Functioning on a tip, Memphis Police went along to a lake in Walnut, Mississippi. Here, into the murky clay that is red, they discovered a gun thought to be found in the killing.
James Brown: just just How uncommon could it be to get a key bit of proof some seven years later on?
Toney Armstrong: that is the needle within the haystack. The needle was found by them when you look at the haystack. …and for them in order to recoup that weapon is — is quite a feat that is remarkable.
Although, Kelvin Cowans had separated with Sherra Wright, he thought she could be pleased if the weapon ended up being discovered. But he don’t have the effect he expected whenever she was called by him to commemorate.
Kelvin Cowans: I state, “Hey, law enforcement have inked this thing that is great. They discovered the weapon that killed Lorenzen.”
Kelvin Cowans: We got in the phone and she was not delighted about any of it after all, and —
James Brown: Actually?
Kelvin Cowans: –and that bothered me. That — that has been whenever we first started initially to genuinely believe that, do you know what, perhaps we haven’t been considering grief, you understand, all this work time. Perhaps i am taking a look at guilt.
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 had been just like a moment that is surreal actually. After all, because, you understand, 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: Who is Billy Ray Turner and just how does he match the situation?
Toney Armstrong: that he is — he’s a murderer if he is who this investigation says. …he’s a cold-hearted murderer.
Billy Ray Turner Memphis Police Department
Billy Ray Turner ended up being a 47-year-old landscaper. He took proper care of Sherra Wright’s lawn 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 online, they do say, “Hey, no. They got the incorrect man.”
Nonetheless they might not have known that Turner can be an ex-convict whom served time for attack and kidnapping over 2 full decades ago.
Dr. Bill Adkins | Lorenzen’s mentor: As far as Mr. Billy Ray, We have never met him, have no idea him. But i know that Sherra is fairly effective at manipulating a person.
Kelvin Cowans: Sherra could be the types of individual where she can turn you into get leap down a bridge, get straight back up, go backup here and leap once again, OK.
After Turner’s arrest, Sherra and Cowans talked by phone once again.
Kelvin Cowans: …she had been telling me personally that the news had been hounding her for a special in regards to the choosing for the weapon and also the arrest of Billy Ray Turner, and I also had been like, “Why do not it is done by you, you realize. It really is abnormal maybe not to do it,” you understand, and she actually is like, “Well, they are simply going … to twist my words.” …I said, “The public desires to hear you know … and she just wasn’t — she wasn’t with it from you Sherra.
Fundamentally, it had beenn’t as much as Sherra Wright.
KCAL INFORMATION REPORT: Memphis police simply announced Lorenzen Wright’s ex-wife is currently faced with murder.
Ten times after Turner’s arrest, Sherra ended up being taken into custody in Riverside, Calif.
Sherra Wright Memphis Police Department
Back Memphis, despite all the rumors, the news evoked feelings that are mixed.
Kelvin Cowans: Tough, actually tough. …I simply sat there.
James Brown: Reasoning?
Kelvin Cowans: simply …”how will you? How will you?”
Phil Dotson | Lorenzen’s friend: She ended up being arrested and our worlds had been simply inflated.
Gayle Rose: …there’s some right section of me, to tell the truth to you, that does not desire to think that, and merely can not, can not just just take that in.
Memphis authorities didn’t state 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 what I found just know how!
Toney Armstrong: The journey has led you back towards the person who ended up being allowed to be since near to him as anyone, and therefore was their spouse. So it is simple for someone to state, “Well, the– the most obvious suspect had been immediately 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 a component in this research — should really be celebrated, you understand, at this time. …there’s nevertheless an instance become tried in court.
THE ALLEGED PLOT TO KILL LORENZEN
WREG INFORMATION REPORT: the wife that is former of celebrity Lorenzen Wright showed up 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: I hate to state this, however it appears like she did.
Dr. Bill Adkins: I Actually Do. … i do believe Lorenzen ended up being killed for the money.
Kelvin Cowans: in my opinion 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 had been extradited from Ca to buy wife Tennessee, where she starred in court in a orange jumpsuit, arraigned for the murder of her ex-husband.
Deborah Marion: to reporters on Feb. 26 this really is difficult, but i am happy. We’ve been waitin’ for seven years with this.
Sherra Wright and Billy Ray Turner had been faced with first-degree murder , attempted conspiracy and murder. Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman is certainly one of Shelby County’s most useful prosecutors, but he is wanting to handle objectives.
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman to reporters on Feb. 26: Two defendants, many years, cool instance for decades and years. It is challenging.
Billy Ray Turner has employed John Keith Perry Jr., a skilled protection attorney having a good record.
John Keith Perry Jr. to reporters on March 19: their family members’ a Christian family members. They’re steeped in faith. In addition they understand during the — at the conclusion of your day — they’ve the belief that is strongest along with we that Mr. Turner should be exonerated at the conclusion.
Sherra now has two court appointed solicitors: Juni Ganguli and Laurie Hall.
Wright and Turner pleaded simple to all or any fees, however the indictments unveiled two startling claims. One, a murder that is previous by Wright and Turner.
Marc Perrusquia: …supposedly, 2-3 weeks him, they tried to kill him down in Atlanta before they actually killed. …they really say that Billy Ray Turner was at Lorenzen’s house…
In addition to claim that is second? A 3rd individual had been included — a person 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 on the information?
Marc Perrusquia: Yes, I Really Do. …How did they find this weapon within the pond? After all, i have heard tales about this. …who knows exactly what and exactly how all of it fits together.
Kelvin Cowans: no body really wants to arrived at a understanding that the mom without any police arrest records, mother of seven of their kids, could be taking part in their murder. No one really wants to genuinely believe that.
At a relationship hearing in May 2018 arrived a wonderful revelation: the prosecution identified the alleged co-conspirator. Their title is Jimmie Martin, a convicted murderer currently serving amount of time in jail. He’s additionally Sherra Wright’s cousin.
Martin claims it was he whom plotted with Billy Ray Turner and Sherra to destroy Lorenzen Wright — first in a aborted effort in Atlanta —
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman: … which they were likely to Lorenzen Wright’s household in Atlanta, Georgia, to murder.
— after which in Memphis.
