Police won't answer questions about motive or suspects. But records indicate that Wright, 34, revered in his hometown as a generous and likable sports star, was probably carrying a large amount of cash when he disappeared on July 18.
View full sizeWillie Mae Vassar, the grandmother of Lorenzen Wright, stands near the spot in Memphis, Tenn., where Wright's body was found Wednesday. At right, Rhonda Harris embraces Wright's uncle, Gary Harris.MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former NBA big man Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in the woods in Memphis, was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday.
Police wouldn't answer questions about motive or suspects. But records indicate that Wright, 34, revered in his hometown as a generous and likable sports star, was probably carrying a large amount of cash when he disappeared on July 18. A court affidavit obtained by The Associated Press also said Wright had sold two vehicles to a man affiliated with a Memphis drug ring that's suspected in six deaths.
His family filed a missing person report with police July 22, four days after he was last seen, but investigators repeatedly said they didn't suspect foul play. Wright's mother said in the report that she was worried because his silence was out of character and "he probably has a large amount of cash on him."
The report said that the day he disappeared, he had been dropped off at a restaurant by a woman and later taken to his ex-wife's house in Collierville, a Memphis suburb. The ex-wife, Sherra Wright, told officers that Wright left her home in the middle of the night with someone.
View full sizeLorenzen Wright, with the Cavaliers in 2008.Family members said Wright's body was found near an apartment complex in southeast Memphis on Wednesday, but police awaited dental records to confirm his identity. Police on Thursday said a 9-1-1 call was placed from Wright's cell phone early July 19 and investigators determined it came from the area his body was found.
The Commercial Appeal newspaper, which first reported the call, said a dispatcher in the suburb of Germantown heard a garbled male voice say an expletive and then at least 10 gunshots. The call went dead and no one answered when the dispatcher called back, the newspaper reported.
Court documents show that Wright acknowledged to the FBI that in 2008 he sold two luxury vehicles, a Mercedes sedan and a Cadillac SUV, to Bobby Cole. The affidavits about the business deal don't show if Wright knew that Cole had been indicted in 2007 on drug distribution charges or if they knew each other.
'The 6-11 Wright played 13 seasons in the NBA, most recently with the Cavaliers. He averaged 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 17 games with the Cavs in 2008-09.
General Manager Chris Grant extended the Cavaliers condolences to his family.
"For those who spent time around him when he was here a couple years ago, everyone knows he was a very vibrant young human being," said Grant, who also was in Atlanta when Wright played for the Hawks from 1999 to 2001.
"Our organization's thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. It's obviously a very tough and sad time."
Plain Dealer reporter Jodie Valade contributed to this story.