there is a reasonable alternate conjecture - the private keys were fully entrusted to the other dude before he died, leaving Wright with no means of accessing the BTC1.1M.
I would find this unlikely. Especially considering the fact that as of when the other guy died the value of the 1.1M
BTC was enormous and would have likely asked for backups of the keys and/or for backups to be made that would be accessible in the event of his friend's death.
I find it unlikely as well. However, not beyond the realm of possibility.