reporter: BUT NO REAL CLUES
IN IT? >> I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IN
THERE WAS OF VALUE AS IT RELATES TO BEIN' A CLUE.
>> Reporter: SHERRA EVEN CONSIDERED WRITING A SEQUEL, BUT
INSTEAD FOCUSED MORE ON HER FAMILY AND CONTINUED HER FREE
SPENDING WAYS, SAID KELVIN >> SHE HAD VERY EXPENSIVE
TASTES I TOLD HER THIS.
"SHERRA, YOUR APPETITE FOR NICE THINGS IS NOT HEALTHY.
AND SHE WAS LIKE, "THAT'S THE WAY GOD MADE ME.
AND SO I'M LIKE, "WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT WITH THE WAY YOU
THINK. YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY IS JUST
OFF. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO
KELVIN, SHERRA WAS ALSO SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE,
APPARENTLY HAVING SECRET CONVERSATIONS WITH SOMEONE HE
DIDN'T KNOW. >> I FELT LIKE THAT SHERRA MAY
HAVE BEEN CHEATIN' ON ME I SPECULATED A HIDDEN LOVER.
>> Reporter: SHERRA DENIED SHE WAS SEEING SOMEONE, BUT
GRADUALLY THEIR ONCE HOT ROMANCE COOLED
THEY GREW APART. AND AFTER TWO YEARS TOGETHER,
KELVIN SAYS HE DECIDED IT WAS OVER
>> THE DAY AFTER HER BIRTHDAY, THAT WAS WHEN WE CALLED IT
QUITS. SHE WAS VERY UPSET
UH, SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO GO >> Reporter: KELVIN RETURNED TO
TENNESSEE TO RESTART HIS LIFE. SHERRA HEADED TO CALIFORNIA
WHERE SHE AND THE KIDS MOVED IN WITH HER BROTHER
BACK IN MEMPHIS, DETECTIVES WERE QUIETLY MAKING PROGRESS.
A MAN WITH INFORMATION HAD COME FORWARD.
AND HE HAD QUITE A STORY TO TELL
>> SHE WAS ASKIN' ME ABOUT MY CASE, LIKE, "COULD YOU KILL
>> Reporter: IT'S CALLED THE INLAND EMPIRE, RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
A SPRAWLING STRETCH OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUBURBIA EAST OF L.A.
IT WAS HERE IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF MURIETTA WHERE SHERRA WRIGHT
AND HER KIDS SETTLED IN THE SPRING OF 2017
>> YOU GOT THE FEELING THAT SHE WAS STARTING A NEW LIFE OUTSIDE
OF THE SHADOW OF LORENZEN WRIGHT'S MURDER IN MEMPHIS, ALL
THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY >> Reporter: ALMOST 1,600 MILES
AND 7 YEARS REMOVED FROM REN'S MURDER IN MEMPHIS, TO SOME,
SHERRA ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE MOVED ON IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS
HAPPENING BACK HOME. EVEN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
DEATH. YEARS AGO TO THE DAY, THESE
FAMILY MEMBERS REPORTED LORENZEN WRIGHT MISSING.
ONCE AGAIN, LORENZEN'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED TO PAY
THEIR RESPECTS ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER VIGIL TO
KEEP HOPE ALIVE THAT HIS MURDER MIGHT SOMEHOW BE SOLVED.
>> WE GON' KEEP THIS THING GOING, YEAR AFTER YEAR, BECAUSE
I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD WANT US TO DO
>> WE LOVE YOU, LORENZEN >> IT'S GETTING COLDER BY THE
DAY, AND WE'RE NO CLOSER TO FINDING OUT WHO DID IT
THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT HIM AND
WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM I ALWAYS KEPT THE DETECTIVES'
PHONE NUMBERS JUST IN CASE THEY ALWAYS SAID, "LET US KNOW IF YOU
COME UP WITH ANYTHING. >> Reporter: BY NOW MANY IN
MEMPHIS WERE LOSING PATIENCE WITH THOSE DETECTIVES.
SEVEN LONG YEARS STILL NO ARREST.
NO JUSTICE LORENZEN'S MOM HAD BEEN HOUNDING
POLICE THE WHOLE TIME. CALLING, SHOWING UP AT THE
STATION. HER SOLE MISSION IN LIFE WAS
SOLVING HER SON'S MURDER DID YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S NEVER
GONNA BE AN ARREST IN THIS CASE? >> NOPE.
NOPE 'CAUSE I GOTTA STAY ALIVE.
BEFORE I DIE, THEY WERE GONNA FIND SOMEBODY.
THEY'RE GONNA GET HER. >> Reporter: HER
SPECIFICALLY SHERRA? >> HER
RIGHT. AND I TOLD 'EM THAT OVER AND
OVER AND OVER AGAIN. >> Reporter: TONEY ARMSTRONG
TOOK SOME OF HER CALLS >> SHE WAS JUST RELENTLESS
SHE JUST WOULD NOT LET IT GO >> Reporter: DON'T MESS WITH
MAMA >> WELL, DON'T MESS WITH --
DON'T MESS WITH MAMA'S BABIES. >> Reporter: HE TRIED TO ASSURE
LORENZEN'S MOTHER THAT THE CASE WAS STILL ACTIVE, THAT SHERRA
REALLY WAS ON THEIR RADAR. >> IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE A GUT
FEELING THAT I KNOW THIS PERSON'S IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
CONVINCE A JURY. >> Reporter: YOU JUST DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE >> YOU JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
EVIDENCE TO DO IT. >> Reporter: BUT THE POLICE DID
HAVE SOMETHING, A POTENTIAL WITNESS.
A MAN WITH A SHADY PAST AND AN EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATION WHICH
POLICE HAD KEPT SECRET FOR FIVE YEARS.
AN INFORMANT WHO ACTUALLY KNEW SHERRA AND HAD A STRONG
MOTIVATION TO TALK >> WHAT HAPPENED WAS JIMMIE
MARTIN, WHO IS SHERRA'S COUSIN, KILLED A LOVE INTEREST THAT HE
HAD. HE WAS CONVICTED
AND IT'S THAT TIME, 2012, WHEN HE'S GOIN' TO PRISON, THAT HE
TELLS, WANTIN' TO FLIP TO DO A DEAL
>> Reporter: JIMMIE SAID HE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO REN
AND HE OFFERED TO TELL HIS STORY TO DETECTIVES.
SO IN 2012, 2 YEARS AFTER REN WAS KILLED, A MEETING WAS HELD
AT THIS TENNESSEE PRISON, WHERE JIMMIE CLAIMED TO REVEAL WHO WAS
BEHIND THE MURDER. AND THAT WAS HIS VERY OWN COUSIN
AND REN'S EX-WIFE, SHERRA. >> SHE TOLD ME SHE'D BEEN HAVIN'
THREATS FROM LORENZEN, AND HE HAD HIRED SOMEBODY TO KILL HER
SHE WANTED HIM DEAD BEFORE HE KILLED HER
>> Reporter: JIMMIE SAID A MEETING TOOK PLACE AT SHERRA'S
HOUSE SOME TWO MONTHS BEFORE REN'S MURDER
AND TWO OTHER MEN WERE THERE >> BILLY WAS OVER THERE, AND
ANOTHER GENTLEMAN, BUT I DON'T KNOW HIS NAME.
>> BILLY >> YEAH, HE WAS A GARDENER
>> Reporter: SHERRA'S GARDENER -- BILLY TURNER
REMEMBER HOW LORENZEN SUSPECTED SHERRA MIGHT BE SLEEPING WITH
HER LAWN MAN WAS THIS THE SAME GUY?
MAYBE. IF SO, THIS WASN'T THE ONLY
CONNECTION BETWEEN SHERRA AND BILLY.
>> SO WHO DID SHERRA ASK TO KILL LORENZEN
>> SHE ASKED, UH, BILLY. >> Reporter: BILLY HAD A RAP
SHEET BUT IN RECENT YEARS SEEMED TO HAVE GONE STRAIGHT.
WHEN HE WASN'T BUSY RUNNING HIS LANDSCAPING BUSINESS, HE WAS
FULFILLING HIS DUTIES AT THE VERY SAME CHURCH WHERE SHERRA
PREACHED >> HE WAS THE DEACON OF THIS
CHURCH WHEN SHE WAS A PASTOR HOW DEEPLY THEY KNEW EACH
OTHER -- AND THERE'S A LOTTA SPECULATION.
I MEAN, IT APPEARS THAT THEY WERE INTIMATE.
>> Reporter: BILLY AND SHERRA, ACCORDING TO JIMMIE, MET WITH
HIM AGAIN INSIDE HER HOUSE, AND THIS TIME GOT DOWN TO SPECIFICS.
>> AND SHE ASKED ME COULD I BE THE SHOOTER.
AT THAT TIME I WAS LIKE, "NO, I CAN'T DO NOTHIN' LIKE THAT."
>> AT WHAT POINT IN HERE WERE YOU OFFERED ANYTHING TO DO IT?
>> SHE SAID SHE COULD HELP ME WITH MY COURT CASE IF THIS
HAPPENS. "I GET THE INSURANCE MONEY
I GOT THE NBA MONEY COMIN', AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF Y'ALL.
SHE SAID WHOEVER DOES THE SHOOTIN' GETS $50,000.
>> Reporter: MONEY CAN BE A GREAT MOTIVATOR.
JIMMIE SAID THAT IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE SHERRA AND BILLY CAME TO
HIS HOUSE IN BATESVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, A SLEEPY LITTLE
TOWN SOUTH OF MEMPHIS. AND THIS TIME SHE REVEALED HOW
AND WHERE SHE WANTED THEM TO DO THE JOB.
>> SHE SAID, "WELL, I WANT YOU AND BILLY GO OUT THERE AND TAKE
CARE OF THIS." >> WHERE DID SHE WANT YOU TO
TAKE CARE OF HIM AT? >> I GUESS GO TO HIS HOUSE
>> IN ATLANTA? >> SO WE WENT.
>> Reporter: WITH DIRECTIONS FROM SHERRA, HE SAID, THEY
HEADED TO ATLANTA AND STRAIGHT FOR REN'S CONDO COMPLEX WHERE
THEY CRAWLED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW
BUT REN WASN'T THERE >> THERE WAS SOMEBODY ON THE
COUCH WITH A BALD HEAD >> Reporter: POLICE LATER
FIGURED OUT THE BALD HEADED MAN ASLEEP ON THE COUCH WAS REN'S
ROOMMATE, MIKE GIPSON. >> HAD LORENZEN HADN'T BEEN
THERE, I'D HAVE BEEN GONE TOO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW?
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO JIMMIE, HE AND BILLY SPOTTED
SECURITY GUARDS, CREPT OUT OF THE CONDO, AND HIGHTAILED IT
BACK HOME. JIMMIE SAID AFTER THEIR FAILED
ATTEMPT, THEY MET WITH SHERRA AGAIN.
NOW SHE HAD A WHOLE NEW PLAN FOR REN'S MURDER
THIS TIME, ON HER HOME TURF. >> SHE WAS LIKE, "I'M GONNA GET
HIM TO COME TO MEMPHIS IT'LL BE EASIER THAT WAY."
>> Reporter: AND SURE ENOUGH, AT SHERRA'S REQUEST, REN DID COME
BACK TO MEMPHIS FOR THE LAST TIME
>> AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
TOWN THAT JULY DAY IN 2010, SURVEYING THE CITY AND THE
SUBURBS, LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT PLACE TO KILL LORENZEN WRIGHT.
THIS ACCORDING TO JIMMIE MARTIN WHO CLAIMED HE WAS IN A CAR WITH
SHERRA WRIGHT AND HER FELLOW MINISTER BILLY TURNER.
>> WE WENT AND CHECKED OUT SPOTS AROUND MEMPHIS
THEY WAS PICKIN' THE SPOTS I WAS JUST TELLIN' WHETHER IT
WAS A GOOD SPOT OR NOT >> YOU'RE GETTIN' A CONSULTANT
FEE. >> YEAH.
"NO, THAT'S NOT A GOOD SPOT. DO IT SOMEWHERE ELSE."
>> Reporter: SOON AFTER THAT SCOUTING TRIP, SHERRA SENT REN
THE FIRST IN A FLURRY OF TEXT MESSAGES
X-RATED MESSAGES ABOUT HOOKING UP IN MEMPHIS.
>> Reporter: AND THESE ARE THE MILD MESSAGES, WHICH GREW MORE
EROTIC AND EXPLICIT. POLICE HAD FOUND THE TEXTS ON
SHERRA'S CELL PHONE WHEN REN WENT MISSING
>> Reporter: BACK THEN, THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THOSE MESSAGES
MIGHT BE CONNECTED TO HIS CASE
YEARS AFTER THE MURDER -
>> Reporter: THE TEXTS SEEMED TO TELL A STORY
>> SHERRA LURED HIM BACK TO MEMPHIS WITH, UH, YOU KNOW,
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT TEXT MESSAGES. >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, REN
TOOK THE BAIT AND LATER TEXTED SHERRA FROM THE ATLANTA AIRPORT
THREE LITTLE BUT LIFE CHANGING WORDS.
>> Reporter: AND WITH THAT, REN WAS ON HIS WAY TO MEMPHIS.
BUT ACCORDING TO CLOSE FRIEND MIKE GIPSON, HE MAY HAVE BEEN
SEEKING MORE THAN JUST A ONE-NIGHT STAND.
RECENTLY REN HAD CONFIDED HE WAS READY TO SETTLE DOWN AFTER
RUNNING IN THE FAST LANE AFTER HIS DIVORCE.
>> HE'S LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT ALL THIS STUFF I'M DOIN' WITH
THESE GIRLS, I'M JUST TIRED OF IT
I MIGHT AS WELL JUST GET BACK WITH MY WIFE, SHERRA, AND BE
THROUGH WITH IT. ME AND HER LIVE A HAPPY LIFE."
THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED. >> Reporter: BUT SHERRA DIDN'T
WANT TO REMARRY LORENZEN SHE WANTED HIM MURDERED,
ACCORDING TO HER COUSIN JIMMIE MARTIN.
JIMMIE SAID THAT TWO DAYS AFTER HE, SHERRA, AND BILLY CONDUCTED
THAT MURDER SITE SURVEY, SHE CAME TO HIS HOUSE IN BATESVILLE,
MISSISSIPPI. WHILE THERE, JIMMIE SAID SHERRA
ASKED HIS MOM FOR AN ODD FAVOR >> SHE WAS ASKIN' MY MOM FOR A
METAL DETECTOR >> DOES YOUR MAMA HAVE A METAL
DETECTOR >> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: SO WITH THE METAL DETECTOR IN TOW, THE TWO
RETURNED TO MEMPHIS, PICKED UP BILLY, AND DROVE TO HER HOUSE
WHERE, SAID JIMMIE, SHERRA MADE A STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> "WE DID IT. IT HAD TO GET DONE."
I'M LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
SHE'S LIKE, UH, "LORENZEN'S DEAD."
>> Reporter: AND WHO ACTUALLY FIRED THE FATAL SHOTS?
>> JIMMIE SAID IT WAS BILLY TURNER, SHERRA'S ONE-TIME
GARDENER AND POSSIBLE LOVER, NOW ALLEGED GUNMAN, WHO AT THE
MEETING APPEARED TO HAVE A BAD CASE OF SHOOTER'S REMORSE.
>> HE WAS LIKE, "MAN, I'M STILL SHAKIN'.
MY STOMACH HURT, AND I CAN'T SLEEP.
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING. >> Reporter: BUT WHAT HAPPENED
DURING THE LAST MOMENTS OF LORENZEN'S LIFE BEFORE HE WAS
EXECUTED IN THAT DARK FIELD? THAT NIGHT, ACCORDING TO JIMMIE,
SHERRA TOLD REN SHE NEEDED TO MEET A MAN TO PICK UP SOME
MONEY. REN AGREED TO JOIN HER
THEY DROVE TO A WOODED AREA AT THE EDGE OF TOWN
SHERRA GOT OUT AND WALKED OVER TO BILLY, WHO WAS SECRETLY
WAITING NEARBY >> SHE SAID LORENZEN WALKED UP
AND BILLY STARTED SHOOTIN' >> AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
>> HE RAN. THEY SAID THEY CHASED HIM DOWN
IN THE WOODS >> Reporter: CHASED HIM DOWN BY
FOLLOWING THE GLOW OF REN'S CELL PHONE, SAID JIMMIE, AND
CONTINUED FIRING THAT'S WHEN REN CALLED 911 AND
SCREAMED THE LAST WORDS OF HIS LIFE
>> OH, DAMN. >> Reporter: AND ALL THOSE SHOTS
WERE FIRED BY BILLY, FROM TWO DIFFERENT GUNS, SAID JIMMIE.
>> AND HE SHOT AT HIM, SHOT AT HIM, SHOT AT HIM
>> DID SHERRA EVER TELL YOU THAT SHE ALSO CHASED LORENZEN WITH
BILLY? >> UNH-UH.
SHE SAID SHE RAN UP THE ROAD WHEN THE FIRST SHOT FIRED.
>> Reporter: AND JIMMIE? HE INSISTED HE WAS MILES AWAY AT
HOME IN MISSISSIPPI THAT NIGHT >> JIMMIE MARTIN NEVER PUTS
HIMSELF AT THE CRIME SCENE, WHICH SEEMS KINDA ODD.
SO IS HE LYING, YOU KNOW, TO KINDA DISTANCE HIMSELF, TO MAKE
HIMSELF LOOK BETTER? >> Reporter: BUT JIMMIE DID
ADMIT TO HELPING SHERRA AND BILLY CLEAN UP THE CRIME SCENE
TWO DAYS LATER, BEFORE ANYONE REALIZED LORENZEN WRIGHT HAD
GONE MISSING USING HIS MOM'S METAL DETECTOR,
JIMMIE SAID THE THREE OF THEM LOOKED FOR LEFTOVER EVIDENCE,
INCLUDING ONE OF THE TWO MURDER WEAPONS WHICH WENT MISSING
DURING THE SHOOTING. BUT THEY NEVER FOUND IT, SAID
JIMMIE SO HE AND BILLY TOOK THE HANDGUN
THEY STILL HAD TO THIS LITTLE LAKE IN MISSISSIPPI.
>> WE WAS OUT THERE AT THE LAKE, LITTLE POND.
HE CLEANED 'EM OFF HE THREW 'EM IN THE WATER.
>> HOW MANY? >> IT WAS JUST ONE GUN
>> WHAT KIND >> THE 9 MILLIMETER.
>> Reporter: AND THAT, INSISTED JIMMIE MARTIN, WAS THE GOD'S
TRUTH OF HOW MEMPHIS ICON LORENZEN WRIGHT WAS MURDERED AND
THE CRIME COVERED UP, ALL ORCHESTRATED BY SHERRA
IT WAS QUITE A STORY BUT WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TO
BACK IT UP WELL, MAYBE THE ANSWER WAS
SITTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT
MISSISSIPPI. SOME 75 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
MEMPHI POPULATION, 800.
OUTSIDE OF TOWN IS A LITTLE LAKE, A BIG POND REALLY.
THE VERY SAME POND THAT JIMMIE MARTIN CLAIMED HELD THE
KEY EVIDENCE IN LORENZEN WRIGHT'S MURDER
>> AND HOW BIG IS THAT POND? >> ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HIGH
SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD. >> Reporter: SO IN MAY OF 2012,
DETECTIVES HEADED THERE ON A FISHING EXPEDITION -
FOR A GUN. JIMMIE MARTIN INSISTED THAT
BILLY TURNER HAD DUMPED IT THERE TWO DAYS AFTER SHOOTING REN.
NOW TWO YEARS LATER, WAS IT STILL THERE?
>> IT'S A MURKY LAKE THEY COULDN'T FIND IT.
AND SO THE WHOLE THING KINDA GOES INTO LIMBO AGAIN.
>> Reporter: AS DAMNING AND DETAILED AS JIMMIE MARTIN'S
STORY SEEMED, DETECTIVES DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE MAKE AN
ARREST BUT STILL, THE INVESTIGATION
PLODDED ON FOR YEARS WAS IT STILL BEING INVESTIGATED
ACTIVELY OR JUST KIND OF WHEN NEW LEADS WOULD COME IN?
>> THERE WERE PERIODS OF TIME ON THIS CASE THAT -- IF WE FELT
THAT ONE INVESTIGATOR HAD TAKEN THE CASE AS FAR AS HE COULD TAKE
IT, UH, WE'D GIVE IT TO ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR TO GET ANOTHER
PERSPECTIVE OR - TO PUT A FRESH SET OF EYES ON
IT >> Reporter: BY 2016, SOME OF
THOSE DETECTIVES WHO'D BEEN DIGGING THROUGH THE CASE FILE
AND JIMMIE MARTIN'S POLICE INTERVIEW URGED THE COMMAND AT
THE MEMPHIS P.D. TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THE CASE.
THEY DUBBED IT OPERATION REBOUND.
VERY HUSH-HUSH AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DID
WAS GO BACK TO THAT MURKY LAKE IN MISSISSIPPI
>> THEY'D GOTTEN SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT MADE THEM MORE
CERTAIN ABOUT THIS AND THEY SEND A DIVE TEAM DOWN
I THINK IT WAS AN FBI DIVE TEAM. >> Reporter: AND GUESS WHAT?
FIVE YEARS AFTER JIMMIE MARTIN CAME FORWARD -
>> THEY FIND THE GUN >> Reporter: A 9 MILLIMETER
HANDGUN SITTING IN THE MUDDY SEDIMENT
BUT WAS IT REALLY THE WEAPON THAT KILLED LORENZEN WRIGHT?
THE GUN WAS SENT TO THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION FOR BALLISTICS TESTS TO SEE IF IT MATCHED THE
CASINGS COLLECTED AT THE CRIME SCENE.
THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER - >> THEY BALLISTICS LINK IT TO
THE MURDER ONE OF TWO GUNS THAT WAS USED AT
THE SCENE. >> Reporter: OPERATION REBOUND
WAS ROLLING, BUT INVESTIGATORS KEPT A TIGHT LID ON ALL THEIR
NEW EVIDENCE FOR MONTHS. THE DARK WHEN SHE COMMEMORATED
LORENZEN'S 42nd BIRTHDAY >> NOVEMBER 4th.
A DAY THAT SHOULD BE SPENT CELEBRATING IS A PAINFUL
REMINDER FOR DEBBIE MARION >> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN SHE HELD
A SOMBER VIGIL TO KEEP HER SON'S NAME IN THE NEWS AND THE HEAT ON
THE POLICE >> IT'S HEAVY ON MY HEART, ALL
THE TIME ESPECIALLY BIRTHDAYS, CHRISTMAS
AND JULY -- THAT DAY ALWAYS ON MY MIND.
>> Reporter: LORENZEN'S MOTHER OF COURSE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE
GUN. OR JIMMIE MARTIN
OR BILLY TURNER. >> I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP,
PEOPLE COME ON, TELL US SOMETHING
>> Reporter: THEN A FEW DAYS LATER POLICE DID TELL DEBORAH
SOMETHING. SOMETHING AMAZING.
>> THE FBI HELPED SEARCH A REMOTE LAKE IN WALNUT
MISSISSIPPI, AND FOUND AN ALLEGED MURDER WEAPON.
>> Reporter: SOME SEVEN LONG YEARS AFTER THE MURDER, DEBORAH
MARION SUDDENLY FELT A STEP CLOSER TO GETTING JUSTICE FOR
HER SON. >> THANK YOU JESUS
THANK YOU, YOU DONE FOUND SOMETHING.
'CAUSE WE HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING. >> Reporter: AND REN'S CLOSE
FRIENDS WERE NOW HOPEFUL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
>> OH, MY GOD. WE GOT -- WE'RE ON TO SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: AND ARE YOU THINKING THAT THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING? >> IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING
>> Reporter: IT'S GONNA FALL LIKE DOMINOES.
>> WE GOT IT WE GOT 'EM
THE F.B.I. DIVE TEAM FOUND IT AND SO I SAID, "OKAY
WELL, IF THEY'RE INVOLVED, THEN I KNOW THAT THEY'RE ON TO
SOMEBODY." >> THERE WERE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
HOW'D THEY FIND THIS GUN ALL OF A SUDDEN
WHY NOW? WHO TOLD THEM?
WHOSE GUN IS IT? WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH
SHERRA WRIGHT? >> Reporter: WHEN SHERRA'S
EX-BOYFRIEND KELVIN COWANS SAW THE NEWS, HE CALLED SHERRA IN
CALIFORNIA >> AND SHE WAS SOUNDIN' VERY
SOMBER ABOUT IT. AND SHE WAS LIKE, "YEAH, I SAW
IT YEAH
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY FOUND THE GUN.
SHE SAID, "I THINK THEY'RE JUST MAKIN' IT UP
WHAT DOES IT MATTER? YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT COMIN' BACK
ANYWAY." >> Reporter: SHERRA SEEMED
LOW-KEY ON THE PHONE WITH KELVIN
BUT DETECTIVES WERE BETTING THAT SHE WOULDN'T STAY THAT WAY FOR
LONG >> Reporter: IN FACT JUST DAYS
AFTER THE NEWS BROKE ABOUT THE GUN BEING FOUND, SHERRA SUDDENLY
FLEW TO MEMPHIS AND MET WITH BILLY.
DETECTIVES WERE ON THEIR TAIL AND SNAPPED THESE SURVEILLANCE
SHOTS. THAT'S SHERRA IN THE BLACK SWEAT
SUIT POLICE WATCHED AND WAITED, AND
LET SHERRA AND BILLY STEW. >> THE POLICE WERE PLAYIN'
EVERYBODY. IT WAS BRILLIANT STRATEGY THAT
THEY WANTED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO GET MORE
INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE FROM SHERRA AND BILLY RAY TURNER.
THEY THREW THEM INTO A PANIC AND GOT THEM TALKING ABOUT IT.
[ PHONE RINGING >> Reporter: TALKING
WHICH POLICE STARTED TAPING, BY TAPPING SHERRA AND BILLY'S
PHONES >> HELLO
>> HEY, WHAT'S UP, STRANGER? >> NOTHIN', WHAT IT DO
>> Reporter: AT FIRST THE CONVERSATION DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE
SENSE. >> WHEN ARE YOU ALL GOING TO GET
MARRIED? >> OH, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU GET THAT RING
>> Reporter: POLICE EVENTUALLY
CAME TO BELIEVE THAT ALL THE SMALL TALK WAS ACTUALLY RELATED
TO THE CASE. >> I WANTED TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING. >> OH, OKAY, I HOPE YOU GOT THAT
RING THEN. >> Reporter: BY LATE 2017,
MEMPHIS POLICE HAD HEARD ENOUGH AND MADE THEIR MOVE.
>> DECEMBER 5th, BILLY TURNER WAS ARRESTED INSIDE A
CONVENIENCE STORE IN COLLIERVILLE
>> AND THEN WE FIND OUT THAT HE WAS HER LAWN MAN WHEN LORENZEN
WAS LIVING WITH SHERRA SO THIS IS A PERSON WHO KNEW
BOTH OF THEM AND THEN WE FIND OUT THAT HE'S A
DEACON AT A CHURCH IN COLLIERVILLE
>> Reporter: THE VERY SAME CHURCH WHERE SHERRA HAD BEEN A
MINISTER WHEN SHE LIVED IN MEMPHIS.
>> Reporter: HE WAS UNDER EVERYBODY'S NOSES THE WHOLE
TIME >> YEAH.
HOW'S THAT FOR A KICKER? >> Reporter: THAT IS A KICKER.
THAT'S AN EVIL KICKER. >> IT IS
IF THIS PLANS OUT BEING THAT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO PUT EVERYTHING
IN MOTION AND THEN TO BE THE ONE TO ACTUALLY TAKE HIS LIFE, YEAH.
YEAH JUST THE ULTIMATE EVIL
>> AFTER YEARS OF NOTHING, IT HITS US ALL AT ONE TIME.
AND WE STARTED THINKING, "DID SHE?
DID SHE ACTUALLY?" >> Reporter: KELVIN COWANS ALSO
HAD PLENTY OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FORMER LOVER
SO HE AND SHERRA SPOKE AGAIN, THIS TIME POLICE WERE LISTENING
TOO. >> HOW WELL YOU KNOW BILLY
>> BILLY GOT NOTHIN' TO DO WITH NOBODY OR NOTHIN'.
>> SHE WAS LIKE, "THAT'S MY CHURCH MATE.
HE'S A CHURCH DEACON, THAT'S MY FRIEND
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL THE WHOLE WORLD, BECAUSE
I'M NOT GONNA GET IN THERE I'M GONNA LET GOD STEP IN.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T GOD WHO STEPPED IN
IT WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY >> THE SHELBY COUNTY GRAND JURY
INDICTED BILLY R. TURNER FOR THE PREMEDITATED, FIRST DEGREE
MURDER OF LORENZEN WRIGHT. >> Reporter: BUT OUT IN
CALIFORNIA SHERRA REMAINED FREE. NO ARREST WARRANT.
NO INDICTMENT. JUST ANGER FOR THE
INVESTIGATORS, AND THEY HEARD IT
>> THIS IS A LIE FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL THEY BEEN TRYING TO PULL
BILLY INTO IT SO THAT THEY CAN PULL ME INTO IT.
>> Reporter: A DRAMATIC MOMENT >> Reporter: DECEMBER 2017, MORE
THAN 7 YEARS AFTER LORENZEN'S MURDER, BILLY TURNER WAS IN
COURT ASKING FOR BAIL. >> GOOD MORNING, SIR
>> Reporter: LORENZEN'S MOTHER DEBORAH WAS RIGHT THERE TO GIVE
BILLY TURNER A PIECE OF HER MIND
>> HOW COULD YOU HAVE MURDERED MY SON
THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO KNOW JUST HOW
>> MA'AM, DON'T DO THAT, PLEASE. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE SET BAIL
AT $15 MILLION BACK IN CALIFORNIA, SHERRA
SEEMED WORRIED >> THIS IS A LIE FROM THE PITS
OF HELL. THEY BEEN TRYING TO PULL BILLY
INTO IT SO THAT THEY CAN PULL ME INTO IT.
>> Reporter: "THEY," OF COURSE, WERE THE POLICE, WHO WERE
SECRETLY LISTENING IN AS SHERRA CALLED FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO
SEEK GUIDANCE OR JUST VENT, ESPECIALLY ABOUT BILLY'S ARREST.
AND SHE KEPT DENYING ANY ROLE IN REN'S MURDER
>> DON'T NOBODY BELIEVE THAT WE WERE STILL IN LOVE OR THAT WE
CARED FOR EACH OTHER DON'T NOBODY BELIEVE THAT.
>> Reporter: OVER AND OVER, SHERRA INSISTED SHE WAS
INNOCENT, THE INVESTIGATION WAS A SHAM
>> IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. IT'S LIKE A BAD DREAM.
>> Reporter: THEN, JUST TEN DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SHERRA WAS ON
THE FREEWAY AND GOT A CALL FROM HER OLDEST SON
>> HEY, BABY >> MOMMY
>> HUH >> WHAT YOU DOIN'?
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY SHERRA NOTICED SOMETHING FLASHING IN
HER REARVIEW MIRROR. >> THE POLICE -- HE, LIKE, OH,
RIGHT BEHIND ME. >> PUT THE PHONE ON THE -- DON'T
YOU -- AIN'T YOU IN THE TRUCK? >> OH, I GOTTA CALL YOU BACK
I GOTTA CALL YOU BACK. >> Reporter: THIS WAS NO ROUTINE
TRAFFIC STOP IT WAS THE U.S. MARSHALS,
WARRANT IN HAND, ARRESTING SHERRA FOR MURDER.
SHE WAS RUSHED TO THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY JAIL, AND THE NEXT DAY
MEMPHIS POLICE TOLD THE WORLD. >> SHERRA WRIGHT-ROBINSON WAS
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY LAST NIGHT IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE U.S. MARSHALL SERVICE.
>> Reporter: WAS HER ARREST THE -- A BIG MOMENT IN THIS?
>> OH, HONEY, I DIDN'T EVEN SLEEP WHEN THEY GOT BILLY.
BUT HONEY, WHEN THEY GOT SHERRA, I SLEPT.
I PROBABLY SLEPT TILL, LIKE, 12:00.
AND I NEVER SLEEP THAT LATE, NEVER.
BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I GOT SOME REAL SLEEP, WHEN THEY GOT
HER. >> OH, EVERYBODY WAS TALKIN'
ABOUT IT IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT WAS HUGE NEWS IN MEMPHIS. >> Reporter: SO HUGE THAT, THE
NEXT DAY, DEBORAH ORGANIZED A CELEBRATION IN THE CEMETERY.
>> LORENZEN LOVED FIREWORKS. SO I HAD TO HAVE FIREWORKS AT
THE CEMETERY >> Reporter: NEVER HEARD OF
ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. >> LORENZEN HAD TO HEAR THAT
POW, POW, POW. WE HAD TO CELEBRATE.
A BIG CELEBRATION. WE HAD A BALL.
SURE DID >> Reporter: AFTER YEARS OF
TRYING TO GET SHERRA ARRESTED, DEBORAH HAD JUST ONE QUESTION
FOR HER. >> AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
TO SHERRA -- WHY WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY?
>> Reporter: LORENZEN'S FRIENDS, WHO KNEW THAT SHERRA HAD LONG
BEEN UNDER SUSPICION, STILL HAD TROUBLE ACCEPTING THE NEWS OF
HER ARREST >> AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU
MEAN SHE GOT ARRESTED FOR KILLING LORENZEN?"
AND I GOT REALLY ANGRY >> Reporter: I CAN JUST IMAGINE
ALL THE EMOTIONS YOU'RE FEELING. BETRAYAL AND -
>> BETRAYAL, SHOCK >> Reporter: AND ALSO SECOND
GUESSING YOURSELF AND -- >> SECOND GUESSING MYSELF.
YES. >> Reporter: AND YOU KNEW HER
BETTER THAN MOST >> YEAH.
BUT SOMETIMES WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THE DARK WILL COME TO LIGHT.
>> Reporter: SHERRA WAIVED EXTRADITION AND DAYS LATER
APPEARED IN A MEMPHIS COURT. >> THE BOND IN THIS CASE SHALL
BE SET TO COVER THIS INDICTMENT AT $20 MILLION
>> Reporter: SO YOU SEE SHERRA IN COURT, AND SHE --
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: -- SAYS SOMETHING
TO YOU >> YES
SHE TURNS AROUND, LOOKED ME DEAD IN MY FACE, JUST LIKE I'M
LOOKIN' AT YOU, AND SAID, "I DIDN'T DO IT."
I SAID, "YOU WITCH." >> Reporter: YOU CALLED HER A
WITCH IN COURT >> WITHOUT THE "W.
YOU CAN'T KILL MY SON AND KEEP TEASING ME
"I DIDN'T DO IT. NO
>> ATTORNEYS FOR BOTH CO-DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF LORENZEN WRIGHT FILED MOTIONS
THURSDAY >> Reporter: BOTH BILLY TURNER
AND SHERRA PLEADED NOT GUILTY. THE PLAN WAS TO TRY THEM
TOGETHER BUT SHERRA'S ATTORNEYS,
LAURIE HALL AND JUNI GANGULI, HAD A PROBLEM.
>> WE STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT BILLY WAS GOING TO TESTIFY
AGAINST SHERRA IF THE DEFENSE WAS THAT, "I HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT," IS PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC WHEN
THERE'S A CODEFENDANT WHO'S GOING TO TESTIFY
>> Reporter: SO A STRATEGY HER ATTORNEYS SAID YES, SHE DID
CONSPIRE TO HAVE HER EX-HUSBAND MURDERED
BUT THAT IN NO WAY MADE HER GUILTY
>> SHERRA DID IT SHERRA RECRUITED BILLY, BUT SHE
DID IT TO GET AWAY FROM THIS ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE DEFENSE'S VERSION.
SHERRA WAS AN ABUSED WOMAN DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR A WAY
OUT. >> ABSOLUTELY TWO SIDES TO
LORENZEN WRIGHT. THERE'S THE PUBLIC PERSONA, VERY
POSITIVE, COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PRIVATELY, HE HAD A VERY
TUMULTUOUS MARRIAGE, MANY AFFAIRS, AND GET ANGRY AND BEAT
SHERRA WRIGHT. >> Reporter: IN FACT, SHERRA
MENTIONED ABUSE DURING A CALL TO HER SON, WHICH POLICE SECRETLY
RECORDED >> YOU BEEN THERE A LOT OF TIME
WHEN YOUR DADDY DONE BEAT THE LIVING HELL OUT OF ME.
>> Reporter: AND THERE WAS THAT INCIDENT WHEN REN ALLEGEDLY GOT
VIOLENT WITH SHERRA AFTER FINDING HER WITH ANOTHER MAN, A
STORY HE DENIED. REN WAS NEVER CHARGED THEN OR
ANY TIME FOR ABUSING SHERRA. >> IT'S FAIRLY COMMON THAT
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DON'T REPORT THEIR ABUSERS TO
THE POLICE >> Reporter: BY THE TIME OF THE
MURDER, REN AND SHERRA HAD BEEN DIVORCED FOR FIVE MONTHS AND
LIVING NEARLY 400 MILES APART. HER ATTORNEY SAID DESPITE ALL
THAT, SHE WAS STILL SCARED >> HE WAS TELLING THE CHILDREN
IN THE SUMMER OF 2010 WORDS TO THE EFFECT OF, "YOUR MOTHER AND
I ARE GOING TO GET BACK TOGETHER."
AND SHERRA DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT LIFE.
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO HER ATTORNEYS, SHERRA BELIEVED HER
ONLY ESCAPE WAS TO LURE REN BACK TO MEMPHIS TO HAVE HIM KILLED.
LORENZEN'S MOTHER DEBORAH INSISTS THE STORIES OF ABUSE
WERE ALL LIES. >> SHE MURDERED HIM AND
ASSASSINATED HIS CHARACTER SHE KILLED HIM TWICE
I WANT HER TO SUFFER EVERY DAY EVERY DAY SHE WAKE UP, I WANT
HER TO MISS HER KIDS LIKE I MISS MINE
>> COURT, COME TO ORDER. REMAIN SEATED.
>> Reporter: A BATTERED WIFE OR A KILLER
IT LOOKED LIKE A MEMPHIS JURY WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE
OR WOULD THEY? >> I GOT HERE THINKING IT WAS TO
HAVE A TRIAL, BUT THEN THEY
>> GOOD MORNING. >> LORENZEN'S MOTHER WHO WORKED
SO HARD TO PUSH THE CASE FORWARD COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE HER FORMER
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW GO ON TRIAL. HOW DO YOU FEEL?
ARE YOU CONFIDENT? >> YES, I AM
I FEEL ELATED, AND IT'S GONNA TURN OUT JUST LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED
TO ALL ACES GONNA BE IN THEIR
PLACES THAT MEAN EVERYBODY GONNA BE
WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. >> Reporter: JULY 25th, 2019,
ALMOST 9 YEARS TO THE DAY OF REN'S MURDER, HIS MOTHER WAS IN
COURT WHEN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DEALT HER A HAND SHE HADN'T
ANTICIPATED. >> I GOT HERE THINKING IT WAS TO
HAVE A TRIAL BUT THEN THEY CALLED US IN A
ROOM BACK THERE AND SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE
WE MADE A DEAL." IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY
>> UPON YOUR PLEA OF GUILTY TO INDICTMENT -
>> Reporter: SHERRA PLEADED GUILTY, NOT TO FIRST-DEGREE
MURDER, BUT TO TWO LESSER CHARGES -- FACILITATION TO
COMMIT MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR THE FIRST TRY AT
LORENZEN'S CONDO IN ATLANTA. LORENZEN'S MOM WAS ANGRY
>> HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I'M THINKING I'M GOING TO COME
AND HEAR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED STEP BY STEP.
BUT NO >> Reporter: FOR THAT, REN'S
MOTHER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SHERRA'S ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATOR
HAD HIS TRIAL. BETWEEN COVID AND COURT DELAYS,
IT TOOK NEARLY THREE YEARS FINALLY IN MARCH OF 2022, BILLY
TURNER'S TRIAL BEGAN >> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KILL A
MAN? >> Reporter: THOUGH SHERRA
WASN'T THE DEFENDANT, SHELBY COUNTY PROSECUTOR PAUL HAGERMAN
PUT HER FRONT AND CENTER >> SHERRA WRIGHT'S NOT A
PROFESSIONAL KILLER. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING SHE DOES
SHE DOESN'T HAVE A PHONE DIRECTORY OF HITMEN.
NO SHE HAD TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE
THAT SHE TRUSTED >> DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR -
>> Reporter: LORENZEN'S MOTHER WAS THE FIRST WITNESS.
SHE TOLD THE JURY THAT WHEN LORENZEN WENT MISSING, SHERRA
DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED AT ALL >> DID YOU TALK TO SHERRA?
>> OH, YEAH. >> DID SHE TELL YOU THAT HE WAS
MISSING? >> NOPE.
>> AND WAS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT SHERRA WRIGHT NEVER WENT TO
THE POLICE >> NOPE.
SHE NEVER DID. >> YOU HAD TO.
>> NO, I HAD TO. >> SWEARING IN
>> Reporter: BUT THE STAR WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION WAS
SHERRA'S COUSIN JIMMIE MARTIN, WHO TOLD THE JURY WHAT HE HAD
SAID TO THE POLICE YEARS EARLIER, THAT SHERRA WANTED
LORENZEN DEAD. AND SHE HAD TURNED TO HIM AND
BILLY TURNER FOR HELP. >> WHEN SHERRA'S TALKING ABOUT
THIS BUSINESS THAT SHE SHOULDN'T BE IN, KILLING LORENZEN, IS
BILLY TURNER THERE >> YES, SIR.
>> OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE THERE. AND YOU DESCRIBED IT AS WHAT,
BRAINSTORMING? >> LIKE BRAINSTORMING.
THEY WERE COMING UP WITH WAYS OF HOW TO BEST, YOU KNOW, PERFORM
THE ACT. >> OKAY.
AND WHAT ACT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> THE MURDER OF LORENZEN. >> ALL RIGHT
>> AND YOU SAY THEY WERE COMING UP WITH WAYS -
>> WE WERE - >> YOU WERE TOO, WEREN'T YOU
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: THOUGH HE TOOK PART
IN THE PLANNING, EVEN HELPED FIND THE LOCATION, JIMMIE SAID
HE WASN'T THERE WHEN THE MURDER OCCURRED
HE SAID SHERRA TOLD HIM ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS
>> OKAY, SO SHE MET -- HER AND LORENZEN MET UP WITH BILLY ON
THIS ROAD. THAT'S WHEN I GUESS THEY
AMBUSHED HIM >> YOU SAID, "I GUESSED.
WHY DID YOU SAY, "I GUESSED" >> 'CAUSE I WASN'T THERE
>> Reporter: THEN JIMMIE TOLD THE JURY ABOUT LORENZEN'S FINAL
AWFUL MOMENTS, DETAILS HE SAID AGAIN CAME FROM SHERRA
>> LORENZEN HAD HIS BACK TO THEM, AND THEY STARTED CHASING
THEY STARTED FIRING AT HIM, CHASING.
HE JUMPED THROUGH THE FENCE. HE WAS JUMPING LIKE A DEER
THEY CAUGHT HIM WHEN HE FELL >> Reporter: DEFENSE ATTORNEY
JOHN PERRY TOLD THE JURY THAT THE STATE'S STAR WITNESS, A
CONVICTED KILLER WHO WAS GIVEN IMMUNITY IN THIS CASE, SHOULDN'T
BE TRUSTED >> IT TAKES THAT TYPE OF A PUNK
TO SIT UP AND COME UP WITH A STORY, AS YOU'RE TALKING WITH
THE DETECTIVES, TO SAY, "THEY TOLD ME THIS."
AS FAR AS THE DEFENSE WAS CONCERNED, IT WAS MORE LIKELY
THAT JIMMIE MARTIN SHOT LORENZEN WRIGHT.
>> ON THE NIGHT IN QUESTION, NOBODY CAN VALIDATE YOUR
WHEREABOUTS, RIGHT NOBODY -- NOBODY VERIFIED YOUR
WHEREABOUTS, CORRECT IN ALL THIS TIME, NOBODY
VERIFIED IT. NOBODY
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE NOT OR NOT
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY POINTED OUT THAT
JIMMIE MARTIN DIDN'T HAVE AN ALIBI, BUT HIS CLIENT BILLY
TURNER DID >> HE WENT TO A PARTY AND WENT
HOME THAT WAS IT.
>> THE EVIDENCE IS GOING TO SHOW, CLEAR AS CAN BE, BILLY HAD
A WELL ESTABLISHED LIFE. BILLY WAS A MAN.
HE DATED WOMEN HE TOOK CARE OF HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HE HAD FUN.
BUT HE WENT TO CHURCH. >> I REALLY, IN MY HEART OF
HEARTS, DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE KNEW WHAT ALL THEY MIGHT HAVE
BEEN CONTEMPLATING DOING >> Reporter: BUT PROSECUTORS SAY
BILLY TURNER'S CELL PHONE PUT HIM AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
THERE WAS THAT TERRIFYING 911 CALL LORENZEN MADE AS HE WAS
BEING SHOT A MEMPHIS POLICE PHONE EXPERT
TESTIFIED BOTH BILLY TURNER'S AND LORENZEN'S PHONES PINGED ON
CELL TOWERS NEAR THE SCENE AROUND THE SAME TIME
>> HIS TOWER LOCATION IS OVERLAYING WITH THAT EXACT TOWER
MR. LORENZEN HAD >> Reporter: THE WOMAN IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT ALL, SHERRA WRIGHT, WAS NEVER CALLED TO TESTIFY.
FIVE AND HALF DAYS AFTER THE TRIAL BEGAN, THE JURY GOT THE
CASE >> DEPUTY SMITH, PLEASE BRING IN
THE JURY, SIR. >> Reporter: LESS THAN THREE
HOURS LATER, THEY HAD A VERDICT. >> WE, THE JURY, FIND THE
DEFENDANT GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AS CHARGED IN COUNT ONE
OF THE INDICTMENT. >> Reporter: BILLY TURNER GOT
LIFE PLUS 41 YEARS AS FOR SHERRA --
>> THIS COURT SETS YOUR PUNISHMENT AT 30 YEARS
CONFINEMENT IN THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
>> Reporter: 30 YEARS ON PAPER >> IN THE END, WE WANTED THE
EARLIEST POSSIBLE RELEASE FOR SHERRA
>> Reporter: HER DEFENSE SAID BECAUSE SHERRA HAD NO CRIMINAL
RECORD, SHE MOST LIKELY WOULD SERVE ONLY HALF THAT TIME, MAYBE
EVEN LESS. >> SHERRA WILL ONLY BE, AT
WORST, IN HER EARLY 60s. AND SO SHE CAN STILL BE A
GRANDMOTHER TO HER GRANDCHILDREN AND STILL LIVE AN ACTIVE LIFE.
>> THAT'S NOT FAIR THAT IS NOT FAIR
WHAT DID THEY -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND
YOU KNOW, I WANT HER TO DO A PLEA DEAL WHEN LORENZEN COME
BACK THEN SHE CAN GET OUT
>> Reporter: SHE'S ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> PRETTY QUICKLY. >> Reporter: DID SHERRA GET WHAT
SHE DESERVED >> I DON'T THINK THAT SHE DID.
IF SHE'S THE RINGLEADER THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, AT SOME
POINT SHERRA'S GONNA GET OUT OF PRISON
AND SHE'S GONNA GET A CHANCE TO GO ON WITH HER LIFE.
LORENZEN'S NEVER GONNA HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, WITH ALL THE TRIAL DELAYS, SHERRA WAS UP
FOR A PAROLE HEARING JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER BILLY TURNER WAS
CONVICTED. >> I'M SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED
TO HIM I'M SORRY BECAUSE HE'S NOT HERE,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO EVER, EVER IN MY LIFE BE WITHOUT HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
I'M ASKING TODAY FOR YOUR MERCY. >> Reporter: WATCHING CLOSELY
WAS LORENZEN'S MOTHER WITH NO MERCY TO SPARE
>> THIS IS WHY I'M REALLY MAD. BECAUSE SHE'S STILL ACTING LIKE
SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. >> Reporter: SHERRA DIDN'T GET
PAROLED THAT DAY SHE'LL TRY AGAIN IN 2027
DEBORAH PLANS TO BE THERE. THIS PAST FEBRUARY, LORENZEN'S
OLD TEAM AT UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS RETIRED HIS NUMBER IN
HIS HONOR. >> Y'ALL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
MADE ME SO HAPPY I STILL THINK ABOUT ALL THAT BAD
STUFF THAT SHERRA WAS SAYING ABOUT HIM.
BUT WHEN THEY RETIRED HIS JERSEY, YOU SAW MEMPHIS CAME
OUT. >> Reporter: THIS IS A MAN WHO
HAD HELPED HIS CITY. >> UH-HUH.
THIS IS A MAN THAT TOOK CARE OF MORE FAMILIES THAN YOU'D EVER
IMAGINE. HE KEPT 'EM IN HOMES, HOUSES
HE PAID BILLS. HE KEPT THEIR LIGHTS ON.
>> THIS BOY WAS JUST LOVING. HE JUST LOVED BY SIGHT
HE JUST SAW PERSONALITY. IF YOU WAS GOOD TO HIM, HE WAS
GREAT TO YOU THAT'S FOR SURE.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT 7:00, 6:00 CENTRAL
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.