Two men have been charged in the death of college basketball star and NBA draft pick Michael Wright. One is said to be the roommate of Wright.
Michael Wright's body was found in the back seat of an SUV in New York last year. The two men were identified as Mark Holdbrooks and David Victor. They were charged on Tuesday with the killing of the 35-year-old, who played for the University of Arizona and was drafted to be part of the New York Knicks. The two men were held on a $3 million bail.
The roommate of Michael Wright is said to be 59-year-old Mark Holdbrooks. Accordingly, the NBA draft pick and Mark Holdbrooks were longtime friends. Mark Holdbrooks reported Michael Wright missing last November 2015 and later, the NBA draft pick's body was found covered by a trash bag somewhere in Brooklyn, CBS News reported.
Prosecutors claim that Mark Holdbrooks and 36-year-old David Victor drugged Michael Wright at the home that the NBA draft pick and his roommate shared. Michael Wright suffered from head trauma, which was said to be caused by an ax. The NBA draft pick also suffered a cut and puncture wound near his eye. The two men then loaded the body of Michael Wright into the SUV of the basketball player, People reported.
Dave Paladino, a New Jersey-based trainer helped Michael Wright rehab from injury during his basketball career. Dave Paladino said that he collected $1,300 from the gym as a donation for the two young daughters of Michael Wright whom he left behind. David Paladino added that it was strange he handed the money to the same man who allegedly killed Michael Wright. He also revealed that when he visited Mark Holdbrooks after Michael Wright died, the former answered the door, hugged him and spoke highly of him such as claiming that the NBA draft pick loved his trainer.
Mark Holdbrooks also attended a memorial service for Michael Wright in Chicago in January and the former talked about the basketball player as a loving father. Mark Holdbrooks serves as the guardian of the children of Michael Wright. It is unclear where the children are now.
The 6-foot-8-inch forward played in France, Germany, and Turkey as well as in the United States during his basketball career.
