Sherra Wright, the ex-wife of Memphis basketball star Lorenzen Wright is in a California jail, charged with plotting his death with a fellow church member, Billy Turner.
Investigators say this is not the first time they tried to kill him.
U.S. Marshals arrested Sherra Wright in Riverside, California Friday night. Billy Turner was arrested last week, both are charged with premeditated first-degree murder.
Deborah Marion, Lorenzen’s mother and his best friend Phil Dotson have mixed feelings about Sherra’s arrest. They say it brings closure to what happened to him, but they are sad for the six kids Sherra and Lorenzen had together.
“It’s good that we got them, but it’s bad that my grandkids don’t have anybody,” Marion explained. “I’m going to work towards my grandkids that’s all I’m thinking about right now, they don’t have anybody.”
Saturday morning, Marion visited her son’s grave site hours after the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County District Attorney’s office announced the three-count indictment against Sherra Wright, that includes conspiring with Turner to kill her ex-husband.
“Seven years, thank you Jesus. I woke up some days mad at the police, mad at the world but I knew God had an answer for me. Seven years is completion and 8 years is going to be for me, closure,” Marion said.
Marion says she knew Wright’s arrest was coming soon.
“Nobody, wouldn’t nobody else benefit from him being dead,” Marion said.
Lorenzen Wright was last seen alive on July 18th as he left the Collierville home of Sherra Wright. His best friend, Phil Dotson dropped him off there around 10:00 p.m.
“We were together on that Sunday. We spent the afternoon at my home and he had come in town and we hung out and it was just a great day,” Dotson explained.
Dotson says he’s glad people have been brought to justice, but he’s sad for the children because they have to deal with the loss of two parents now.
“This was the best man at my wedding, my best friend, my fraternity brother. My line brother. The relationship was really deep,” Dotson said. “It brings closure to the mystery of what happened to him, but at the same time I rejoice that the truth has now come has been brought to light.”
Dotson says since authorities have Wright and Turner in jail, the focus is now on honoring Lorenzen’s memory. The two met at the University of Memphis in 1995 and Wright was a Godfather to Dotson’s two sons.
“He was not only a giant in stature, but a giant at heart. He had a heart of gold,” Dotson stressed.
Authorities are still looking for a co-conspirator who they say took part in the murder plot along with Sherra Wright and Turner. Sherra Wright is in California waiting for extradition. Local 24 News looked up court documents and it states she will make her first court appearance Monday morning.
