Sherra Wright Robinson and the Family Story Behind a Shocking NBA Murder Case

Sherra Wright Robinson, also known as Sherra Wright, Sherra Wright Robinson, or Sherra Yvette Wright, is one of the most thoroughly studied figures in the 2010 murder of former NBA star Lorenzen Wright. Her narrative is intertwined with Lorenzen’s, their seven children, a troubled marriage, financial issues, and a seven-year-old murder investigation.

Sherra’s story is striking because it goes beyond a crime. At its heart is a huge family that endured professional basketball achievement, personal sorrow, divorce, the death of a child, financial turmoil, and a murder investigation that changed practically every family tie.

Basic Information

Public information about Sherra’s childhood is limited. She was born in Tennessee and was the daughter of Julius Robinson, an AAU basketball coach. That connection became important because Sherra met Lorenzen while he was a teenager playing basketball under her father’s coaching.

Lorenzen was approximately 16 when the relationship began, while Sherra was about five years older. Their relationship eventually developed into marriage and a large family.

Sherra Wright Robinson and Lorenzen Wright

Sherra and Lorenzen married on June 6, 1998, after dating for several years. By that point, Lorenzen was establishing himself as a professional basketball player.

He had been selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1996 NBA Draft and went on to play 13 NBA seasons. His career included the Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The couple’s marriage unfolded alongside the pressures of professional sports and a growing family. They eventually had seven children, although one daughter died in infancy.

Their relationship was reportedly turbulent. Financial problems, accusations of infidelity, separation, and disputes within the marriage became recurring themes in later accounts of their lives.

The couple divorced in early 2010, only months before Lorenzen’s death. Their divorce did not completely separate their lives because they remained connected through their children and financial arrangements.

A $1 million life insurance policy became particularly important after Lorenzen’s death. The policy was intended to benefit the children, with Sherra involved in managing the money.

The Seven Children of Sherra and Lorenzen

The children are perhaps the most important part of understanding this family. Their lives changed dramatically after their father’s death and later after their mother’s arrest.

Lorenzen Wright Jr.

Lorenzen Wright Jr., often called Snoop, was born on April 11, 1995. He was a teenager when his father disappeared and was among the older siblings who experienced the aftermath of the murder while still young.

He later became associated with fitness and family-related public discussions. Like his siblings, much of his adult life has unfolded away from the spotlight.

Loren Wright

Loren Wright was the eldest daughter. She was approximately 13 when her father died and was later described as someone who helped care for her younger brothers and sisters.

Her role became especially important as the family dealt with the consequences of the investigation and Sherra’s eventual incarceration.

Lamar and Shamar Wright

Lamar and Shamar Wright are twins, born January 10, 2000. Both developed connections to college basketball, including time associated with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Their lives have inevitably been linked to their father’s basketball legacy. Yet their story is also one of growing up under extraordinary public attention surrounding their family’s tragedy.

Sierra Simone Wright

Sierra Simone Wright was born March 14, 2002, and died on March 1, 2003, at approximately 11 months old. Her death was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome.

Her death became another profound loss for the Wright family. A scholarship fund was later established in her memory with support connected to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Sofia and Lawson Wright

Sofia Wright was born around 2007 and was still a young child when her father was killed. Lawson Wright was the youngest son.

The younger children were particularly dependent on extended family after the adults at the center of the family story became involved in divorce proceedings, financial disputes, and ultimately criminal proceedings.

Sherra’s Parents and Siblings

Sherra’s father was Julius Robinson, the AAU basketball coach who coached Lorenzen during his youth.

Her mother received considerably less public attention. Sherra has discussed her mother’s death from breast cancer in connection with her own writing.

Sherra’s sister Katrina Robinson became a prominent figure in her own right. Katrina is a registered nurse, business owner, and former Tennessee state senator. She won election to the Tennessee Senate in 2018 and served until her expulsion in 2022 following federal charges involving grant funds.

During the Lorenzen Wright case, Katrina’s public role was often connected to supporting Sherra’s children and helping the extended family navigate an extraordinarily difficult period.

Sherra’s brother Marcus Robinson lived in California and reportedly hosted the twins for a period. He was also involved in church ministry, including youth and children’s work.

Another important relative was cousin Jimmie Martin. His cooperation with investigators eventually became significant because information he provided helped authorities locate the murder weapon. Martin was already serving time for another murder and became an unindicted co-conspirator in the Wright investigation.

The Death of Lorenzen Wright

Lorenzen disappeared in July 2010, shortly after visiting the Memphis area and spending time with his children.

On July 18 and 19, his phone was involved in a 911 call during which gunshots could be heard. His body was discovered on July 28 in a wooded area.

He had been shot multiple times.

The investigation quickly became complicated. There were questions surrounding the 911 call, evidence connected to Sherra’s home, possible motives, and conflicting theories about what had happened.

For years, the case remained an unsolved mystery.

That long silence eventually broke.

The Investigation and Sherra’s Arrest

Operation Rebound revived the case. In November 2017, police found a firearm in a Mississippi lake.

The Riverside, California, arrest of Sherra occurred on December 15, 2017. Billy Ray Turner, a gardener and church deacon from the same congregation, was also charged.

Sherra and Turner were accused of conspiring to murder Lorenzen. Atlanta’s prior attempted murder plot was also prosecuted.

Sherra pled guilty instead of going to murder trial.

Sherra’s Guilty Plea and Prison Sentence

On July 25, 2019, Sherra pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder and facilitation of attempted first-degree murder.

She received a 30-year sentence, with a concurrent eight-year term connected to the attempted murder charge. Her plea brought a major legal chapter of the case to an end, although questions about the precise sequence of events continued to attract public attention.

Sherra later sought post-conviction relief and challenged aspects of her plea and legal representation. She eventually withdrew that petition.

In May 2022, parole was denied. Her next parole hearing was scheduled for May 2027.

Billy Ray Turner was separately convicted of first-degree murder and received a life sentence plus additional years.

Sherra’s Financial Life

Money became another major thread running through the family’s story.

During Lorenzen’s NBA career, the family enjoyed substantial income, but reports also described significant spending and financial problems. One account placed the family’s debt at approximately $3 million before the divorce.

After Lorenzen’s death, approximately $1 million in life insurance proceeds became available for the children. Court-related reporting indicated that nearly $970,000 was spent within roughly 10 months.

The spending contributed to a dispute with Lorenzen’s father, Herb Wright. That dispute was eventually resolved confidentially in 2014, with control over related funds changing afterward.

These financial issues later became part of the public discussion about possible motives in the murder case.

Sherra as an Author and Minister

Sherra’s life was not defined solely by her marriage or criminal case.

She became involved in Christian ministry and was associated with Mt. Olive No. 1 Missionary Baptist Church in the Memphis area. She was described as an ordained minister or associate pastor, and later performed church administrative work in California.

She also wrote a novel titled Mr. Tell Me Anything, published around 2015 under the name Sherra Wright Robinson.

The book attracted attention because its fictional story contained striking parallels to aspects of Sherra’s own life. Its central character was married to an NBA player and experienced relationship problems, infidelity, family conflict, and life in cities that resembled parts of Lorenzen’s professional career.

The book became almost like a literary mirror, although fiction and autobiography should not be treated as identical.

Sherra’s Later Relationships

After divorcing Lorenzen, Sherra married Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Reginald A. Robinson Sr. around 2014. The marriage was relatively brief and eventually ended in divorce.

She later became involved with journalist Kelvin “Six-Four” Cowans. They met around 2015 when Cowans interviewed her in connection with the anniversary of Lorenzen’s death.

Their relationship later included living together and spending time in Texas and California with some of Sherra’s children. Cowans subsequently wrote books about his experiences and his relationship with Sherra.

His accounts added another layer to an already complicated family story, particularly because they described Sherra’s life during the years when the murder remained unresolved.

The Family After Sherra’s Arrest

Sherra’s incarceration created another major transition for the Wright children.

The surviving six siblings reportedly remained close, with older children helping care for younger family members. The twins also spent periods living with relatives, including their maternal uncle Marcus Robinson in California.

At the same time, relationships with Lorenzen’s parents, Herb Wright and Deborah Marion, were reportedly strained by disagreements involving insurance money, pension funds, family decisions, and the murder investigation.

The children therefore found themselves at the intersection of several family branches. Their father’s legacy came through basketball, while their mother’s legal case continued to shape public interest in the family.

The Wider Legacy of Lorenzen Wright

Memphis basketball fans still talk about Lorenzen Wright’s death.

More than an NBA player. A former University of Memphis star and father of seven, he was well-known in a city where basketball is ingrained.

The case also showed how an unsolved murder can damage a family for years.

TV shows, films, podcasts, novels, and anniversary reports have revisited the case. A mysterious disappearance has become a complex judicial case involving family, finances, conspiracies, and convictions.

Sherra Wright Robinson Timeline

FAQ

Who is Sherra Wright Robinson?

Sherra Wright Robinson is the former wife of NBA player Lorenzen Wright. She became nationally known because of her connection to his 2010 murder and her 2019 guilty plea to facilitation of first-degree murder and facilitation of attempted first-degree murder.

How many children did Sherra Wright Robinson and Lorenzen Wright have?

They had seven children together. Their daughter Sierra Simone Wright died in infancy, leaving six surviving children.

When did Sherra and Lorenzen Wright marry?

They married on June 6, 1998, after beginning their relationship when Lorenzen was a teenager.

What happened to Lorenzen Wright?

Lorenzen disappeared in July 2010 after visiting the Memphis area. His body was discovered on July 28, 2010, in a wooded area. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

What was Sherra Wright Robinson’s sentence?

Sherra pleaded guilty in July 2019 and received a 30-year prison sentence, along with a concurrent eight-year term for the attempted murder facilitation charge.

Where is Sherra Wright Robinson now?

She remains incarcerated in Tennessee, with her incarceration continuing into 2026. Her next reported parole hearing is scheduled for May 2027.

Who was Sierra Wright?

Sierra Simone Wright was one of Sherra and Lorenzen’s daughters. She was born March 14, 2002, and died on March 1, 2003, at approximately 11 months old from sudden infant death syndrome.

Who is Katrina Robinson?

Katrina Robinson is Sherra’s sister. She is a registered nurse, business owner, and former Tennessee state senator. She became involved in supporting Sherra’s children during the years surrounding the Lorenzen Wright investigation.

Who is Marcus Robinson?

Marcus Robinson is Sherra’s brother. He lived in California and reportedly helped care for some of Sherra’s children, including hosting the twins for a period.

What book did Sherra Wright Robinson write?

Sherra wrote Mr. Tell Me Anything, an urban fiction novel published around 2015. The story attracted attention because several elements appeared similar to parts of her marriage and family life.

What happened to Billy Ray Turner?

Billy Ray Turner was prosecuted separately in connection with Lorenzen Wright’s murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2022 and received a life sentence plus additional years.

Why did the Lorenzen Wright case receive so much attention?

The case combined the death of a former NBA player with a seven-year investigation, an unusual 911 call, a recovered murder weapon, family and financial disputes, alleged conspiracy, and eventual criminal convictions. The long period between Lorenzen’s death in 2010 and the major arrests in 2017 made the case particularly enduring in true crime coverage.

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