1 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:10,075 [female narrator] she was his high school sweetheart 2 00:00:10,145 --> 00:00:12,311 And became a basketball wife. 3 00:00:12,846 --> 00:00:15,680 He made 55 million dollars playin' basketball. 4 00:00:16,383 --> 00:00:18,050 It seemed to be a true love story 5 00:00:18,052 --> 00:00:19,317 With the two of them. 6 00:00:19,386 --> 00:00:22,855 I knew he was madly in love with her. 7 00:00:22,923 --> 00:00:25,524 [music] 8 00:00:25,526 --> 00:00:28,194 [narrator] on a steamy summer night in memphis, 9 00:00:28,262 --> 00:00:32,698 This fairytale of riches comes to a startling end. 10 00:00:40,340 --> 00:00:43,475 You're literally hearing someone be murdered. 11 00:00:43,544 --> 00:00:45,277 [music] 12 00:00:45,346 --> 00:00:48,614 [narrator] for nearly a decade, the case haunts the city. 13 00:00:49,683 --> 00:00:52,085 And when the truth finally comes out, 14 00:00:52,152 --> 00:00:56,622 A cold-hearted killer is close to home court. 15 00:00:57,758 --> 00:00:59,224 [austin] this wasn't a robbery. 16 00:00:59,226 --> 00:01:01,160 It leads you to believe it was somethin' personal. 17 00:01:01,496 --> 00:01:03,295 I mean, that was the kodak moment, 18 00:01:03,364 --> 00:01:05,264 When they brought that weapon out. 19 00:01:05,866 --> 00:01:09,535 He was nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard, 20 00:01:09,603 --> 00:01:13,405 That did what his queen wanted him to do. 21 00:01:16,977 --> 00:01:26,119 [music] 22 00:01:27,054 --> 00:01:28,788 [music] 23 00:01:28,856 --> 00:01:31,457 [narrator] July 22nd, 2010. 24 00:01:31,525 --> 00:01:35,293 In a wealthy suburb just outside of memphis, 25 00:01:35,295 --> 00:01:37,330 Deborah marion makes a phone call to 26 00:01:37,397 --> 00:01:39,331 The collierville police department. 27 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,536 Deborah identifies herself as mother to famed nba star 28 00:01:44,605 --> 00:01:45,871 Lorenzen wright. 29 00:01:46,274 --> 00:01:48,473 The name is well known to the officer... 30 00:01:48,475 --> 00:01:50,876 And everyone else in memphis. 31 00:01:51,545 --> 00:01:53,679 He was what they called a hometown hero. 32 00:01:53,681 --> 00:01:56,014 So you would see his name on billboards everywhere. 33 00:01:56,083 --> 00:01:57,682 Every restaurant you go to, 34 00:01:57,751 --> 00:01:59,217 They'll have something of his nature. 35 00:01:59,286 --> 00:02:01,621 Now, whether it was a jersey or a poster. 36 00:02:01,688 --> 00:02:04,322 [music] 37 00:02:04,391 --> 00:02:06,358 [narrator] deborah tells the officer that 38 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,695 34-year-old lorenzen, who currently lives in atlanta, 39 00:02:09,697 --> 00:02:12,965 Arrived in memphis four days earlier to visit, 40 00:02:13,033 --> 00:02:15,200 But now has disappeared. 41 00:02:16,436 --> 00:02:18,971 One of his sisters was pregnant at the time, 42 00:02:19,039 --> 00:02:20,705 And she was havin' a baby shower. 43 00:02:20,774 --> 00:02:23,442 But he would not have missed that for the world. 44 00:02:23,444 --> 00:02:25,510 He didn't show up for that. 45 00:02:25,579 --> 00:02:27,512 [music] 46 00:02:27,581 --> 00:02:31,717 [narrator] deborah insists this just isn't like her son. 47 00:02:32,587 --> 00:02:34,452 [darren] no one could get in contact with him. 48 00:02:34,722 --> 00:02:36,989 They knew that there was something was wrong, 49 00:02:37,057 --> 00:02:38,256 Something was bad wrong. 50 00:02:38,859 --> 00:02:41,727 The mother filed the missing person report. 51 00:02:42,396 --> 00:02:44,930 All of us became highly concerned then, 52 00:02:44,998 --> 00:02:47,499 Because it was not like ren. 53 00:02:48,135 --> 00:02:49,568 Somethin' has happened. 54 00:02:50,737 --> 00:02:52,938 [narrator] as investigators review the report, 55 00:02:52,940 --> 00:02:57,809 News of the missing nba player spreads quickly across the city 56 00:02:58,612 --> 00:03:00,779 [austin] this was indeed a very big deal. 57 00:03:01,215 --> 00:03:03,815 He was one of memphis' favorite sons. 58 00:03:04,484 --> 00:03:07,420 The whole city was abuzz, wantin' to know what happened. 59 00:03:07,487 --> 00:03:10,422 [music] 60 00:03:12,759 --> 00:03:18,096 [narrator] lorenzen "ren" wright was born on November 4th, 1975, 61 00:03:18,165 --> 00:03:19,699 In oxford, mississippi 62 00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:22,567 To deborah marion and herb wright. 63 00:03:22,636 --> 00:03:24,769 Although his parents never married, 64 00:03:24,838 --> 00:03:28,574 Lorenzen was close to both his mother and his father. 65 00:03:29,142 --> 00:03:31,309 The relationship that him and his mom had 66 00:03:31,378 --> 00:03:33,311 Was a bond that would never be broken. 67 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:35,113 I mean, he, they were very, very close. 68 00:03:35,115 --> 00:03:37,515 [music] 69 00:03:37,584 --> 00:03:39,985 [narrator] lorenzen's bond with his father, 70 00:03:40,053 --> 00:03:41,786 A former nba prospect, 71 00:03:41,855 --> 00:03:45,324 Centered around their shared love of basketbal. 72 00:03:45,926 --> 00:03:47,259 His father herb was... 73 00:03:47,327 --> 00:03:49,861 Injured, wounded, and was paralyzed. 74 00:03:49,930 --> 00:03:52,731 And herb never let the wheelchair stop him. 75 00:03:53,133 --> 00:03:54,466 Ren loved his daddy. 76 00:03:55,135 --> 00:03:58,404 He loved him, and herb was his first sorta coach. 77 00:03:58,739 --> 00:04:01,005 Taught him a lot about basketball. 78 00:04:01,074 --> 00:04:02,741 [music] 79 00:04:02,743 --> 00:04:04,743 [narrator] by the time lorenzen was in high school, 80 00:04:04,745 --> 00:04:08,180 It was clear that the 6'11" teenager 81 00:04:08,182 --> 00:04:10,215 Was a gifted athlete. 82 00:04:10,884 --> 00:04:14,619 Anybody could see, even when he was in high school, 83 00:04:14,688 --> 00:04:18,957 This guy got a express train ticket to the nba. 84 00:04:19,426 --> 00:04:21,360 [michael] he was one of top players in mississippi. 85 00:04:21,428 --> 00:04:22,894 Then his senior year, 86 00:04:22,963 --> 00:04:25,364 His daddy made the move to get him outta mississippi 87 00:04:25,432 --> 00:04:26,832 And get him to memphis. 88 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:29,768 [dr. Adkins] memphis produces a lot of top basketball players 89 00:04:29,837 --> 00:04:33,105 And if you want to be better, if you want to get better, 90 00:04:33,173 --> 00:04:34,839 Play the best. 91 00:04:35,576 --> 00:04:38,176 [narrator] during the summers, lorenzen played for 92 00:04:38,245 --> 00:04:40,779 The exclusive amateur athletic union. 93 00:04:41,448 --> 00:04:44,582 [michael] aau is like... They call it all american. 94 00:04:44,651 --> 00:04:47,119 All the top players around the country play in it. 95 00:04:47,187 --> 00:04:50,455 [music] 96 00:04:50,524 --> 00:04:52,924 [narrator] lorenzen was a star on the team, 97 00:04:52,993 --> 00:04:55,794 Gaining plenty of attention from his coach, 98 00:04:55,863 --> 00:04:58,030 As well as from his coach's daughter, 99 00:04:58,098 --> 00:04:59,799 Sherra robinson. 100 00:05:00,801 --> 00:05:03,368 From what I know, sherra's mom died at a young age, 101 00:05:03,437 --> 00:05:06,137 And she met lorenzen through her dad. 102 00:05:06,807 --> 00:05:09,074 [montae] her father was an aau basketball coach. 103 00:05:09,076 --> 00:05:12,210 And by that being the case, sherra had a lot of access 104 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,614 To knowing who basketball players were. 105 00:05:14,681 --> 00:05:16,081 [music] 106 00:05:16,149 --> 00:05:17,749 Sherra was different. 107 00:05:18,752 --> 00:05:21,386 Just different that anything he had been around. 108 00:05:21,455 --> 00:05:25,024 He was madly in love with her. 109 00:05:25,092 --> 00:05:28,793 [music] 110 00:05:28,862 --> 00:05:32,197 [narrator] in 1994, lorenzen began his freshman year 111 00:05:32,199 --> 00:05:35,167 Of college playing for the university of memphis. 112 00:05:35,902 --> 00:05:39,305 That same year, sherra became pregnant with his child. 113 00:05:39,706 --> 00:05:41,307 The couple was excited, 114 00:05:41,375 --> 00:05:43,708 But decided to hold off on marriage 115 00:05:43,777 --> 00:05:46,244 So lorenzen could focus on basketball. 116 00:05:46,313 --> 00:05:49,315 [music] 117 00:05:49,383 --> 00:05:52,984 [darren] here this kid is 6'10", 6'11", 118 00:05:53,053 --> 00:05:55,187 Could run like a gazelle. 119 00:05:55,255 --> 00:05:57,389 He had "it". 120 00:05:57,457 --> 00:05:59,825 And "it" was everything. 121 00:06:00,994 --> 00:06:03,395 [narrator] a year later, lorenzen was still playing at 122 00:06:03,463 --> 00:06:04,929 The university of memphis 123 00:06:04,998 --> 00:06:08,733 When all of his dedication and hard work paid off. 124 00:06:10,003 --> 00:06:13,872 [montae] draft night, lorenzen gets drafted by the la clippers 125 00:06:13,941 --> 00:06:18,076 As the number 7th player of the nba draft. 126 00:06:18,145 --> 00:06:19,944 So instantly, his life changed. 127 00:06:20,013 --> 00:06:22,948 [music] 128 00:06:23,016 --> 00:06:25,817 [montae] so now lorenzen was out on the road 129 00:06:25,819 --> 00:06:28,686 42 times a season, playin' basketball. 130 00:06:29,556 --> 00:06:32,024 [narrator] but he was always eager to return home 131 00:06:32,092 --> 00:06:33,959 To sherra and his son. 132 00:06:34,294 --> 00:06:36,162 Bein' on the road was fine... 133 00:06:36,229 --> 00:06:38,164 [stammering] and it's fun for a while. 134 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:41,833 But he always wanted to get home to his children. 135 00:06:42,470 --> 00:06:44,937 [narrator] by 1998, the couple had married, 136 00:06:45,005 --> 00:06:48,574 And lorenzen had built both a reputation in the nba 137 00:06:48,642 --> 00:06:50,642 And a handsome bank account. 138 00:06:51,245 --> 00:06:55,580 In 1999, sherra gave birth to their second child. 139 00:06:56,049 --> 00:06:57,950 [michael] oh, the wedding was awesome. 140 00:06:58,919 --> 00:07:00,853 He had a huge wedding in memphis. 141 00:07:01,988 --> 00:07:05,123 The wedding was beautiful. Yeah, he was excited. 142 00:07:05,192 --> 00:07:06,859 We were all excited for him. 143 00:07:06,927 --> 00:07:10,128 [music] 144 00:07:10,197 --> 00:07:12,797 [narrator] his marriage to sherra was a constant... 145 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:16,201 Even when his nba career had the family moving from 146 00:07:16,269 --> 00:07:19,871 La to atlanta after he was traded to the hawks. 147 00:07:20,541 --> 00:07:24,409 Then, in 2001, another dream came true. 148 00:07:25,012 --> 00:07:27,813 That's where they held the press conference at... 149 00:07:27,881 --> 00:07:30,682 For lorenzen to come in to play for the memphis grizzlies. 150 00:07:30,684 --> 00:07:32,551 It was real, real big. 151 00:07:32,553 --> 00:07:34,386 It was very, very, very much like 152 00:07:34,388 --> 00:07:36,254 This thing is coming back full circle. 153 00:07:36,256 --> 00:07:39,692 [music] 154 00:07:39,759 --> 00:07:42,360 [narrator] sherra and lorenzen moved their family to 155 00:07:42,429 --> 00:07:45,163 The wealthy memphis suburb of collierville. 156 00:07:46,132 --> 00:07:48,166 [dr. Atkins] the neighborhood's a very exclusive neighborhood, 157 00:07:48,168 --> 00:07:50,603 And in the neighborhood were two nfl football players 158 00:07:50,670 --> 00:07:53,305 In the, in that same little cove that they were in. 159 00:07:54,107 --> 00:07:56,307 [narrator] their family continued to grow. 160 00:07:56,644 --> 00:07:59,712 By 2002, they had seven children, 161 00:07:59,779 --> 00:08:02,313 Three girls and four boys. 162 00:08:03,250 --> 00:08:05,317 [michael] sherra was always there for her kids. 163 00:08:05,385 --> 00:08:06,652 She was great as a mother. 164 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:08,386 They had all kinds of help, 165 00:08:08,455 --> 00:08:10,922 Whether it was family, friends, and live-in nannies. 166 00:08:10,991 --> 00:08:13,125 [music] 167 00:08:13,193 --> 00:08:17,962 [narrator] by 2003, lorenzen and sherra were living a fantasy. 168 00:08:18,031 --> 00:08:19,397 [music] 169 00:08:19,399 --> 00:08:22,001 [narrator] but tragedy struck when their youngest daughter, 170 00:08:22,068 --> 00:08:26,505 Sierra simone, died of sids at 11 months old. 171 00:08:27,674 --> 00:08:28,940 Sherra was heartbroken. 172 00:08:29,009 --> 00:08:31,643 You know, it really, really hurt her a lot. 173 00:08:31,712 --> 00:08:33,778 [dr. Atkins] lorenzen was devastated. 174 00:08:34,614 --> 00:08:37,549 That was probably the pivotal point 175 00:08:37,617 --> 00:08:38,918 In his marriage. 176 00:08:38,985 --> 00:08:40,586 [music] 177 00:08:40,653 --> 00:08:41,653 [dr. Atkins] well, their relationship became 178 00:08:41,655 --> 00:08:42,754 Very volatile. 179 00:08:42,822 --> 00:08:46,058 The arguments just continued on. 180 00:08:46,594 --> 00:08:48,027 On and on and on. 181 00:08:48,094 --> 00:08:51,029 [music] 182 00:08:51,031 --> 00:08:52,830 [narrator] over the next few years, 183 00:08:52,899 --> 00:08:57,168 The relationship was tumultuous but the couple didn't give up. 184 00:08:57,772 --> 00:08:59,837 [michael] they had some issues in memphis, 185 00:08:59,906 --> 00:09:02,573 When he was with the grizzlies, before they got back to atlanta 186 00:09:02,643 --> 00:09:03,775 But they decided that, 187 00:09:03,844 --> 00:09:05,710 "hey, okay, lets just squash it." 188 00:09:05,712 --> 00:09:06,778 They renewed their vows. 189 00:09:07,981 --> 00:09:11,049 [narrator] in 2006, lorenzen was traded once again, 190 00:09:11,051 --> 00:09:13,752 This time back to the atlanta hawks. 191 00:09:14,788 --> 00:09:17,655 But less than three years later he was cut 192 00:09:17,724 --> 00:09:19,324 And wouldn't play again. 193 00:09:19,392 --> 00:09:23,528 By then, it was clear that both his career and his marriage 194 00:09:23,596 --> 00:09:25,163 Were in trouble. 195 00:09:25,966 --> 00:09:27,799 [michael] sherra moved back to memphis. 196 00:09:27,868 --> 00:09:29,667 And lorenzen actually stayed. 197 00:09:29,736 --> 00:09:32,071 I think they started to, to drift apart. 198 00:09:32,906 --> 00:09:34,707 So he lived in atlanta, 199 00:09:34,774 --> 00:09:36,541 And would come back and forth to memphis. 200 00:09:37,110 --> 00:09:41,246 [narrator] in February 2010, the couple finally divorced. 201 00:09:42,315 --> 00:09:44,148 It was still a, a 50/50 thing. 202 00:09:44,217 --> 00:09:46,284 She would have the kids, obviously, during the schoolyear 203 00:09:46,353 --> 00:09:49,354 And whatnot, but lorenzen still made time, whether it's... 204 00:09:50,224 --> 00:09:53,024 Having them here in atlanta, or he was in memphis. 205 00:09:53,026 --> 00:09:55,360 He loved his kids to the fullest. 206 00:09:55,428 --> 00:09:57,429 The kids were a big reason why 207 00:09:57,497 --> 00:09:59,163 That they actually stayed together 208 00:09:59,232 --> 00:10:00,431 For as long as they did. 209 00:10:00,433 --> 00:10:05,304 [music] 210 00:10:05,372 --> 00:10:07,305 [narrator] but on July 22nd, 211 00:10:07,374 --> 00:10:10,643 Just days after returning to memphis to visit his family, 212 00:10:10,710 --> 00:10:13,111 Lorenzen is missing. 213 00:10:13,113 --> 00:10:14,178 [music] 214 00:10:14,247 --> 00:10:19,350 It wasn't entirely unlike lorenzen to go a day or two 215 00:10:19,419 --> 00:10:20,686 Without making contact, 216 00:10:20,753 --> 00:10:23,721 With his family not knowing exactly where, 217 00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:24,722 Where he was. 218 00:10:24,791 --> 00:10:26,057 He did like to travel. 219 00:10:26,126 --> 00:10:27,659 He did have friends in various cities. 220 00:10:28,194 --> 00:10:30,328 [narrator] family members say lorenzen had 221 00:10:30,397 --> 00:10:33,465 An amicable relationship with his ex-wife, sherra, 222 00:10:33,533 --> 00:10:36,268 And planned to stay with her and his kids while 223 00:10:36,336 --> 00:10:38,069 He was in memphis. 224 00:10:38,071 --> 00:10:40,204 [music] 225 00:10:40,273 --> 00:10:43,007 [narrator] when friends and family reach out to sherra, 226 00:10:43,076 --> 00:10:45,878 She isn't overly concerned. 227 00:10:45,945 --> 00:10:48,212 She says, "there's nothing to be worried about, 228 00:10:48,281 --> 00:10:51,015 "I'm sure he's just gone, and he'll come back. 229 00:10:51,084 --> 00:10:52,884 This is what lorenzen does." 230 00:10:53,420 --> 00:10:57,089 But when he hadn't been heard from for four days, 231 00:10:57,157 --> 00:10:58,756 It became an issue. 232 00:10:58,825 --> 00:11:00,960 Lorenzen tended to disappear 233 00:11:01,027 --> 00:11:02,760 Whenever he needed some time to himself, 234 00:11:02,829 --> 00:11:04,429 But he'd always let somebody know. 235 00:11:05,031 --> 00:11:06,497 We're just thinking the worst. 236 00:11:06,566 --> 00:11:09,667 [music] 237 00:11:09,736 --> 00:11:11,102 [narrator] coming up, 238 00:11:11,171 --> 00:11:14,974 Was lorenzen's return to memphs an act of love? 239 00:11:15,442 --> 00:11:17,509 That's one of the reasons he came back to memphis. 240 00:11:17,577 --> 00:11:19,645 He was trying to get back with her. 241 00:11:19,713 --> 00:11:22,448 [narrator] or was it a fatal mistake? 242 00:11:22,982 --> 00:11:26,250 [darren] two hispanic men show up at the house 243 00:11:26,319 --> 00:11:27,518 And they were armed, 244 00:11:27,587 --> 00:11:29,287 And they were looking for lorenzen. 245 00:11:37,063 --> 00:11:40,832 [music] 246 00:11:49,876 --> 00:11:52,745 [narrator] memphis investigators are looking into 247 00:11:52,812 --> 00:11:56,147 The disappearance of nba star lorenzen wright 248 00:11:56,149 --> 00:11:58,549 By tracking his last known whereabouts 249 00:11:58,618 --> 00:12:02,221 The night of July 18th, 2010. 250 00:12:03,490 --> 00:12:06,825 Family members tell police that earlier that day, 251 00:12:06,827 --> 00:12:08,960 Lorenzen was with his college friend, 252 00:12:08,962 --> 00:12:10,662 Phil dotson. 253 00:12:11,631 --> 00:12:13,831 [paul] so mr. Dotson was interviewed, 254 00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:17,102 He was somebody who's a lifelong friend of lorenzen's. 255 00:12:18,138 --> 00:12:21,005 He has dinner with a bunch of his fraternity brothers 256 00:12:21,007 --> 00:12:22,773 From the university of memphis. 257 00:12:22,843 --> 00:12:24,376 Among them, philip. 258 00:12:24,444 --> 00:12:26,111 And then after dinner, 259 00:12:26,179 --> 00:12:29,113 Phil dotson takes him over to the gym. 260 00:12:29,182 --> 00:12:31,182 [music] 261 00:12:31,251 --> 00:12:33,786 [narrator] at the gym, they watched lorenzen's son 262 00:12:33,853 --> 00:12:36,054 Play in a pickup game of basketball. 263 00:12:36,056 --> 00:12:40,458 But their time was interrupted by a constant stream of texts, 264 00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:42,594 All from sherra wright. 265 00:12:43,064 --> 00:12:46,264 Sherra started sending lorenzen, you know, nudity pictures. 266 00:12:46,332 --> 00:12:49,801 You know, "okay, well, come on, come on and get this." 267 00:12:50,537 --> 00:12:53,872 Sherra sending him these sexually explicit text messages, 268 00:12:53,940 --> 00:12:56,008 "I want you to come see me, you know, we're gonna do 269 00:12:56,075 --> 00:12:57,875 This, that, and the other." 270 00:12:57,944 --> 00:13:00,412 [narrator] eventually, phil tells the investigators, 271 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,548 He took lorenzen and his son to sherra's house. 272 00:13:04,018 --> 00:13:06,083 [austin] they then all get in the car, 273 00:13:06,152 --> 00:13:08,419 And mr. Dotson drives them out to collierville 274 00:13:08,488 --> 00:13:11,556 And drops them off, I believe around 10pm. 275 00:13:12,359 --> 00:13:14,025 [narrator] and that was the last time 276 00:13:14,094 --> 00:13:17,094 He saw or heard from lorenzen. 277 00:13:17,163 --> 00:13:19,630 [paul] mr. Dotson was extremely cooperative. 278 00:13:19,699 --> 00:13:23,100 He was somebody who's a lifelong friend of lorenzen's. 279 00:13:23,169 --> 00:13:25,503 As far as he was concerned, there was nothing odd. 280 00:13:25,572 --> 00:13:28,606 [music] 281 00:13:28,675 --> 00:13:30,442 [narrator] since sherra's home was 282 00:13:30,510 --> 00:13:32,311 Lorenzen's last known location, 283 00:13:32,378 --> 00:13:35,580 Investigators speak with her next. 284 00:13:36,317 --> 00:13:39,917 Sherra corroborates phil's stor and tells detectives 285 00:13:39,986 --> 00:13:43,120 She last saw lorenzen after he returned to the house 286 00:13:43,189 --> 00:13:45,857 With their son on the night of the 18th. 287 00:13:46,459 --> 00:13:49,994 [austin] she has lorenzen come into the house, 288 00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:53,265 I think around 10 o'clock that evening. 289 00:13:54,667 --> 00:13:56,967 Then spending some time together. 290 00:13:57,037 --> 00:14:00,538 And then lorenzen was making comments about having 291 00:14:00,607 --> 00:14:02,273 A box of drugs. 292 00:14:03,277 --> 00:14:06,677 [narrator] sherra claims around 10:30pm that same night, 293 00:14:06,746 --> 00:14:09,213 Two men she had never seen before 294 00:14:09,282 --> 00:14:11,550 Arrived to pick up lorenzen. 295 00:14:12,552 --> 00:14:16,154 [darren] two hispanic men show up at the house, 296 00:14:16,156 --> 00:14:18,422 And they're wearing long overcoats. 297 00:14:18,491 --> 00:14:19,691 And they were armed, 298 00:14:19,759 --> 00:14:21,626 And they were looking for lorenzen. 299 00:14:21,694 --> 00:14:23,294 [music] 300 00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:26,231 [darren] then he left. Got in the car with them. 301 00:14:26,299 --> 00:14:29,434 [music] 302 00:14:29,502 --> 00:14:31,436 [paul] the words comin' out of her mouth would 303 00:14:31,504 --> 00:14:34,572 Alert, alarm, and suspicion, you know, to anybody. 304 00:14:34,975 --> 00:14:37,041 There's red flags poppin' up. 305 00:14:37,311 --> 00:14:40,178 The entire tenor of the story is one that 306 00:14:40,180 --> 00:14:42,913 Would make us concerned for his welfare. 307 00:14:42,983 --> 00:14:46,518 [music] 308 00:14:46,586 --> 00:14:49,120 [narrator] after they finish their interview with sherra, 309 00:14:49,188 --> 00:14:53,458 Investigators continue speaking with those close to lorenzen 310 00:14:53,526 --> 00:14:55,393 And learn it's no secret 311 00:14:55,395 --> 00:14:57,996 The couple has had their troubles. 312 00:14:58,999 --> 00:15:01,799 Both were having extramarital affairs. 313 00:15:01,801 --> 00:15:03,534 [music] 314 00:15:03,603 --> 00:15:05,536 [michael] they didn't argue in front of people. 315 00:15:06,072 --> 00:15:09,007 So whatever happened, it happened behind closed doors. 316 00:15:10,209 --> 00:15:13,144 [narrator] however, the infidelity was nothing 317 00:15:13,146 --> 00:15:16,014 Compared to the financial shock that came when 318 00:15:16,082 --> 00:15:18,216 He was cut from the hawks. 319 00:15:19,552 --> 00:15:22,553 [austin] he made 55 million dollars playin' basketball. 320 00:15:22,957 --> 00:15:24,689 I think by the time they got divorced, 321 00:15:24,757 --> 00:15:26,158 That was basically gone. 322 00:15:27,293 --> 00:15:29,427 [darren] they had cars that had been repossessed. 323 00:15:29,495 --> 00:15:32,530 And I don't think he was in a good place financially. 324 00:15:33,766 --> 00:15:35,666 [narrator] but in spite of all their problems, 325 00:15:35,668 --> 00:15:39,236 When the divorce became final just a few months ago, 326 00:15:39,305 --> 00:15:42,708 They seemed to regret it almost instantly. 327 00:15:43,377 --> 00:15:44,775 [dr. Atkins] and that's one of the reasons 328 00:15:44,777 --> 00:15:45,843 He came back to memphis. 329 00:15:45,845 --> 00:15:48,447 She asked him to come back, and... 330 00:15:48,514 --> 00:15:49,847 And he came back. 331 00:15:49,849 --> 00:15:52,250 He was trying to get back with her. 332 00:15:52,252 --> 00:15:54,719 [music] 333 00:15:54,787 --> 00:15:57,922 [narrator] did lorenzen's financial troubles lead him 334 00:15:57,991 --> 00:16:00,524 To get involved with the wrong crowd? 335 00:16:01,461 --> 00:16:04,329 Investigators need to verify sherra's story 336 00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:08,132 And identify the two men lorenzen left with. 337 00:16:08,736 --> 00:16:12,003 They immediately subpoena his phone records. 338 00:16:12,740 --> 00:16:15,140 Back then, it took a little bit longer than it does 339 00:16:15,208 --> 00:16:18,409 For detectives to get his call records 340 00:16:18,411 --> 00:16:20,212 That include location information. 341 00:16:21,013 --> 00:16:24,281 [narrator] while detectives wait for the phone's location data, 342 00:16:24,350 --> 00:16:26,951 They are able to check the last call made 343 00:16:27,020 --> 00:16:28,753 From lorenzen's phone, 344 00:16:28,821 --> 00:16:31,522 And they spot another red flag. 345 00:16:32,859 --> 00:16:38,763 And they see that there's an outgoing call at 12:12am, 346 00:16:38,831 --> 00:16:40,898 So just right after midnight. 347 00:16:41,435 --> 00:16:45,903 They realized that the last call that was made was 911. 348 00:16:45,905 --> 00:16:49,306 [music] 349 00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:53,244 [narrator] on July 27th, detectives obtain a recording 350 00:16:53,246 --> 00:16:55,646 Of the call from neighboring germantown, 351 00:16:55,715 --> 00:16:57,915 Just 22 miles east of memphis. 352 00:16:57,917 --> 00:17:00,785 And what they hear is terrifying. 353 00:17:00,853 --> 00:17:02,086 [phone dialing] 354 00:17:19,806 --> 00:17:22,740 [music] 355 00:17:22,809 --> 00:17:26,010 Anyone listens to it, it is chilling and it's... 356 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,612 It's... Pretty brutal. 357 00:17:28,681 --> 00:17:31,282 [music] 358 00:17:31,350 --> 00:17:33,818 [darren] so they in turn then contact 359 00:17:33,886 --> 00:17:35,953 The germantown police departmen 360 00:17:35,955 --> 00:17:37,755 To follow, well, what did germantown do? 361 00:17:37,824 --> 00:17:39,891 What did the germantown police department do... 362 00:17:39,959 --> 00:17:42,493 To follow up on this 911 call? 363 00:17:43,229 --> 00:17:46,230 [narrator] they get an answer they didn't expect. 364 00:17:46,232 --> 00:17:49,300 [paul] that call was not followed up on at all. 365 00:17:50,503 --> 00:17:52,903 It wasn't shared with any of the other agencies. 366 00:17:52,972 --> 00:17:55,573 It was just... 367 00:17:55,575 --> 00:17:56,541 Ignored. 368 00:17:57,777 --> 00:18:00,445 [darren] the tower that the call is pinging off of 369 00:18:00,513 --> 00:18:04,583 Kinda sits right in the middle of three jurisdictions. 370 00:18:04,650 --> 00:18:08,853 So when germantown looked at the longitude and latitude, 371 00:18:09,322 --> 00:18:11,589 They saw that it was not in their jurisdiction, 372 00:18:11,591 --> 00:18:12,790 So they just dropped it. 373 00:18:13,394 --> 00:18:15,059 [austin] it's brutal, it's shocking. 374 00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:19,997 I don't know how you hear that phone call and just go, 375 00:18:19,999 --> 00:18:23,534 "well, that was weird," and move on. 376 00:18:23,603 --> 00:18:24,402 It was shocking. 377 00:18:25,471 --> 00:18:26,737 [darren] you hear these shots, I mean, 378 00:18:26,739 --> 00:18:29,673 You have to imagine that at some point, 379 00:18:29,742 --> 00:18:33,944 Lorenzen is running for his life as he's being shot. 380 00:18:34,013 --> 00:18:37,149 [music] 381 00:18:37,216 --> 00:18:39,817 [narrator] more than a week after the 911 call, 382 00:18:39,886 --> 00:18:42,754 Collierville detectives get the phone information 383 00:18:42,822 --> 00:18:44,221 They've been waiting for. 384 00:18:44,957 --> 00:18:48,959 They're able to use cellphone location information 385 00:18:49,028 --> 00:18:51,962 To triangulate where that came from. 386 00:18:52,031 --> 00:18:54,099 The location where this happened, 387 00:18:54,167 --> 00:18:55,432 The suburbs of memphis. 388 00:18:55,501 --> 00:18:57,803 Name of the street is callis cut off. 389 00:18:58,672 --> 00:19:02,306 [narrator] along with a full forensic team and k-9s, 390 00:19:02,308 --> 00:19:05,142 Investigators head to the narrow street. 391 00:19:05,912 --> 00:19:08,245 [darren] collierville police department led that, 392 00:19:08,314 --> 00:19:09,980 Gridded everything out, 393 00:19:10,049 --> 00:19:13,384 And then they kinda began that, that very exhaustive search. 394 00:19:13,386 --> 00:19:15,386 [paul] they go over the barbed wire fence, 395 00:19:15,454 --> 00:19:18,056 Walk through a field, up a little hill, 396 00:19:18,124 --> 00:19:19,591 By some bushes, 397 00:19:19,659 --> 00:19:23,427 And probably haven't walked mor than maybe 120 yards, 398 00:19:23,429 --> 00:19:25,464 And they found his body. 399 00:19:25,531 --> 00:19:29,800 [music] 400 00:19:29,802 --> 00:19:34,139 [darren] so you talkin' nine days of decomposing body. 401 00:19:34,207 --> 00:19:36,408 Laying out nine days... 402 00:19:36,475 --> 00:19:38,742 In the... 403 00:19:38,811 --> 00:19:40,744 Memphis weather in July. 404 00:19:40,813 --> 00:19:42,547 He was nothing but bones. 405 00:19:43,416 --> 00:19:45,816 [paul] just unrecognizable as a person. 406 00:19:45,818 --> 00:19:47,285 Except for... 407 00:19:47,353 --> 00:19:50,788 The bright white tennis shoes that remained. 408 00:19:50,857 --> 00:19:52,890 [music] 409 00:19:52,958 --> 00:19:55,826 [narrator] between the shoes, jewelry, and clothing, 410 00:19:55,828 --> 00:19:58,362 Investigators are all but certain 411 00:19:58,364 --> 00:20:00,831 The body belongs to lorenzen. 412 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:05,436 [music] 413 00:20:05,504 --> 00:20:07,972 [narrator] as the medical examiner collects the remains, 414 00:20:07,974 --> 00:20:12,510 Investigators comb the area around the body for evidence. 415 00:20:12,979 --> 00:20:17,681 They search numerous times in an attempt to find his cellphone. 416 00:20:17,984 --> 00:20:19,384 It's never found. 417 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,321 But they find at least two different kinds of casings. 418 00:20:23,323 --> 00:20:26,390 One, a small caliber handgun, and one, a 9 millimeter. 419 00:20:26,392 --> 00:20:29,927 It suggests, more than likely, multiple perpetrators. 420 00:20:30,731 --> 00:20:33,665 [austin] a .25 caliber gun's not gonna shoot 9 millimeter, 421 00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:34,932 And vice versa. 422 00:20:34,934 --> 00:20:36,801 Typically, in my experience, 423 00:20:36,803 --> 00:20:38,869 People aren't shootin' two fisted. 424 00:20:38,938 --> 00:20:41,806 [music] 425 00:20:41,874 --> 00:20:44,275 [narrator] detectives believe that this wasn't 426 00:20:44,277 --> 00:20:46,344 A random attack. 427 00:20:46,412 --> 00:20:48,078 He still has his watch on, 428 00:20:48,147 --> 00:20:50,014 He still has diamond earrings, 429 00:20:50,016 --> 00:20:53,751 And, and a chain, which kinda right off lets you know 430 00:20:53,819 --> 00:20:54,919 This wasn't a robbery. 431 00:20:56,088 --> 00:20:58,022 It leads you to believe it was somethin' personal. 432 00:20:58,090 --> 00:21:01,759 [music] 433 00:21:01,761 --> 00:21:04,962 [narrator] investigators aren't able to keep the discovery of 434 00:21:04,964 --> 00:21:07,364 The body under wraps for long. 435 00:21:08,301 --> 00:21:11,101 [kontji] you could see his mother, deborah, 436 00:21:11,170 --> 00:21:15,439 Pacing and wanting answers from the police. 437 00:21:16,109 --> 00:21:17,808 [dr. Atkins] that was breaking news. 438 00:21:18,311 --> 00:21:20,812 And... 439 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:21,979 His mama... 440 00:21:22,048 --> 00:21:23,715 [music] 441 00:21:23,783 --> 00:21:25,916 ...Was one of the first to get to the scene. 442 00:21:25,985 --> 00:21:28,185 [music] 443 00:21:28,187 --> 00:21:30,555 [kontji] it was just so visceral. 444 00:21:31,590 --> 00:21:35,293 It was just really, really hard to watch her 445 00:21:35,362 --> 00:21:37,928 Find out that moment that it was him. 446 00:21:37,997 --> 00:21:42,132 [music] 447 00:21:42,201 --> 00:21:43,735 [narrator] a day later, 448 00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:46,737 The medical examiner uses dental records to confirm that 449 00:21:46,739 --> 00:21:50,207 The remains belong to the basketball star. 450 00:21:50,209 --> 00:21:52,209 [music] 451 00:21:52,211 --> 00:21:54,345 He was shot five times. 452 00:21:54,413 --> 00:21:56,347 He was shot in the head. 453 00:21:56,415 --> 00:21:58,149 He was shot in the chest. 454 00:21:58,684 --> 00:22:00,884 [kontji] what could have possibly happened? 455 00:22:00,953 --> 00:22:05,556 You just got this really chilling visual of just 456 00:22:05,624 --> 00:22:08,425 Those last moments, and so you felt like it had to be 457 00:22:08,494 --> 00:22:09,960 Some type of execution. 458 00:22:10,029 --> 00:22:13,098 [music] 459 00:22:13,165 --> 00:22:14,566 [narrator] coming up, 460 00:22:14,633 --> 00:22:18,168 Sherra's story continues to raise questions. 461 00:22:19,238 --> 00:22:21,705 [austin] once the officers start pointin' out to her that 462 00:22:21,774 --> 00:22:23,508 She's saying things that don't match up, 463 00:22:23,576 --> 00:22:26,044 She gets a lawyer and stops talkin'. 464 00:22:26,112 --> 00:22:29,980 [narrator] and a darker truth begins to unfold... 465 00:22:30,049 --> 00:22:32,449 [austin] his phone was hitting on a tower 466 00:22:32,518 --> 00:22:34,919 Overlapping the same general area where 467 00:22:34,921 --> 00:22:37,789 Lorenzen wright's 911 call was overlapping. 468 00:22:40,192 --> 00:22:43,627 [music] 469 00:22:52,338 --> 00:22:55,672 [narrator] having found the badly decomposed body of 470 00:22:55,741 --> 00:22:58,475 Nba star lorenzen wright, 471 00:22:58,544 --> 00:23:01,145 Investigators follow up on his ex-wife 472 00:23:01,213 --> 00:23:03,682 Sherra wright's claims that he left her house 473 00:23:03,749 --> 00:23:07,050 With drugs and two mystery men. 474 00:23:07,887 --> 00:23:10,955 [paul] originally, she was just telling family members, 475 00:23:10,957 --> 00:23:14,425 "just lorenzen being lorenzen. Don't worry about it." 476 00:23:14,493 --> 00:23:15,694 And then it wasn't 'til she was 477 00:23:15,761 --> 00:23:18,495 Interviewed by police the first time 478 00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:20,497 That she tells this story about 479 00:23:20,566 --> 00:23:21,999 Him leaving in the middle of the night. 480 00:23:22,068 --> 00:23:24,769 If anyone left under those circumstances, 481 00:23:24,837 --> 00:23:28,305 Disappeared, the loved one who witnessed that 482 00:23:28,374 --> 00:23:31,175 Would immediately be concerned for the welfare, 483 00:23:31,243 --> 00:23:33,377 But sherra was not. 484 00:23:33,379 --> 00:23:36,480 [music] 485 00:23:36,482 --> 00:23:38,382 [narrator] when investigators follow up with 486 00:23:38,451 --> 00:23:40,851 More of lorenzen's family and friends, 487 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,721 They explain that if lorenzen blew through his fortune, 488 00:23:44,790 --> 00:23:47,726 He had plenty of help from sherra. 489 00:23:48,461 --> 00:23:49,594 [dr. Atkins] she would often brag 490 00:23:49,662 --> 00:23:51,061 That the clothes that she wore, 491 00:23:51,130 --> 00:23:53,998 You know, was valuable than most people's cars. 492 00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:55,633 This was her style. 493 00:23:56,402 --> 00:23:58,335 And she loved to spend money. 494 00:23:58,404 --> 00:23:59,870 [music] 495 00:23:59,939 --> 00:24:03,407 [narrator] lorenzen's loved ones say that even if lorenzen was 496 00:24:03,409 --> 00:24:04,742 Having money problems, 497 00:24:04,744 --> 00:24:08,612 There's no way he was involved in drugs. 498 00:24:08,681 --> 00:24:10,881 Anybody that knows lorenzen, first of all, 499 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:13,083 Know that he don't have a bad bone in his body. 500 00:24:13,486 --> 00:24:16,787 Drugs, no. Lorenzen is not a street guy. 501 00:24:16,856 --> 00:24:18,622 [music] 502 00:24:18,691 --> 00:24:20,090 [narrator] after the interview, 503 00:24:20,092 --> 00:24:23,427 Investigators want to speak to sherra again. 504 00:24:23,429 --> 00:24:26,430 But she throws up a roadblock. 505 00:24:27,234 --> 00:24:30,234 [austin] once the officers start pointin' out to her that 506 00:24:30,302 --> 00:24:32,636 She's saying things that don't match up, 507 00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:35,172 She gets a lawyer and stops talkin'. 508 00:24:35,241 --> 00:24:36,907 [music] 509 00:24:36,909 --> 00:24:39,309 [paul] so they begin looking at the text messages 510 00:24:39,311 --> 00:24:42,947 That she sent to lorenzen to get him to come to memphis. 511 00:24:43,983 --> 00:24:45,550 [narrator] investigators subpoena 512 00:24:45,617 --> 00:24:47,185 Sherra's phone records, 513 00:24:47,253 --> 00:24:50,321 And it's clear that sherra had been on a campaign to get 514 00:24:50,389 --> 00:24:54,792 Lorenzen to come to memphis for days before he arrived. 515 00:24:55,194 --> 00:24:56,660 [music] 516 00:24:56,729 --> 00:25:00,397 She's sending him pretty sexually explicit text messages 517 00:25:00,466 --> 00:25:02,866 To come to memphis and see her. 518 00:25:02,935 --> 00:25:05,469 [music] 519 00:25:05,471 --> 00:25:07,604 [narrator] was sherra really that eager 520 00:25:07,673 --> 00:25:09,339 To reconcile with her ex? 521 00:25:09,341 --> 00:25:13,010 Or was she luring him into a trap? 522 00:25:13,947 --> 00:25:17,281 As investigators comb through the texts in the days before 523 00:25:17,349 --> 00:25:18,883 Lorenzen went missing, 524 00:25:18,952 --> 00:25:21,351 They discover a number of messages between 525 00:25:21,353 --> 00:25:23,420 Sherra and two men: 526 00:25:23,489 --> 00:25:26,824 Billy turner and jimmie martin. 527 00:25:26,826 --> 00:25:32,029 [paul] sherra had exchanged a series of suspicious, 528 00:25:32,031 --> 00:25:33,764 Appeared to be coded, 529 00:25:33,832 --> 00:25:38,903 Text exchanges with jimmie in the days before the murder. 530 00:25:40,106 --> 00:25:42,840 [narrator] investigators discover that jimmie is 531 00:25:42,842 --> 00:25:45,909 Sherra's cousin, and he is currently out on bail, 532 00:25:45,911 --> 00:25:50,046 Awaiting trial for 2nd degree murder. 533 00:25:50,716 --> 00:25:53,585 [paul] at the time lorenzen was killed, 534 00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:57,121 Jimmie martin had his own legal problems going on 535 00:25:57,123 --> 00:26:02,125 He had been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. 536 00:26:02,928 --> 00:26:05,796 [narrator] when detectives ask around about the other man, 537 00:26:05,864 --> 00:26:09,666 Billy turner, they learn he is sherra's landscaper. 538 00:26:10,103 --> 00:26:12,469 [darren] her and billy met at church. 539 00:26:12,538 --> 00:26:14,338 He was a deacon at the church. 540 00:26:14,340 --> 00:26:17,341 And he also became her yard guy. 541 00:26:17,409 --> 00:26:19,810 [music] 542 00:26:19,878 --> 00:26:23,080 [narrator] when detectives pull location data from their phone, 543 00:26:23,148 --> 00:26:27,217 Billy's phone is the only one that raises an alarm. 544 00:26:27,286 --> 00:26:29,586 [austin] his phone was hitting on a tower 545 00:26:29,655 --> 00:26:31,955 Overlapping the same general area where 546 00:26:32,024 --> 00:26:35,693 Lorenzen wright's 911 call was overlapping. 547 00:26:36,896 --> 00:26:40,364 That helped us put billy close to, if not on the scene 548 00:26:40,432 --> 00:26:42,299 Shortly after the murder happens. 549 00:26:42,368 --> 00:26:45,969 [music] 550 00:26:45,971 --> 00:26:48,939 [narrator] investigators reach out to billy and jimmie, 551 00:26:49,008 --> 00:26:52,243 But both men deny any involvement. 552 00:26:53,245 --> 00:26:55,846 We have a crime scene that's been covered up. 553 00:26:55,914 --> 00:26:59,249 The 911 call was not followed u on at all. 554 00:26:59,685 --> 00:27:01,318 [austin] they ran down all these tips. 555 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:02,453 They got phone records. 556 00:27:02,521 --> 00:27:05,589 They talked to a lot of people. 557 00:27:05,657 --> 00:27:09,059 But eventually, you kinda run up into a wall where... 558 00:27:09,061 --> 00:27:10,994 What else are we gonna do here? 559 00:27:11,063 --> 00:27:13,563 And if you don't catch them with I guess 560 00:27:13,632 --> 00:27:15,599 The literal smoking gun in this case, 561 00:27:15,601 --> 00:27:18,068 You kind of run into a dead end. 562 00:27:18,137 --> 00:27:20,370 [music] 563 00:27:20,439 --> 00:27:25,009 [narrator] lorenzen's mother refuses to let the case go cold 564 00:27:25,077 --> 00:27:28,078 [austin] deborah marion, who was pushin', pushin', pushin' 565 00:27:28,147 --> 00:27:31,281 "I want this investigated, I want justice for my son, 566 00:27:31,350 --> 00:27:33,751 And I'm not gonna leave you alone until I get it." 567 00:27:34,486 --> 00:27:37,421 [narrator] while deborah is dogged in her efforts to get 568 00:27:37,423 --> 00:27:38,889 The case solved, 569 00:27:38,958 --> 00:27:42,693 Investigators learn sherra is on a different quest. 570 00:27:43,829 --> 00:27:47,898 She had nearly spent a million dollars in 10 months 571 00:27:47,966 --> 00:27:51,736 Of the insurance money after lorenzen's death. 572 00:27:51,803 --> 00:27:54,104 I was covering the court case. 573 00:27:54,173 --> 00:27:59,243 His dad was suing sherra to try to stop the money bleed. 574 00:27:59,446 --> 00:28:00,711 [darren] she burnt through it 575 00:28:00,713 --> 00:28:02,779 Like sherman burnin' through georgia. 576 00:28:02,848 --> 00:28:05,717 She just went through expensive trips, houses, 577 00:28:05,784 --> 00:28:07,651 Furniture, lawn equipment. 578 00:28:07,653 --> 00:28:10,121 [music] 579 00:28:10,189 --> 00:28:13,156 [narrator] two years pass, and it looks as if 580 00:28:13,225 --> 00:28:16,927 Lorenzen's murder will remain unsolved. 581 00:28:17,397 --> 00:28:20,630 Then, in 2012, sherra's cousin 582 00:28:20,699 --> 00:28:23,066 Jimmie martin's murder trial wraps up 583 00:28:23,135 --> 00:28:26,137 And brings an unexpected twist. 584 00:28:26,205 --> 00:28:28,739 [paul] jimmie gets convicted, and at that point, 585 00:28:28,807 --> 00:28:30,942 He comes forward to authorities. 586 00:28:31,478 --> 00:28:33,143 It's like a lot of prisoners in jail, 587 00:28:33,212 --> 00:28:34,811 They're trying to get better conditions. 588 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,481 They sometimes wanna be moved to a different prison. 589 00:28:37,549 --> 00:28:38,749 They tryin' to work a deal. 590 00:28:38,751 --> 00:28:41,318 [music] 591 00:28:41,387 --> 00:28:44,221 [narrator] jimmie shocks investigators when he says 592 00:28:44,223 --> 00:28:48,225 He is finally ready to talk about lorenzen's murder. 593 00:28:49,294 --> 00:28:51,428 [austin] jimmie martin told police about 594 00:28:51,497 --> 00:28:53,030 Meeting with sherra wright 595 00:28:53,032 --> 00:28:55,099 And billy turner at sherra's home, 596 00:28:55,167 --> 00:28:58,635 And talking about a plot to kill lorenzen wright. 597 00:28:58,972 --> 00:29:01,972 Jimmie, he really didn't take her seriously. 598 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:05,142 [music] 599 00:29:05,144 --> 00:29:07,511 [narrator] jimmie claims when they decided to put the plan 600 00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:12,048 In motion on July 18th, he was abruptly left out. 601 00:29:12,584 --> 00:29:15,486 His story is, "that night, I was supposed to be there. 602 00:29:15,554 --> 00:29:17,854 But they never came and got me." 603 00:29:17,923 --> 00:29:19,256 [narrator] after midnight, 604 00:29:19,325 --> 00:29:21,992 Jimmie says he finally heard from billy, 605 00:29:22,060 --> 00:29:25,328 Who told him that he and sherra needed his help. 606 00:29:26,064 --> 00:29:29,533 Billy admitted that lorenzen wa already dead, 607 00:29:29,601 --> 00:29:31,068 But during the attack, 608 00:29:31,070 --> 00:29:34,271 Sherra had panicked and left a .25 caliber pistol 609 00:29:34,273 --> 00:29:37,607 At the scene on callis cut off road. 610 00:29:38,143 --> 00:29:41,478 They told him that she started shooting, 611 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,815 And essentially ran up the street in a panic and threw it. 612 00:29:45,917 --> 00:29:48,219 [darren] he talked about getting a metal detector, 613 00:29:48,287 --> 00:29:50,855 And they kinda went back to the scene the next day. 614 00:29:50,923 --> 00:29:53,557 Used the metal detector to find the gun. 615 00:29:53,625 --> 00:29:56,227 [music] 616 00:29:56,295 --> 00:29:58,161 [narrator] jimmie says that sherra took 617 00:29:58,230 --> 00:30:00,497 The .25 caliber pistol with her 618 00:30:00,566 --> 00:30:04,167 While he went with billy to get rid of the 9 millimeter. 619 00:30:05,038 --> 00:30:08,705 He talked about this lake that he and billy went out to, 620 00:30:08,774 --> 00:30:11,542 And threw one of the guns in the lake. 621 00:30:12,644 --> 00:30:15,513 [narrator] jimmie's story matches evidence recovered at 622 00:30:15,580 --> 00:30:18,081 The scene by investigators. 623 00:30:18,083 --> 00:30:23,053 [austin] up on the road, you had .25 caliber shell casings, 624 00:30:23,122 --> 00:30:24,921 And one 9 millimeter shell casing. 625 00:30:25,524 --> 00:30:28,525 [narrator] but investigators also know they will need 626 00:30:28,594 --> 00:30:31,696 More than a convicted murderer' word to bring 627 00:30:31,763 --> 00:30:33,530 This case to justice. 628 00:30:34,066 --> 00:30:36,333 We were going to follow up on that evidence, 629 00:30:36,335 --> 00:30:38,468 And we were going to let the evidence drive 630 00:30:38,470 --> 00:30:39,736 The investigation. 631 00:30:39,738 --> 00:30:41,605 [music] 632 00:30:41,673 --> 00:30:43,140 [narrator] coming up, 633 00:30:43,142 --> 00:30:46,409 Investigators take a deep dive for evidence. 634 00:30:46,478 --> 00:30:49,279 The divers told us if it's there, we're gonna find it. 635 00:30:49,348 --> 00:30:53,383 [narrator] and they stop at nothing to uncover the truth 636 00:30:53,385 --> 00:30:57,020 The plan for the wire tap was to tap both of their phones. 637 00:30:57,089 --> 00:30:59,422 You gotta jump through quite a few hoops to get that. 638 00:30:59,491 --> 00:31:00,557 So, we did that. 639 00:31:00,993 --> 00:31:04,361 [music] 640 00:31:13,705 --> 00:31:16,840 [narrator] two years after the murder of lorenzen wright, 641 00:31:16,909 --> 00:31:19,476 Detectives head out with jimmie martin 642 00:31:19,545 --> 00:31:22,580 To the spot where he claims his co-conspirator, 643 00:31:22,648 --> 00:31:26,149 Billy turner, dumped one of the murder weapons. 644 00:31:27,452 --> 00:31:33,190 Those investigators asked for a volunteer dive team from 645 00:31:33,192 --> 00:31:36,459 Walnut, mississippi to come and search the lake. 646 00:31:36,528 --> 00:31:39,663 They did it on the day after it had rained, 647 00:31:39,731 --> 00:31:41,631 And all the, the lake was muddy 648 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:44,801 They spent a few hours and were unable to find anything. 649 00:31:44,870 --> 00:31:48,206 [music] 650 00:31:48,273 --> 00:31:50,807 [narrator] detectives are forced to consider the possibility 651 00:31:50,876 --> 00:31:56,080 That the most promising break in years was just a ploy. 652 00:31:56,148 --> 00:31:57,949 [paul] the original detectives 653 00:31:58,016 --> 00:32:00,283 Dismissed jimmie martin's account, 654 00:32:00,352 --> 00:32:02,552 And the case went cold for years. 655 00:32:02,621 --> 00:32:04,288 [austin] I don't know why they didn't go back 656 00:32:04,356 --> 00:32:07,158 And search the lake with a professional dive team 657 00:32:07,225 --> 00:32:09,827 On a day when conditions were clearer. 658 00:32:09,895 --> 00:32:14,164 [music] 659 00:32:14,232 --> 00:32:16,467 [narrator] in the following years, sherra moves to 660 00:32:16,535 --> 00:32:20,838 Riverside, california, and she remarries twice. 661 00:32:22,140 --> 00:32:24,908 Meanwhile, lorenzen's mother, deborah, 662 00:32:24,977 --> 00:32:28,646 Refuses to let her son's case die. 663 00:32:28,714 --> 00:32:30,648 [dr. Atkins] god bless her heart. 664 00:32:30,716 --> 00:32:34,118 She wouldn't let a day go by that she didn't phone call 'em, 665 00:32:34,186 --> 00:32:35,319 Or go up there to the police department. 666 00:32:35,387 --> 00:32:38,455 She kept saying, "ya'll got to find who killed my son." 667 00:32:38,523 --> 00:32:41,692 [music] 668 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:46,931 [narrator] in 2017, seven years after lorenzen's death, 669 00:32:46,999 --> 00:32:48,666 Deborah gets her wish. 670 00:32:48,734 --> 00:32:52,270 The memphis police department officially reopens the case 671 00:32:52,337 --> 00:32:55,272 With a multi-agency gang unit. 672 00:32:55,708 --> 00:32:58,542 They dub it operation rebound. 673 00:32:59,745 --> 00:33:02,479 I was the operations commander for the multi-agency gang unit, 674 00:33:02,481 --> 00:33:04,081 Which included memphis police officers, 675 00:33:04,083 --> 00:33:06,616 Shelby county sheriff deputies, 676 00:33:06,618 --> 00:33:08,218 Special agents with atf, 677 00:33:08,286 --> 00:33:10,220 Special agents with the fbi. 678 00:33:10,288 --> 00:33:13,557 [music] 679 00:33:13,559 --> 00:33:18,495 [narrator] on June 27th, 2017, memphis detectives bring 680 00:33:18,563 --> 00:33:22,232 An fbi dive team to the mississippi lake where 681 00:33:22,234 --> 00:33:25,168 Jimmie martin told them he helped billie turner 682 00:33:25,237 --> 00:33:27,037 Dump the murder weapon. 683 00:33:27,907 --> 00:33:30,907 [darren] the divers told us if it's there we're gonna find it. 684 00:33:30,976 --> 00:33:32,843 And they went down. 685 00:33:32,911 --> 00:33:34,644 In maybe an hour, 686 00:33:34,646 --> 00:33:37,114 We hear them talking to the command post, 687 00:33:37,182 --> 00:33:39,148 "we, we've got a gun." 688 00:33:40,051 --> 00:33:41,985 That was one of the happiest moments of my life. 689 00:33:41,987 --> 00:33:43,987 I mean, that, that was the kodak moment 690 00:33:43,989 --> 00:33:45,722 When they brought that weapon out. 691 00:33:45,724 --> 00:33:48,525 [music] 692 00:33:48,527 --> 00:33:51,261 [narrator] detectives send the 9 millimeter gun 693 00:33:51,330 --> 00:33:53,130 For ballistics testing. 694 00:33:53,198 --> 00:33:56,533 Over a month later, the results are in. 695 00:33:57,636 --> 00:34:00,270 They took a shell casing from the test fire, 696 00:34:00,338 --> 00:34:01,939 And compared that microscopically 697 00:34:02,007 --> 00:34:04,274 To the shell casing recovered from the scene, 698 00:34:04,342 --> 00:34:07,143 And they matched, 9 millimeter shell casings. 699 00:34:07,879 --> 00:34:11,348 [paul] that was truth test number one for jimmie martin. 700 00:34:11,350 --> 00:34:13,817 So that's a big deal, but that's still not time 701 00:34:13,885 --> 00:34:15,553 To go out and charge somebody. 702 00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:18,955 We decided that a good investigative strategy 703 00:34:19,024 --> 00:34:21,291 Would be go on a wire tap on her phone 704 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:23,293 And on billy turner's phone. 705 00:34:23,762 --> 00:34:27,364 The plan for the wire tap was to tap both of their phones 706 00:34:27,366 --> 00:34:30,233 After getting a, a court order signed by a judge. 707 00:34:30,302 --> 00:34:32,235 You gotta jump through quite a few hoops to get that. 708 00:34:32,304 --> 00:34:34,370 So we did that for both billy turner's phone 709 00:34:34,439 --> 00:34:35,638 And sherra wright's phone. 710 00:34:35,707 --> 00:34:37,974 [music] 711 00:34:38,043 --> 00:34:40,710 [narrator] on November 9th, 2017, 712 00:34:40,712 --> 00:34:44,714 Memphis police announce the discovery of the gun. 713 00:34:45,051 --> 00:34:47,383 The media latches on to the story, 714 00:34:47,452 --> 00:34:49,319 And within a couple of hours, 715 00:34:49,388 --> 00:34:52,589 It's clear that sherra has heard the news. 716 00:34:53,326 --> 00:34:58,461 She said, "somebody done told somebody about something". 717 00:34:58,463 --> 00:35:01,431 You know, they've got some kind of informant. 718 00:35:02,467 --> 00:35:08,139 She knew not to have those confessional conversations 719 00:35:08,206 --> 00:35:09,539 On the phone. 720 00:35:09,541 --> 00:35:12,742 Luckily for us, we were listening-- 721 00:35:12,744 --> 00:35:14,145 Not only to her phone. 722 00:35:14,212 --> 00:35:15,945 We were listening to billy's phone as well. 723 00:35:16,682 --> 00:35:19,816 [narrator] the wire tap also allows detectives to track 724 00:35:19,885 --> 00:35:22,619 The search activity on sherra's cellphone. 725 00:35:23,388 --> 00:35:28,024 [paul] sherra wright begins internet searches on her phone 726 00:35:28,093 --> 00:35:31,961 That include "how long do fingerprints last 727 00:35:31,963 --> 00:35:34,064 On a gun underwater?" 728 00:35:34,633 --> 00:35:36,900 She also searches for the name billy turner. 729 00:35:36,969 --> 00:35:39,770 [music] 730 00:35:39,838 --> 00:35:44,175 [narrator] within days, sherra is on a plane back to memphis. 731 00:35:44,242 --> 00:35:47,778 When she touches down, detectives tail her. 732 00:35:47,846 --> 00:35:51,047 She uses a third party's phone to contact billy turner, 733 00:35:51,116 --> 00:35:53,384 And set up a secret meeting with billy turner. 734 00:35:54,119 --> 00:35:57,721 [darren] we knew they were gonna meet at a certain location, 735 00:35:57,723 --> 00:36:01,524 Then we would kinda get ahead of that and set up surveillance. 736 00:36:02,127 --> 00:36:03,661 [paul] they're not able to get audio, 737 00:36:03,728 --> 00:36:06,197 But they're able to get video of the meeting. 738 00:36:06,264 --> 00:36:08,798 They're actually, billy looking over his shoulder 739 00:36:08,867 --> 00:36:10,868 To make sure nobody else is watching numerous times 740 00:36:10,936 --> 00:36:15,539 During about a 30-minute conversation that is animated. 741 00:36:15,607 --> 00:36:18,876 [music] 742 00:36:18,944 --> 00:36:21,745 [narrator] on December 5th, 2017, 743 00:36:21,747 --> 00:36:24,414 Investigators obtain a search warrant for 744 00:36:24,482 --> 00:36:26,416 Billy's residence in memphis 745 00:36:26,484 --> 00:36:29,219 In an attempt to recover evidence connected to 746 00:36:29,221 --> 00:36:30,887 Lorenzen's murder. 747 00:36:31,424 --> 00:36:34,091 [darren] we conducted a search warrant. 748 00:36:34,159 --> 00:36:36,093 We found some weapons. 749 00:36:36,161 --> 00:36:37,493 Billy's a convicted felon. 750 00:36:37,562 --> 00:36:39,295 He's not allowed to have weapons. 751 00:36:39,364 --> 00:36:41,699 So we arrested him, 752 00:36:41,766 --> 00:36:45,368 And got an indictment on him for weapons charges, 753 00:36:45,437 --> 00:36:48,506 As well as being responsible fo killing lorenzen wright. 754 00:36:48,573 --> 00:36:51,174 So it's beginning to kinda come together. 755 00:36:51,176 --> 00:36:52,976 [music] 756 00:36:53,045 --> 00:36:55,579 [narrator] but when investigators speak with billy, 757 00:36:55,647 --> 00:37:00,850 The only thing he admits to is being more than sherra's friend 758 00:37:01,319 --> 00:37:02,452 [austin] he admitted to police that 759 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:04,787 He had had sex with her at least once. 760 00:37:05,257 --> 00:37:07,191 [darren] and then at some point, 761 00:37:07,259 --> 00:37:09,726 He just said he didn't want to talk anymore. 762 00:37:09,728 --> 00:37:11,561 [music] 763 00:37:11,630 --> 00:37:13,196 [narrator] a few days later, 764 00:37:13,198 --> 00:37:16,267 Us marshals arrest sherra in california. 765 00:37:16,968 --> 00:37:19,035 [darren] she was at her boys' basketball game. 766 00:37:19,037 --> 00:37:22,271 And they just followed her from there, made a traffic stop, 767 00:37:22,341 --> 00:37:23,706 Took her into custody. 768 00:37:24,509 --> 00:37:26,476 [austin] neither one cooperated. 769 00:37:26,478 --> 00:37:28,878 Sherra did not give a statement. 770 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:31,681 [music] 771 00:37:31,750 --> 00:37:35,118 [narrator] on December 16th, 2017, 772 00:37:35,186 --> 00:37:39,490 The memphis police department calls another press conference. 773 00:37:54,639 --> 00:37:55,973 [dr. Adkins] when the announcement was made, 774 00:37:56,041 --> 00:37:58,207 There was a cheer across this town 775 00:37:58,276 --> 00:38:00,109 Like lorenzen had scored a slam dunk. 776 00:38:00,912 --> 00:38:03,446 [narrator] after seven long years, 777 00:38:03,448 --> 00:38:06,816 Lorenzen's mother finally has justice. 778 00:38:18,997 --> 00:38:20,964 [music] 779 00:38:21,032 --> 00:38:23,666 [narrator] but prosecutors know that an arrest 780 00:38:23,668 --> 00:38:25,668 Doesn't assure a conviction... 781 00:38:25,737 --> 00:38:28,805 Especially when it comes to sherra wright. 782 00:38:29,341 --> 00:38:32,343 She stays ahead of the game and she stays ahead of the curve, 783 00:38:32,410 --> 00:38:35,211 And she always outthinkin' her opponents. 784 00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:38,248 [music] 785 00:38:38,317 --> 00:38:39,683 [narrator] coming up, 786 00:38:39,751 --> 00:38:43,219 Prosecutors try to build a witness list. 787 00:38:43,288 --> 00:38:44,954 We reached out to billy turner. 788 00:38:45,023 --> 00:38:49,092 [narrator] but sherra has one last trick up her sleeve. 789 00:38:49,627 --> 00:38:52,628 She knew that if she had to go to trial herself, 790 00:38:52,697 --> 00:38:55,465 Then, you know, what eventually came out would have been 791 00:38:55,533 --> 00:38:56,400 Her own demise. 792 00:38:57,802 --> 00:39:01,505 [music] 793 00:39:10,081 --> 00:39:13,249 [narrator] as prosecutors in shelby county build their case 794 00:39:13,318 --> 00:39:14,984 Against sherra wright, 795 00:39:14,986 --> 00:39:17,453 Her motive is crystal clear. 796 00:39:18,056 --> 00:39:21,725 There's not a doubt that lorenzen wright was worth more 797 00:39:21,793 --> 00:39:26,662 To sherra wright dead than he was alive, at the end. 798 00:39:26,731 --> 00:39:28,399 There's a life insurance policy 799 00:39:28,466 --> 00:39:30,401 There's also an nba pension policy. 800 00:39:30,468 --> 00:39:33,336 Add those together, about two million dollars. 801 00:39:34,072 --> 00:39:38,008 [narrator] prosecutors believe that sherra recruited her lover 802 00:39:38,076 --> 00:39:39,743 Billy turner, to help. 803 00:39:40,945 --> 00:39:44,413 [dr. Atkins] billy ray turner was nothing more than a pawn... 804 00:39:44,483 --> 00:39:45,815 On a chessboard 805 00:39:45,817 --> 00:39:50,086 That did what his queen wanted him to do. 806 00:39:50,088 --> 00:39:53,022 [music] 807 00:39:53,024 --> 00:39:57,160 [narrator] they theorize that on July 18th, 2010, 808 00:39:57,162 --> 00:39:59,562 Sherra lured lorenzen to memphi 809 00:39:59,564 --> 00:40:02,966 With promises of sex and reconciliation. 810 00:40:04,436 --> 00:40:07,303 Then, around midnight, she convinced him 811 00:40:07,372 --> 00:40:09,038 To take a ride with her. 812 00:40:09,107 --> 00:40:11,441 [darren] during some of the family interviews, 813 00:40:11,443 --> 00:40:13,109 Our investigation revealed that oftentime, when 814 00:40:13,178 --> 00:40:15,044 They would kind of get into these heated arguments, 815 00:40:15,113 --> 00:40:16,712 They would go to callis cut off 816 00:40:16,781 --> 00:40:19,115 To kinda have these very deep conversations. 817 00:40:19,184 --> 00:40:20,850 That was their lover's lane. 818 00:40:21,786 --> 00:40:24,855 [narrator] when they arrived, billy turner was waiting... 819 00:40:24,923 --> 00:40:26,656 Gun in hand. 820 00:40:27,492 --> 00:40:30,794 Billy turner was armed, and sherra was armed. 821 00:40:31,830 --> 00:40:34,497 They both fired shots at lorenzen there on the road. 822 00:40:34,867 --> 00:40:37,067 He jumped over the barbed wire fence. 823 00:40:37,602 --> 00:40:39,936 Billy pursued over the barbed wire fence. 824 00:40:39,938 --> 00:40:42,939 They started shooting, and then he ran away, 825 00:40:43,007 --> 00:40:46,610 They had to chase him, and they fired a lot of bullets. 826 00:40:46,678 --> 00:40:49,879 [paul] lorenzen was on his phone trying to call 911. 827 00:40:49,948 --> 00:40:52,114 Billy followed the light from the phone. 828 00:40:52,183 --> 00:40:55,485 Lorenzen thought when he got to those bushes that he had 829 00:40:55,553 --> 00:40:57,086 Some sort of cover, but he didn't. 830 00:40:57,088 --> 00:41:01,023 Billy fired numerous shots and executed him right there. 831 00:41:01,092 --> 00:41:04,661 [music] 832 00:41:04,729 --> 00:41:06,896 [narrator] as they prepare for two trials, 833 00:41:06,965 --> 00:41:09,833 Prosecutors are shocked when sherra's lawyers 834 00:41:09,901 --> 00:41:13,036 Unexpectedly contact them about a plea. 835 00:41:13,905 --> 00:41:17,574 I believe that she knew that if she had to go to trial herself, 836 00:41:17,642 --> 00:41:20,410 Then, you know, what eventually came out would have been 837 00:41:20,412 --> 00:41:21,712 Her own demise. 838 00:41:21,779 --> 00:41:23,580 [music] 839 00:41:23,648 --> 00:41:26,583 [narrator] on July 25th, 2019, 840 00:41:26,585 --> 00:41:28,485 Sherra pleads guilty to 841 00:41:28,554 --> 00:41:31,354 Facilitation of first-degree murder. 842 00:41:32,390 --> 00:41:35,458 A judge sentences her to 30 years. 843 00:41:35,527 --> 00:41:39,595 She will be eligible for parole in 2027. 844 00:41:40,598 --> 00:41:43,867 For those who had waited seven years for her arrest, 845 00:41:43,935 --> 00:41:47,336 The sentence feels like a slap in the face. 846 00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:50,073 For her to get off knowing that she might not even do 847 00:41:50,075 --> 00:41:52,475 The whole 30 years, probably not, you know, 848 00:41:52,543 --> 00:41:54,277 Is, is really sickening. 849 00:41:54,679 --> 00:41:56,146 [dr. Atkins] I was mad. 850 00:41:56,214 --> 00:41:57,747 Angry. 851 00:41:57,816 --> 00:42:00,316 A few other words that I don't wanna use 852 00:42:00,385 --> 00:42:03,019 Because of my, my clerical collar. 853 00:42:03,621 --> 00:42:05,087 She got off easy. 854 00:42:05,156 --> 00:42:07,023 [music] 855 00:42:07,091 --> 00:42:10,960 [narrator] billy turner takes his chances in court. 856 00:42:11,230 --> 00:42:14,164 At his trial in March 2022, 857 00:42:14,232 --> 00:42:18,401 His lawyer places a lot of the blame on sherra. 858 00:42:18,838 --> 00:42:20,836 Billy turner didn't wake up one morning 859 00:42:20,905 --> 00:42:22,639 Wantin' to kill lorenzen wright. 860 00:42:22,641 --> 00:42:24,507 Billy turner's somebody that was manipulated 861 00:42:24,575 --> 00:42:26,108 And used by sherra wright. 862 00:42:26,778 --> 00:42:28,745 [narrator] the tactic doesn't work. 863 00:42:28,813 --> 00:42:31,581 Billy is convicted of first-degree murder, 864 00:42:31,649 --> 00:42:34,450 Attempted murder, and conspiracy. 865 00:42:34,519 --> 00:42:35,718 [music] 866 00:42:35,787 --> 00:42:37,054 In the state of tennessee, 867 00:42:37,121 --> 00:42:39,188 When you're found guilty of first-degree murder, 868 00:42:39,257 --> 00:42:41,058 It's an automatic life sentence. 869 00:42:41,125 --> 00:42:45,061 [music] 870 00:42:45,063 --> 00:42:48,765 [narrator] in memphis, lorenzen's legacy lives on. 871 00:42:48,833 --> 00:42:53,604 But the city is haunted by what might have been. 872 00:42:53,671 --> 00:42:55,404 [montae] I think he would have been 873 00:42:55,473 --> 00:42:57,473 Actively involved in our community. 874 00:42:57,943 --> 00:42:59,609 That is one of the biggest things that, 875 00:42:59,677 --> 00:43:01,411 That lorenzen had. 876 00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:04,480 He had a heart to give. 877 00:43:05,016 --> 00:43:07,416 He had a heart to pour back into. 878 00:43:07,485 --> 00:43:11,421 He had a heart to, to inspire. 879 00:43:12,023 --> 00:43:14,758 We've got some great players on the grizzlies team right now, 880 00:43:14,826 --> 00:43:16,759 Great guys, I mean great. 881 00:43:16,828 --> 00:43:19,829 But none of them have risen to the point where 882 00:43:19,898 --> 00:43:21,364 Lorenzen was with memphis. 883 00:43:22,033 --> 00:43:25,735 And because of that, people still grieve his loss today. 884 00:43:31,242 --> 00:43:42,852 [music]