Performing on a tip, Memphis Police decided to go to a pond in Walnut, Mississippi. Here, within the murky clay that is red, they discovered a weapon considered to be found in the killing.
James Brown: How uncommon will it be to get a piece that is key of some seven years later?
Toney Armstrong: this is the needle within the haystack. They discovered the needle within the haystack. …and for them to help you to recoup that weapon is — is a fairly remarkable feat.
Although, Kelvin Cowans had split up with Sherra Wright, he thought she will be pleased once the weapon ended up being discovered. But he did not obtain the effect he expected whenever he called her to commemorate.
Kelvin Cowans: I state, “Hey, law enforcement have inked this best part. The gun was found by them that killed Lorenzen.”
Kelvin Cowans: We got in the phone and she was not delighted about any of it at all, and —
James Brown: Actually?
Kelvin Cowans: –and that bothered me. That — which was whenever I first began to think that, do you know what, possibly we have actuallyn’t been evaluating grief, you realize, all of this time. Perhaps i have been taking a look at shame.
The case took an unexpected turn after finding the gun. On December 5, police arrested Billy Ray Turner in a convenience shop in Collierville, Tenn.
Marc Perrusquia: it absolutely was just like a surreal minute, actually. I am talking about, because, you realize, we kept hearin’ these things about Sherra. …And chances are they arrest this person Billy Turner, whom no one ever even heard about.
James Brown: that is Billy Ray Turner and just how does he squeeze into the actual situation?
Toney Armstrong: If he’s whom this research states that he’s — he is a murderer. …he’s a cold-hearted murderer.
Billy Ray Turner Memphis Police Department
Billy Ray Turner had been then a landscaper that is 47-year-old. He took proper care of Sherra Wright’s yard and ended up being additionally a deacon at her church.
Marc Parrusquia: A lotta individuals, once they speak about Billy Ray Turner, their friends and … congregants around, they do say, “Hey, no. They got the asian mail order bride incorrect man.”
Nonetheless they might not have understood that Turner can be an ex-convict whom served time for kidnapping and assault over 2 full decades ago.
Dr. Bill Adkins | Lorenzen’s mentor: so far as Mr. Billy Ray, i’ve never met him, have no idea him. But i recognize that Sherra is fairly effective at manipulating a guy.
Kelvin Cowans: Sherra could be the style of person where she will prompt you to get leap down a bridge, get straight back up, go backup there and leap once again, OK.
After Turner’s arrest, Sherra and Cowans talked by phone once more.
Kelvin Cowans: …she ended up being telling me that the news had been hounding her for a unique concerning the choosing regarding the weapon while the arrest of Billy Ray Turner, and I also ended up being like, “Why do not it is done by you, you understand. It’s abnormal perhaps maybe not it,” you realize, and she actually is like, “Well, they may be simply going … to twist my terms. to do” …I said, “The public desires to hear away from you Sherra,” you understand … and she simply was not — she was not along with it.
Eventually, it absolutely wasn’t as much as Sherra Wright.
KCAL INFORMATION REPORT: Memphis police simply announced Lorenzen Wright’s ex-wife has become faced with murder.
Ten days after Turner’s arrest, Sherra had been taken into custody in Riverside, Calif.
Sherra Wright Memphis Police Department
Back Memphis, despite every one of the rumors, the news evoked mixed emotions.
Kelvin Cowans: Tough, really tough. …I simply sat here.
James Brown: Reasoning?
Kelvin Cowans: simply …”how will you? How may you?”
Phil Dotson | Lorenzen’s buddy: She ended up being arrested and our globes had been simply inflated.
Gayle Rose: …there’s some right section of me, to tell the truth to you, it doesn’t wish to believe, and simply can not, can not simply take that in.
Memphis authorities would not say why they arrested Sherra Wright, but seven years that are long the murder of Lorenzen Wright, they finally got their suspects.
Deborah Marion yells in court: how may you murder my son? that is just what we found just know just just how!
Toney Armstrong: The journey has led you straight back to your person who had been said to be since near to him as anyone, and that ended up being their spouse. So it is simple for someone to state, “Well, the– the most obvious suspect ended up being there prior to you the entire time.” …But glance at it in a good light. …you can essentially state which they never ever threw in the towel. …the investigators that took part in this research — should always be celebrated, you realize, at this stage. …there’s still an instance become tried in court.
THE ALLEGED PLOT TO KILL LORENZEN
WREG NEWS REPORT: the previous spouse of NBA star Lorenzen Wright appeared at an extradition hearing … today. Sherra Wright faces a cost of first-degree murder for their death.
Following the arrest of Sherra Wright in December 2017, the Memphis court of general public viewpoint appeared to arrive at its very own summary.
James Brown: do you consider Sherra Wright killed Lorenzen Wright?
Phil Dotson: we hate to say this, however it may seem like she did.
Dr. Bill Adkins: I Actually Do. … i do believe Lorenzen had been killed for cash.
Kelvin Cowans: i really believe she did, and that is difficult to state.
Sherra Wright in a Memphis courtroom on Jan. 25, 2018 WREG
On Jan. 25, 2018, the court that is real of County weighed in. Sherra Wright ended up being extradited from Ca to Tennessee, where she starred in court within an orange jumpsuit, arraigned when it comes to murder of her ex-husband.
Deborah Marion: to reporters on Feb. 26 This is difficult, but i am happy. We’ve been waitin’ for seven years because of this.
Sherra Wright and Billy Ray Turner had been faced with first-degree murder , tried murder and conspiracy. Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman is certainly one of Shelby County’s most useful prosecutors, but he is wanting to manage objectives.
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman to reporters on Feb. 26: Two defendants, a long time, cool instance for many years and years. It’s challenging.
Billy Ray Turner has employed John Keith Perry Jr., a professional protection lawyer with a good record.
John Keith Perry Jr. to reporters on March 19: their family members’ a Christian family members. These are generally steeped in faith. And so they understand in the — at the conclusion of the time — they’ve the strongest belief in addition to we that Mr. Turner are going to be exonerated at the conclusion.
Sherra now has two court appointed attorneys: Juni Ganguli and Laurie Hall.
Wright and Turner pleaded not liable to all or any costs, nevertheless the indictments unveiled two startling claims. One, a murder that is previous by Wright and Turner.
Marc Perrusquia: …supposedly, 2-3 weeks before they really killed him, they attempted to kill him down in Atlanta. …they really state that Billy Ray Turner was at Lorenzen’s house…
As well as the 2nd claim? A 3rd individual had been included — an individual who claims to possess held it’s place in on it – an unindicted co-conspirator.
James Brown: you think that some body understands, has understood, whom the killer or killers had been but has simply held onto the information?
Marc Perrusquia: Yes, I Actually Do. …How did they find this weapon into the pond? I am talking about, i have heard tales about this. …who knows exactly just what and how all of it fits together.
Kelvin Cowans: no body really wants to arrived at an understanding that a mom without any background that is criminal mom of seven of their kids, could be taking part in his murder. No body really wants to think that.
At a relationship hearing in might 2018 arrived a wonderful revelation: the prosecution identified the co-conspirator that is alleged. Their title is Jimmie Martin, a convicted murderer presently serving amount of time in jail. He is additionally Sherra Wright’s cousin.
Martin claims it was he whom plotted with Billy Ray Turner and Sherra to destroy Lorenzen Wright — first in an aborted effort in Atlanta —
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman: … they had been planning to Lorenzen Wright’s home in Atlanta, Georgia, to murder.
— after which in Memphis.
